Fishing Has No Boundaries celebrates inclusivity with 32nd annual event

Jul. 2—BEMIDJI — Bemidji's annual Fishing Has No Boundaries event is just as meaningful for the volunteers as it is for the participants.

"Right now, my heart is very full," said previous co-chair and committee member Vance Balstad.

The event gives people with disabilities in the region the ability to get out on Lake Bemidji and enjoy a day fishing with others in the community. This year, more than 50 anglers gathered in the giant tent down at the Paul Bunyan Park waterfront, starting with a 7:30 a.m. breakfast with friends.

"A lot of my friends here I have known through Special Olympics and stuff like that," participant Bradley Olson said. "I came to the very first one so I have come here 32 times."

After getting checked in and finishing their breakfast, the anglers loaded up on several pontoons for a fun day on the water.

Susie Balstad, organizer and treasurer of Paul Bunyan's chapter of FHNB, shared how Bemidji is unique in how people come together to make the event happen each and every year.

"Some of the FHNB chapters plan on renting pontoons every year because they know they're not going to get pontoons donated," Susie shared. "Sometimes we get nervous near the end if we will have enough but everything works out and we don't rent any. These are all donated."

Volunteers helped assist participants onto the boats and cleaned up after breakfast to prepare for the rest of the day's festivities.

Both Vance and Susie Balstad have been volunteering with FHNB for 30 years and have many favorite memories from their decades of involvement.

"We had a fellow one year, he caught a 36-inch northern, which was a heck of a fish," Vance shared. "And at that time we had a taxidermy company that was mounting the first big fish for different categories. The participant said, 'Now I can catch that fish every day.' That's the kind of thing you do remember. "

The event is a highlight for those involved, especially the participants. This is a chance for them to see friends and they are eager each year.

"I have been coming here for years," participant Danny Lund said. "I get to see my friends and go fishing with them."

Susie notes one participant in particular who often called in advance.

"We didn't host the event two times because of COVID, and I had this participant call me in February who said, 'If you change your mind, I'm ready,'" Susie recalled. "She called me many times in March, too. They really look forward to this event and seeing everybody."

The Balstads are just a few of the many of the volunteers who have been contributing to the event for years.

"Your reward is the good feeling that you get from just doing the right thing," Susie said.

"There are so many folks we see year after year and when I talk to people, I say 'We're waiting for our family to come,'" Vance shared. "Some respond 'Well, they're not family' but they are to us, and they've been with us for over 30 years."

After a long day of fishing, anglers mingled awaiting their fish fry dinner served by the Bemidji Fire Department.

Gordon Beighley, a paid-on-call captain with the department, prepared the dinner with his colleagues.

"The participants, they look forward to this," Beighley said. "They'll look forward to it even if the fishing isn't good, they're still here for the fish fry."

The fire department has been volunteering to make dinner for over 20 years for the FHNB event.

"The most rewarding thing for me is seeing the smiles on the participants' faces here," Beighley explained. "Whether it's while talking to them when they come in from fishing or watching them eat — the smiles are big here."

Following dinner, Susie announced every participant who was in attendance during the FHNB event. For each name, participants cheered and clapped for one another to celebrate all 56 anglers present.

"I have been coming since 2017 and it's been fun every time," said participant Sterling Stage.

Volunteers handed out gift bags and medals to participants as anticipation increased to see who caught the biggest fish in the four categories: northern, walleye, perch and panfish.

The audience cheered for each participant and they rushed up to the front to receive their plaque in front of their friends.

"It's not a tournament, it's a fishing outing," Vance said. "But they're so proud of that plaque. Pine Valley Trophy does such a good job for us. We used to give out trophies but some participants like to hang it on their wall."

Winning participants smiled wide for their individual and group photos with their new plaques. As the event wrapped up, participants waved goodbye and gave hugs to volunteers on their way out.

"I don't know if there is another community that is quite like Bemidji — I just love this town," Susie shared. "I first came to Bemidji to attend Bemidji State. Once I finished my undergraduate, I really didn't need to go back to my hometown because Bemidji became my home. I met Vance here at college and we got married and we just stayed here because this is home — this community holds you in."