A line of boats navigated the canal from Madden’s Resort to Gull Lake in the 2010 Camp Confidence Fishing Classic. Sarah Sellnow, special events coordinator at Confidence Learning Center.“It’s a who’s who of Brainerd out here to golf and raise money for the camp.” The Fishing Classic on Gull Lake has evolved into a who’s who of the angling world, with fishing legends Al and Ron Lindner, Nick Adams, Marv Koep, Ron Schara and others helping to get the event off the ground. “We had been running the celebrity golf tournament for many years, but there were a lot of celebrity fishermen in the area who didn’t like golf,” Slaybaugh said of the creation of the Fishing Classic. “The first three years it was a small event. Mostly just members of the Nisswa Guide League. It was a good-old-boys system. But the local fishermen decided to take it to a new level.They really brought it up to the level it’s at today with 80 to 100 boats. “It draws in pro anglers and guides from all over the state. They donate their time, equipment, boat and gas to come to Brainerd and stay in Brainerd. It’s a lot of fun for the guides or pros because a lot of their time is spent fishing competitively. In this event they get to all come together and it’s about their friendships. About supporting the campers.” Monies from Camp Classic weekend benefit Camp Confidence, a year-round outdoor education and recreation center for persons of all ages with developmental disabilities. “With the funds from the Ice Fishing Extravaganza and the Fishing Classic and general support, 25 percent (of funds raised for Camp Confidence) comes from fishing
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events and personnel,” Slaybaugh said. “Fishermen get it — that they’re blessed to live the type of life they live and they’re willing to give something back.” And have a lot of fun doing it. “It’s for charity, and for the guides, it’s a lot of camaraderie,” Sellnow said.“It’s not a competitive event for them. It’s a fun event for them. It’s more relaxing than their money tournaments. They enjoy it. A lot of pro anglers during the summer compete. But this is one where they can kick back.” Like at the Golf Classic, there are typically a lot of familiar faces at the Fishing Classic, too. “At least half are repeat (participants),” Sellnow said. “People keep coming back. They mark it on their calendars.They know it’s Father’s Day weekend, so you see a lot of father-son combos. Maybe it was a Father’s Day present from the son. It’s a big draw.” For more information on the Camp Classic weekend, call Confidence Learning Center at 828-2344 or go to www.campconfidence.com/.
B R I A N S . P E T E R S O N , outdoors editor at the Dispatch, may be reached at brian.peterson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5864. To follow him on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/brian_speterson. For his blogs, go to www.brainerddispatch.com.