Current Events and the FBO Staff

The FBO Staff has had a very busy summer while participating in various fishing tournaments, 3-D archery shoots and other outdoor functions as well as always thinking of new ideas to make the website more enjoyable for all of our members. We just wanted to give you a little bit of insight as to what some of the staff members have been up to as of late. By the sound of things everyone has kept themselves quite busy in the outdoors and for many of us we will be pitching fewer jigs and chasing more feathers and other wild game before the water hardens and holes are drilled.

Jason Wright, General Manager/Editor of FBO, teamed up with Loren Desjardins, FBO Field Staff member from northwest North Dakota throughout the summer, to fish some tournaments that were held on Lake Sakakawea. The duo had some successful tournaments and ended the summer with a second place finish at the Dakota Walleye Classic. Jason also teamed up with his father, Jim Wright, who has been his longtime fishing partner and they too fished a number of tournaments this past summer with successful results. Jason continues to take advantage of having the Missouri River so close to home as well as sharpening his archery skills in preparation for his upcoming big game archery hunts.

Ed Carlson, FBO Field Staff member from southeast North Dakota finished in second place while participating in the 2002 Cats on the Red Catfish Classic fishing tournament in Lockport, Manitoba, Canada. Ed and his partner weighed 8 catfish during the tournament with a whopping total weight of 181.62 pounds. He also had the privilege of filming a catfish segment recently on the Red River which is on the North Dakota/Minnesota border with Bob Jensen, host of "Fishing The Midwest", as well as Steve Smith from Berkely. "I think catfish, walleye, and river fans will find the segment educational, informative, as well as entertaining," said Ed. Ed also continues to keep himself busy guiding along the Red River for catfish and walleyes. Keep up the great work Ed and we will be eagerly awaiting the airing of the Catfish segment.

Kurt Schirado, President of FBO, along with Field Staff members, John Arman and Kevin Schirado, both from Bismarck, North Dakota; recently took a trip to northwest Minnesota in pursuit of black bear with their archery equipment. The trio will also be taking advantage of an elk hunting opportunity in the mountains of Idaho later this month, again toting their archery equipment. Kurt also spent a great deal of the summer honing his fishing skills while teaming up with Bismarck's Gerry Meissner during various fishing tournaments. The duo showed their fishing strengths when they boated enough walleyes during a tough bite in this year's ND Governor's Cup for a 7th place finish.

Wayne Muth, FBO Field Staff member from Mandan, North Dakota, was fortunate to get a "big game" jump on the rest of the FBO staff when he hooked up with Whispering Pines Adventures, Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, and was fortunate to participate in a 2002 spring bear hunt in a newly acquired bear area. Not only did James Ketch, owner and guide of Whispering Pines Adventures make available first rate accommodations for Wayne but he also provided an exciting and adventurous hunt enabling him to connect with a trophy spring black bear. Wayne graciously wrote a descriptive article focused on this aggressive hunt which will keep you on the edge of your seat; it will be released in the coming months. Wayne is currently preparing for upcoming bow hunts that the Badlands of North Dakota have to offer...antelope and mule deer.

Photo: FBO Field Staff member, Loren Desjardins and his wife Emma, enjoy a late evening walleye bite on Lake Sakakawea as the sun is setting in the background.