The 1st Annual Lake Delton Youth Fishing Jamboree on June 5th was a large success!

The Journey

June 10th 2008...little did I know a day after the disaster back then when I called Dan Small to join me in support and the founding of this project, just how many great people and organizations would step up to join me, us, and the project, virtually guaranteeing its success.

June 11th 2008, just 2 days after the disaster, I called early, drove up and met Tom Diehl in his Lake Delton Tommy Barlett offices to discuss the project, gain his approval and support, which he did. That same day, I met with the Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau's Melanie Platt-Gibson.

The week of June 16, I was invited and traveled to Lake Delton to form the Lake Delton Fisheries Restoration Task Force made up of myself, Dan Small, Gordie Priegel (Retired DNR FB, LD Village Trustee) and Tim Larson (DNR Fisheries Biologist).

June 20 2008, only days later - the project gained the support of the Outdoor Writers Association of America at their national convention in Bismarck, ND before a crowd of enthusiastic writers and media professionals from all over the country who ran with it in support of this natural disaster area, the project's mission to restore and enhance the area, the timeline, and promoting visibility of the project at the national level and across media channels. The project was published in the OWAA newsletter June 20th 2008, announced at opening breakfast and then in a press conference on the project was held by Dan Small and me before writers and media professionals once again from all over the country.

During the summer of 2008, Larson and Hobbins worked on an overall stocking and lake restoration plan - a volunteer and budget for structure enhancement and fisheries stocking.

July of 2008, a website was set up for the project where donor could adopt a reef, crib, or fingerlings in the name of Lake Delton.

August of 2008, in a media event coordinated with the DVCB, the project was announced locally and statewide with Tim Larson, Gordie Priegel, Dan Small and me in front of a wide array of media who have done such a nice job of keeping the Dells and Lake Delton front and center in such a positive way during restoration efforts.

Summer and fall of 2008 into early 2009, partners in restoring Lake Delton worked hard --from state and private entities, sponsors, to volunteers from all over the state and work was completed. The highway was rebuilt, the dam refurbished and improved, boat launches rebuilt, the carp eradicated, long rip rap reefs and fish cribs lain and installed by sponsors and supporters in strategic places on Lake Delton's bare lake bed, while monies and materiel were being raised in earnest.

Early and mid-spring 2009, Small and Hobbins present Lake Delton Fisheries Restoration project to Downtown Rotary in Madison and at southern and south western Wisconsin Rotary District 6250 Assembly meeting at the Wilderness in the Dells amid great support from Rotarians and media coverage.

Early April 2009, Lake Delton was at full pool.
April 20th, 2009 the first of millions upon millions of forage minnows from sponsor Gollons Bait and Fish Farm of Dodgeville, WI were released at the newly refurbished Adams Street boat launch with John Leinenkugel of Jacob Leinenkugel Breweries, Paul Fish of Preferred Distribution presenting a check to the project along with Gordie Priegel, Scot Stewart (DNR FB who replaced retired Tim Larson), Dan Small, myself and other officials and sponsors and others in a media event coordinated by the DVCB. A Leinenkugel Breweries and Preferred Distribution fundraising campaign was announced at this event with the sale of ''Leinie Canoes'' at local and area bars. Hobbins, Small, Leinenkugel, Fish and Diehl purchase first canoes in this effort.

June 9th 2009 marked the all day gala event to officially reopen Lake Delton in front of media and state fanfare -with the Governor, the Tourism secretary, the DNR secretary and other local officials present for the official ribbon cutting reopening of Lake Delton just 1 year after the disaster. That day, Dan Small and I had the opportunity to judge the boat parade with Lake Delton and Dell's mayors and Christine Bellport as well as have supportive conversations with Governor Doyle on the project. Later that day, Matt Frank, Gordie Priegel, Dan Small, Scot Stewart and myself, along with DNR fish hatchery staff and a pile of sponsors consecrated the very first release of game fish into Lake Delton. A raffle ticket selling campaign was announced by the project for a donated Crestliner™ boat by Brunswick Boat Group, a Mercury motor donation, and more was announced and commenced that day.

Summer and early fall 2009, 5000 more 6-7'' walleye fingerlings, and 1000's of 3-4'' small and large mouth bass, white catfish, crappies, perch, were released into Lake Delton, along with more volleys of forage minnow stock from Gollons.

Late October 2009, the first DNR fish shocking identified walleyes in the 8-10 inch class, well on their way to becoming keeper sized walleyes a year later.

December 2009, Preferred Distribution's Big Buck contest and LDFRP founders Hobbins and Small help MC the event and receive the check for the cash donation from the Crestliner™ Boat raffle of over $20,000 with an exchange of LDFRP certificates.

January 2010, LDFRP founders announce intention and event called the 1st Annual Youth Fishing Jamboree to be held at Lake Delton June 5, 2010 - a date that marks a year after stocking of the first game fish in Lake Delton, and the 2-year anniversary of the disaster and successful restoration of Lake Delton.

April 2010, Ben Hobbins receives permit approval for Jamboree. Planning starts in earnest for the Jamboree.

May 2010, Hobbins organizes Jamboree Committee. Lake Delton Administrator Kay MacKessey meets Hobbins at Kaminski Park at the birm area with Dan Small to go over the event and the site.

June 5th 2010, the event starts and finishes at Kaminski Park amid great fanfare by 50 youth and 150 or more mentors and volunteers.