The Walleye Warrior 24hour Ice Fishing Marathon is now an annual event.

"In Memory of Brian LeClair - Founder"

The first annual Walleye Warrior 24 hour Ice Fishing Marathon took place on March 5-6, 2005 in Gimli. One of the leading lights in organizing of fund-raiser wasn't able to drop his fishing line into Lake Winnipeg. Brian LeClair died Monday February 7, just a month before the inaugural event. LeClair, owner of a sporting goods agency, hatched the idea for the ice fishing marathon along with Lyn Delorme, a surgical instrument technician at Winnipeg’s Health Science Centre, and retired Manitoba Lotteries staffer Denis Morissette.

LeClair’s fishing handle was ‘Walleye Warrior’. What began as fund-raiser for CancerCare Manitoba has become an event dedicated to the memory of one of its principal founders. Bev Roberts is with CancerCare Manitoba. “Brian had been battling cancer for the last five years,” she said. “He wanted the ice fishing marathon to raise money for volunteer patient support services -- the people who provide a wide range of help to people waiting for treatment at CancerCare.

Unfortunately, he passed away just prior to the event.” “Brian really was touched by the compassion of our volunteers,” said Roberts. Fellow organizer Morissette said he has fielded dozens of calls since news of LeClair’s death spread. Organizers are more determined than ever that the ice fishing marathon become an annual event. “Since Brian’s death, its been crazy,” said Morissette. “It really has taken off. It’s definitely given us more drive. It’s turning into a tribute to a man who touched the lives of a lot of people.”

The seed for the marathon was planted during a weekly on-line chat on the Walleye Warrior web site, a site developed by LeClair, an angling aficionado. “Someone asked, ‘When is the best time of day for fish to bite?’ “Another person replied that, ‘In order to know that you'd have to fish 24 hours. And then it went to, so why don't we all get together and fish for 24 hours? That is when Brian suggested raising money for CancerCare.”

Both Morissette and Roberts single out Gimli Mayor Kevin Chudd and tourism board member Blair Ellison who have been more than accommodating. “They've really been going overboard for us,” said Morissette. “With Gimli's blessing, we are certainly planning to make this an annual event.” A family affair: The two-day ice fishing marathon began Sat., March 5 at 10 a.m., as registered contestants began their 24 hour stints at fishing holes off Gimli Harbour. A variety of prizes, including a top prize of a 12-ft. Lund were given away.

A foot note to this original story. More than $13,000 dollars was raised in the first marathon. Thousands in prizes were also given out as prizes to participants.

Here is an additional article appearing in the Gimli Spectator: Ice fishing marathon a hit; first outing raises $13,000 FULL STORY