When you fish hard, sometimes things break. Unfortunately, those “things” aren’t always fishing gear. In this video, professional walleye angler Gary Parsons shares the story of when his co-angler broke his back during a big walleye tournament on Lake Sakakawea.

Gary Parsons was leading angler of the year in the Cabela’s circuit on Lake Sakakawea when he drew an elderly co-angler for the last tournament of the year. The forecast was for 35-40 mph winds out of the Northwest, which is the worst possible wind for Sakakawea. Gary warned his co-angler of the danger, but the man was determined to make the most of his opportunity and decided to go.

The two made it up to the lake without any issues, but when they got to the last corner, they were met with 8-9 foot waves. Gary hugged the shorelines tighter than normal and started fishing, but soon the other bullets were on top of them. Gary decided to nurse the boat across the lake to a calmer area, but before they could get there, his co-angler slipped off the seat and hit the console. He was soon throwing up and Gary knew they had to get him to the nearest boat landing, 10 miles away.

Gary was able to raise a rancher on the Marine Band and he came to help. It took hours to get to the boat landing, but by then, Flight for Life was there with a helicopter and they flew the co-angler out to Minot. The rancher was scared to death of the water, but he went with Gary back to the tournament. Gary was able to make it back in time and ended up winning angler of the year.

The co-angler had broken his back and was in the hospital for a while, but when Gary called to tell him he had won, the man was ecstatic. He told Gary to use him for inspiration and Gary went out and caught the heaviest weight of the tournament.

This story is a testament to the power of determination and the kindness of strangers. Gary Parsons was able to overcome the odds and win angler of the year, and his co-angler was able to make the most of his opportunity, despite the risks.

The Forecast

The forecast for the tournament was for 35-40 mph winds out of the Northwest, which is the worst possible wind for Lake Sakakawea. This can cause 10-foot waves, making it rougher than Hawaii and Port Fort Peck.

The Decision

Gary warned his co-angler of the danger, but the man was determined to make the most of his opportunity and decided to go. He told Gary that he had been trying to get him or Keith as a co-angler draw for four or five years and he couldn’t let this opportunity pass him by.

The Journey

The two made it up to the lake without any issues, but when they got to the last corner, they were met with 8-9 foot waves. Gary hugged the shorelines tighter than normal and started fishing, but soon the other bullets were on top of them. Gary decided to nurse the boat across the lake to a calmer area, but before they could get there, his co-angler slipped off the seat and hit the console. He was soon throwing up and Gary knew they had to get him to the nearest boat landing, 10 miles away.

The Rescue

Gary was able to raise a rancher on the Marine Band and he came to help. It took hours to get to the boat landing, but by then, Flight for Life was there with a helicopter and they flew the co-angler out to Minot. The rancher was scared to death of the water, but he went with Gary back to the tournament. Gary was able to make it back in time and ended up winning angler of the year.

The Outcome

The co-angler had broken his back and was in the hospital for a while, but when Gary called to tell him he had won, the man was ecstatic. He told Gary to use him for inspiration and Gary went out and caught the heaviest weight of the tournament. The power of determination and the kindness of strangers. Gary Parsons was able to overcome the odds and win angler of the year, and his co-angler was able to make the most of his opportunity, despite the risks.