Wife Shelley's - and Camp Confidence's - big day

Last Saturday was the annual Camp Confidence Fishing Classic, in which I fished with my wife and dad.

I have fished the Classic every year since 1993, and this year was one of the most exciting. Shelley jigged up the largest walleye of the day and the tournament - 26 inches and 5 pounds, 5 ounces - to win the Lunker Walleye Award.

When she set into the fish with her short little jigging pole, I wasn't sure if it was bottom or a fish until she quickly corrected me and said, "yeah, it's a fish." Her drag was squealing until the fish was in the net. She let out the biggest squeal when she saw the size of the fish. As quiet as the morning was, I think almost every boat in the tournament heard that we caught a nice one. I'm sure the shriek echoed throughout Gull Lake.

Shelley has always been a jigger, and I quickly realized I better swap out her Lindy Rig rod for a jigging rod when she started to jig with her rigging rod. I guess it will be a jigger from here on out.

This fundraiser is for a great cause and its neat to see all of the participants, from big names (Al Lindner, Ron Lindner, Gary Roach, Nick Adams, Marv Koep) to the number of locals that participate every year.

Thank goodness summer has arrived, and it looks as though Independence Day will be a beauty up in the Brainerd lakes area. Keep alert on the water and on the roads and let's all be thankful for our freedom.

WALLEYEDAN Eigen may be reached at (218) 839-5598, walleyedan@brainerd.com or www.walleyedan.com.