4th 'Trolling for Troops' Event Continues Reel Success

The 4th Annual Trolling for Troops event, held last week on Camp Ripley, Minn., continued a 21st century tradition of pairing disabled veterans, recently deployed soldiers, and sports pros for a day of fishing on Lake Mille Lacs and the Mississippi River, according to news reports.

"They get to talking," Camp Ripley spokesman Maj. John Donovan told Minnesota Public Radio regarding the veterans who participate, "and it turns out, different decades, different conflicts, same story. It can be cathartic."

The event is sponsored in part by the Minnesota National Guard.

"This event is modeled after our deer and turkey hunts, which we host at Camp Ripley," post commander Col. Scott St. Sauver explained at the inaugural event in 2011. "When asked what soldiers missed the most during a deployment, the first answer is always family, but the second generally is something along the lines of deer camp or fishing."

Starting with an archery deer hunt established in 1954, Camp Ripley has a long history of hosting hunting and other outdoor sports events. More recently established events include deer and turkey hunts for disabled veterans and recently deployed service members.

Media coverage of the 2014 fishing event also included:

• WJON, text and video: "Disabled Veterans Go Fishing With Camp Ripley’s Trolling For Troops"

• Lakeland Public Television, text and video: "Trolling the troops on the Mississippi"

• Brainerd (Minn.) Dispatch, text only: "Trolling for the Troops hooks community and military"

In addition to the Minnesota National Guard, sponsors of the 2014 event included:

• American Foods Group

• The American Legion

• Cabela's

• Disabled American Veterans (D.A.V.)

• Linder's Angling Edge

• Upper Mississippi River Smallie Club (U.M.R.S.C.)

• Veterans of Foreign Wars (V.F.W.)