June 1st and 2nd were very special days for Tackle HD Owner, Aaron Click, and our good friend Ben Hill. Aaron and Ben were invited to participate in an amazing event hosted by the Minnesota National Guard called Trolling For Troops. This event pairs volunteer guides with veteran and active duty soldiers for a day on the water. A small thank you to our service men and women for all the sacrifices they have made. The event takes place out of Camp Ripley in Little Falls, MN... Just a short distance from the famed Mille Lacs Lake and Upper Mississippi River.

Aaron, Ben, and their lovely wives left St. Clair, MO on Wednesday, May 31st  and traveled through the night arriving in Minnesota on the morning of Thursday, June 1st. They immediately dropped their River Pros in the Upper Mississippi and set off to figure out the bite for the next days event. Needless to say, this famed smallmouth river did not disappoint! Numerous fish in the 3-5 lb range were more than willing to crush a Hi-Def Craw or spinnerbait!

Thursday night featured a dinner and meet and greet for everyone participating in the event. An amazing night of camaraderie and fun! Aaron and Ben were paired up with the soldiers they would be fishing with the next day and it was at that point they truly understood the full meaning of this trip!

Friday was more of the same! Aaron and Ben put their soldiers on some outstanding fish! Stories, laughs, smallmouth, and lures were flying around the boat. Life-long friends were made and an even greater respect for our military was gained. What a truly amazing event to be a part of!

Thank you to all our service men and women! Thank you to the Minnesota National Guard! Thank you to Camp Ripley! Thank you to the Upper Mississippi Smallmouth Club! And thank you to Kevin Turner, owner of River Pro Jetboats, for the invite and hospitality! Job well done Aaron and Ben... You made us proud!