Good afternoon everyone,
We have started the spin up for our event this year. A couple changes that are happening are the new date change, yes a new date! This year we are looking to do the dinner on June 18th and then fish on the 19th. Which means if you wish to get in on some good food and raffle prizes you will need to be at the dinner the night before. This will be also when we hand out the goodie bags to the captains which may include a number of things for your enjoyment. Last year we did a really cool mug, this year...who knows what our big guys in Whirlpool will come up with for you all.

Another event change that we will probably stick with is the weigh in like we did last year instead of everyone bringing the fish to the legion. So you can weigh in, go right to the dock and clean fish. 

This will likely be my last year with the event, my family and I have some huge plans for our future but will hopefully be able to return for events and get to fish with you all still. I am leaving you with a committee of some of the best folks I could put together to continue to make the event a success. Remember to stay flexible and be patient, we all have to operate within parameters set by our governor. 

Thanks for a great 5 years!
Scott Mann

Just a quick note to all participants including captains and crews as well as the TWTT committee and the SWMI Steelheaders board. Despite all the challenges and hiccups because of COVID-19 everyone was able to adapt, improvise, and overcome to make this year another success in spite of everything going against us. There have been some negative feedback about how it was run and how it turned out but don't listen to them, you all made it work and it was great.

We are sorry we couldn't do the after party like we usually do and hopefully this whole virus mess will be behind us for next year and we can continue to put on a great event that a majority of you appreciate and enjoy.

We hope that you guys and gals liked the cups this year as opposed to the t-shirts, it is something we are looking to do every year given how many sign up and drop out before the date, cups are one size fit all. There are a few other things we are discussing and as it is implemented it will be rolled out for next year. So please keep an eye out and follow the instructions given so you don't miss out. 

Thanks again, and hope we get to see you again next year. Congrats to Reel Sharpie on the win with a 21.8 lb king salmon, and is now the keeper of the TWTT flag and will lead us in for the next parade. 

Our date is set for August 22, 2020. We have lots of exciting stuff happening for this year. Can't wait to see you all again this year.

​Scott

As you all have probably already heard, we have our date set for this years event. If you haven't, it is scheduled for August 17th this year which is a Saturday.

Unlike last year there will be signups until we have enough standby Vets to cover drops. Which on that note, if you signup, you are committing to being here for the event. I have been burned twice so far by veterans that sign up and do a no call no show, some call the night before with some pretty lame excuses. If you are unsure you can make it please don't sign up until you know for sure. There are veterans that missed out that could have had a great time.

We are still looking for sponsors as well. If you know a business or individual that is looking to help veterans out, send them our way. If you are not a veteran or boat captain and would like to volunteer to help us out in some way, feel free to email us or contact us on our facebook page and we will see what we can do.

Thank you all and look forward to another great year with some awesome people.

​Scott Mann

With the 2018 event coming to a close, we would like to thank everyone that participated, donated, sponsored, or even just showed up to support the event.

We doubled the signups for both veterans and captains from last year and we needed every single one of you to make sure this event has become what it is. We also need to put a shout out to all our sponsors this year, big and small, because without all of your donations, monetarily and otherwise, this would just be another fishing trip, all of sponsors and donors help us take the event to another level that I feel really drives the point home we love and care about our veterans.

Extra special shout out to the American Legion post 568, auxiliary, and sons, Whirlpool, Mary from The Diet Center of St. Joseph, Pier 1000, and Veterans United Foundation for your unselfish donation and dedication to all that have worn the uniform both in peace time and at war. We appreciate your support and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

To Jim Marohn, Coho Bob Lausman, Ryan McCartney, Thumper, Stacey Shaffer, Phil Schuman, Mike Bryant, Eric Conder, Reed Mann

If it weren't for your support, help, and dedication to this event, I wouldn't have much to look forward to each year, I want to thank you all for taking my idea and making grow beyond my wildest dreams and control. It really means a lot and I look forward to working with all of you for as many years to come as we can keep it going.

Thank you all and Semper Fidelis,
​Scott Mann

If you are traveling here for the event and would like to get in a day early to avoid the drive early in the morning, we have secured a great deal at a local hotel. 

The Holiday Inn express and suites on hilltop road in St. Joseph has given us a rate of $99 for the night before the event. Call 877 666 3243 and mention Trolling with the Troops event staying the night of August 23rd to get the rate.  If you're wanting to book online, go to our Facebook page and click the link we posted. 

More may be coming so please keep an eye out and send an email to twttswmi@gmail.com and let us know what hotel and room you're if you need a ride in the morning courtesy of the American Red Cross in St. Joseph.

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We have added a sponsor/donation page to showcase those that support us and our mission. Please click on the Sponsors link above and support them. If anyone would like to donate to the cause please feel free to contact us at twttswmi@gmail.com  If I am missing anyone from the Sponsor page please let us know as well and I will get you added ASAP!

Thank you all and let's have a great outing this year.

​Scott

Signups have gone live. Please use the menu button at the top to navigate to your signup page or use the following links.

www.trollingwiththetroops.com/signup-2018.html  
www.trollingwiththetroops.com/captain-signup-2018.html

With a short amount of time to put the event together, everyone behind the scenes came through in superb fashion. There were some logistical issues, a boat snapped a drive shaft just a couple days before the event and had some trouble finding a place for that boats Veterans to still be able to go. We also had a lot more Veterans sign up than we had boat spaces, hopefully we will have more Captain volunteers this year and early word is that our success this year has spread and we could be looking at double the amount of Captains volunteering their time this for 2018.  

This was our maiden voyage for this event and a lot of things were learned by myself and have been researching ways to streamline everything. 2018 is starting to take shape and I am full on trying to get things in order way ahead of time to hopefully curtail any problems that may come up way before the day. With the help of co-founder Coho Bob Lausman and the Southwest Michigan Steelheaders board members and President Jim Marohn, we hope that this will another amazing event and one that will be talked about the whole year.

Thank you to all the sponsors, boat captains, and Phil Schuman at Tackle Haven for making it such a great event.

Please visit us and like our Facebook page here: ​https://www.facebook.com/twttswmi/