Smith: Lake Michigan fishery takes on a special shine for annual USSA outing

PORT WASHINGTON - What's the value of a fishery? And what's the measure of an angler?

Economists invariably use dollar figures to answer the first question. Fishermen often cite the ability to bring in limit catches to address the second.

Both responses have merit. But neither tells the whole story.

For example, what's it worth to have a dream fulfilled? And how do you rank the catch of a single fish by an angler with disabilities?

No one has a scale for such precious events. But the vast and valuable Lake Michigan resource provided the setting for such happenings last weekend in Port Washington.

The occasion was the 13th annual Lake Michigan fishing outing of the United Special Sportsman Alliance, Inc.

The alliance is a 501(c)(3) charity based in Pittsville, Wis. Founded by Milwaukee native Brigid O'Donoghue, it provides the "free outdoor adventure of their dreams" to critically ill and disabled youth and disabled veterans.

The organization hosted 25 families from six states for the 2018 Port Washington outing. All lodging, meals and fishing expenses were covered.

Terry Placzek of West Bend is the event coordinator.

"Our goal is to take the stress off the families for one weekend and let them know they are cared for," Placzek said. 

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The event included a Friday evening "meet and greet" at the Port Washington marina.

The families were fed dinner and introduced to their boat captains. The local Kiwanis Club served and sponsored the meal.

Fishermen donated their expertise and boats to take the families fishing Saturday morning on the big pond.

Sponsors included the Wisconsin chapter of Safari Club International, the Ozaukee County chapter of Great Lakes Sport Fishermen and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

"Everything is taken care of," said Jeff Hartwig, 38, of Clintonville, who brought his son Logan (15) and daughter Megan (13) to the event. "It's a great chance to relax and help (Megan) enjoy something she dreams about."

Megan has myotonic dystrophy, a form of muscular dystrophy that affects muscles and other organs in the body.

Though the disease has limited her speech, vision and agility, it's done nothing to reduce her passion for the outdoors.

She has deer and turkey trophies to show for her exploits.

On Saturday morning, Megan rose at 4:15 a.m., excited for what the morning would hold, and donned her favorite camouflage sweatshirt.

"She was dead four times in the first three months of her life," Jeff said of his daughter. "Gone and back. She's a tough little girl. Events like this are a highlight for her."

The Hartwig trio was hooked up with Owen Johnson, 53, of Barneveld to fish aboard his 32-foot boat. Johnson's friend, Mike Devorak, 54, of Lodi served as first-mate.

Storms had raced through the region in the days before the event and scattered the fish, Johnson said.

"That's OK, we'll find them," Johnson said.

Johnson steered his boat southeast from the harbor mouth and began to set lines in about 150 feet of water.

Devorak brought a box of spoons and tinsel flies to Megan and let her select the lures for the day. 

Within minutes, two downriggers were set and six other lines were run on planer boards.

"Come on fish," Megan said.

The family and their fishing hosts were then absorbed in the adventure of a Lake Michigan outing: an orange horizon at dawn, herring gulls in the air, a brisk southeast breeze, the roll of the boat.

That's part of the USSA formula. As stated in its literature, the organization aims to "whisk families away from the mundane, man-made world of hospitals, and high medical bills by giving them a place of peace to focus on the quality of life, family ties, and the wonders of our natural world."

The organization has no paid staff and all funds are used to fulfill outdoor wishes for eligible families, youth and military veterans.

Johnson, who keeps his boat at a slip in Port Washington, has volunteered for the event for the last 10 years. He could be fishing this Saturday with friends and family, but instead signed up to - at his expense - take out people he'd never met.

"I get a ton out of it, just by meeting these great people and sharing the lake with them," Johnson said.

At 7:30 one of the port planer boards dipped beneath the waves.

"Fish!" Johnson shouted and pulled the rod from its holder. 

Megan then took the rod and began reeling with gusto. 

Five minutes later, after a little help from Johnson and her father, a 4-pound coho salmon was in the net.

"I caught it!" Megan said.

Over the next three hours, she also landed two other cohos of similar size.

A pair of steelhead came unbuttoned before they could be netted, and one unseen fish took line like a freight train before breaking off.

At 11, Johnson and Devorak brought in the lines and piloted the boat back to the marina.

The participants then gathered for a weigh-in, fish cleaning and lunch. The Lions Club served and sponsored the farewell meal.

The largest fish caught was a 23-pound chinook salmon landed by Tanner Fortman, 16, of St. Mary's, Ohio. Tanner had traveled to the event with his father, Todd.

The seven hour drive was worth it, Tanner said.

"I can't do this at home," he said, smiling.

Nor could Megan. Or any of the other 23 families at the event.

"Lots of bonding and memories being made," Placzek said. 

The Lake Michigan fishery has been estimated to provide a multi-billion dollar annual economic impact to the region.

And tournaments are held to recognize fishermen for their catching prowess.

But only when you include intangibles generated from volunteer-run events like the USSA outing, and the involvement of anglers such as Megan, can you get a complete sense of the fishery's high value.