The Big Horn Basin chapter of Walleyes Unlimited has engaged in a number of conservation and community service projects throughout the year; this year they collaborated with Polestar Outdoors to take local youth on a fishing trip at Buffalo Bill Reservoir.

Walleyes Unlimited is a nonprofit organization whose “main mission is education and young fishermen, conservation and community service, all around walleyes,” Pat Slater, president of the Big Horn Basin chapter said.

Polestar Outdoors is also a nonprofit organization that works to give youth hunting, camping, fishing and competetive shooting experience. The organization aims to educate youth about conservation ethics, safety and other outdoor issues. 

According to Slater, Walleyes Unlimited did a variety of community service projects this year. First, the members picked up trash at Deaver Reservoir and erected two signs on the often blocked boat entry point.

“The reservoir is where we first did our first community service cleaning up trash and we do that in the spring kind of on an annual basis”, Slater said. “So this was just a continuation of our help with public use of Deaver Reservoir for fishing and there’s a pretty good walleye population in there.”

The chapter was also aided by Sam Hochhalter, the head fisheries biologist for Game and Fish in the Cody Region. The signs were provided to Hochhalter by the Bureau of Reclamation office. The Big Horn Basin chapter purchased the material to mount and stabilize the signs and on July 23, members Slater, Jim Liner and Marvin Mathiesen installed the signs.

With the cooperation of the Bureau of Reclamation and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department they put up informational signs to prevent people from parking in from the small boat ramp. The area would often be confused for a campsite due to a nearby fire pit and table. 

They also awarded a $500 scholarship to 2022 Powell High School graduate Reed Smith which will last for two years. Smith is currently attending school in Wisconsin and pursuing a career in fisheries. 

They partnered with Polestar Outdoors to take roughly 20 children ranging from 10-16 years old  fishing on Buffalo Bill Reservoir Aug. 13.  Big Horn Basin chapter members worked to provide their personal fishing boats and pontoons along with Polestar Outdoors who helped the Walleyes Unlimited chapter find children eager to fish. The event took several months to plan and organize in order to get enough boats, life vests and get all fishing gear in order. Once all of the logistical issues were settled the group was able to fish for 2 1/2 hours before having a noon picnic. 

“For most of the kids, it was a totally new experience to be out on a large fishing boat,” Slater said. “Most of these are tournament grade fishing boats. They’re not your run of the mill guppy.”

Both Polestar Outdoors and the Big Horn Basin chapter hope to continue the fishing trip next year at an earlier date where the fish may be more eager to bite, but agreed that it was an excellent experience for both the mentors and the youth.

According to Justin Henderson of Polestar Outdoors, Chris Fry, who is vice president of the Big Horn Basin chapter of Walleyes Unlimited said, “He said it was the best day of his life. But don’t tell his wife.”

“There’s no doubt it was very successful from both sides. Walleyes Unlimited, and the kids and Polestar Outdoors,” Polestar Outdoors co-founder Ron Vining said. 

Both Polestar Outdoors and Walleyes Unlimited encourage people to reach out via Facebook or Polestar Outdoors website to participate in next year’s fishing trip or in other ways throughout the year.

Walleyes Unlimited is currently hoping to have a fundraising banquet in the fall of 2023, all proceeds go to funding community service projects and activities. 

“So we purchased the material for the signs, we’ve got the scholarship, and then the food and everything else for the kids was all out of the money that we raised through fundraising banquet and donations,” Slater said.