FishRook
DANBURY — Fresh from Candlewood Lake, the bass flopped inside its mesh bag as Capt. Alan Guite lifted it onto the scale and read the weight: 6.26 pounds. Around him, military veterans in baseball caps and T-shirts looked on. It was the lunker of the day.
On Tuesday, Candlewood Lake was home to the annual open-water, bass-fishing tournament for military veterans. Participants included veterans with a permanent physical disability, visual impairment or post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Gaylord Sports Association, Connecticut BASS Nation and the Major Steven Roy Andrews Fishing Outreach Program — a nonprofit that helps veterans and at-risk children develop a love for fishing — organize the event each year.
During the tournament, veterans are paired with an fisherman and boat captain from Connecticut BASS Nation, and provided with equipment and tackle, snacks and drinks.
The free event is covered in part by a U.S. Department of…
