"That's the smallest keeper ever!"
Those words came from Roy Hawk, my "Catch a Cure for Cancer" fishing partner last weekend at Starvation Reservoir in Duchesne County. Hawk, a bass pro angler who knows a keeper when he sees one, couldn't believe his ears when I told him the fish I had just landed was, in fact, longer than the 12-inch minimum. Despite his amazement, Hawk told me to throw it in the live well. We were, after all, desperate for a limit.
A limit we would never reach.
We ended up with just one walleye - the limit was six - and two bass - the limit was five - by the 2 p.m. weigh-in. On the way back to the boat ramp, we decided the puny fish were not worth the trouble of weighing and resleased them.
At the weigh-in we were surprised, but pleased, to see that most of the other 86 anglers in the tournament had fared much better than we had.
And despite not even coming close to the leader board, Hawk and I still felt a sense of accomplishment when the prize money was handed out for the big fish on the walleye side of the tournament and the anglers quickly handed it back to co-organizer Jerry Schlief.
The routine was repeated, each time Hawk and I looked at each other and gave a little nod, sharing in the wonder of turning fishing, which can be so selfish at times, into something that helps children with cancer enjoy a week at summer camp.
Jerry and Carri Schlief held the first "Catch a Cure" tournament five years ago. After bringing in more than $13,000 in entry fees, returned winnings, outright donations and a never-ending raffle this past weekend, the Schliefs pushed their overall donation to Camp Hobe to more than $50,000.
"We can't thank you enough," a tearful Jerry Schlief told anglers at the awards ceremony Saturday. "You guys are awesome."
I wish I could list the names of all 88 anglers who participated in the tournament this year because they all deserve to be mentioned, but the top five teams in each division will have to suffice. It is, after all, the only consolation they get after having returned their prize money.
Top five teams on the bass side:
1-Wayne Crowder/Jamie Crowder. 2-George Sommer/Jason Liljestrand. 3-Cal Robertson/Carl Robertson. 4-Casey Stevenson/Mike Midgley. 5-Mike Risen/Scott Bowler.
Top five teams on the walleye side: 1-Dave Johnson/Kade Quamberg. 2-Dan White/Ray Shiflett. 3-Dick Johnson/Connie Johnson. 4-Steve Boulton/Kathy Boulton. 5-Wes Karren/Glen Karren.
brettp@sltrib.com