By Ken Wells
Lake Greenwood, South Carolina, was the location for the Take a Warrior Fishing, Inc., Southern Warrior Showdown on March 28, a veteran nonprofit 501 (c) (3). The event launched with a preregistration mixer at Fish Bonz General Store & Tackle the evening prior, drawing over one hundred Warriors, boaters, and volunteers. Fish Bonz arranged for a DJ, who provided music across various genres, while complimentary food was supplied by Break on the Lake and prepared by Rick & Don’s BBQ, Take a Warrior Fishing, Inc’s cooking team. As the evening concluded, preparations for the main event were underway.
On the morning of the event, Warriors and boaters checked in early and readied themselves for a day on the lake. Following a presentation of the nation’s colors by Emerald High School AFJROTC, participants observed a moment of silence and prayer. The event officially began at 7:55 AM, with 51 boaters accompanying 59 Warriors onto the water.
During the fishing activities, event staff and volunteers set up facilities for the participants’ return. The cooking team prepared food provided by Vector Force Development, complemented by side dishes from Break on the Lake. Weigh-in began at 2:00 PM, with attendees assembling to observe the results. Lauren’s High School, collaborating with the AFROTC, assisted in transporting fish from the docks to the weigh station. The event overall was well-received by the Lake Greenwood community.
Just to highlight some catches from the day, a female Warrior caught the largest fish of the day, weighing in at 17.1 lb. striper, while the Big Bass award was earned by a male Warrior with a 5.5 lb. largemouth bass. All participants received free food/drink, complimentary t-shirts, a raffle ticket, and Warriors were presented with a Lew’s American Hero rod and reel combo. The success of this event has motivated Take a Warrior Fishing, Inc., to return for 2027. Thanks to everyone for making this event a huge success, and for those about to fish, we salute you.