Nonprofit organization in Lake Country gives free fishing trips to veterans

PEWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) – A nonprofit in southeast Wisconsin is creating a way for veterans to get hooked on a healthy hobby.

Fishing for Good provides free fishing trips to veterans and first responders with professional guides. Sam Veith started the organization in 2021. Veith sees fishing as a way that can help veterans physically, mentally and spiritually.

“I had some friends come back from Iraq and Afghanistan and you can see they were struggling mentally, oftentimes dealing with their stress in unhealthy ways,” Veith said. “It’s become something where [veterans] really got a bond and a friendship out of it.”

Last year, Veith said 13 guides arranged 82 free fishing trips for veterans and their families. One of those guides, Captain Erik Lennartz, has created lasting connections with the people he takes out on the boat he uses with his fishing charter company, Tactical Angling.

“You can help some of these people deal with experiences or things that might be bothering them,” Lennartz said.

U.S Marine Corps Veteran Jeff Buth has hit the water multiple times with Lennartz.

“It’s calming. There’s no stress,” Buth said.

As Buth now battles cancer as a result of his service, fishing provides a way to relax.

“It was hard to adjust, but at this point, I enjoy every day I have and everything I get to do, and that’s all that matters,” Buth said.

You can read more about the organization here.