Rod Benders Multi Species Fishing League
Brainerd, Minnesota
Rodbender Memorial Tournament
AUGUST 13th 2022 - MISSISSIPPI RIVER, Rice Lake and up river
Brainerd, MN
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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***NEW!! Raffle, Fundraiser, Rules Meeting at the Brainerd American Legion
Friday, August 12th 5-8pm
We hold The Rod Benders Memorial Tournament to honor all past Rod Benders and to give back to our community through the local Fishing Has No Boundaries program held out of Camp Confidence.
See Registration Page for details.( RB Memorial Reg.)
Honoring: Tyler Magnan-2006 / Frank Caswell-2013 / Dean Hacker-2013 / Sterling Spicer 2017 / Ron Storstad 2018 / Dee Storstad 2019 / Buzz Guin 2021
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How it all started-
Tyler was a member of the Rod Benders Fishing Club. He thoroughly enjoyed fishing on the Mississippi River and that is why we hold this tournament here.
Tyler Magnan - 1985-2006
Tyler Timothy Magnan was born Sept. 10, 1985, in Lewiston, Maine, to Tim and Monique (Roy) Magnan. Tyler moved with his family to the Brainerd area in 1987. He graduated from Brainerd High School in 2004, and worked for Lind Construction. He was very proud of his accomplishments. He lived life to the fullest, enjoying many outdoor activities. Fishing was his passion and he especially enjoyed teaching others to fish. He volunteered at Camp Confidence in the "Fishing Has No Boundaries" program as well as in other programs taking children and disabled individuals fishing. Although his life was short, he made a lasting impression. He will be so greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. (From the Brainerd Daily Dispatch)
First Year 2007
ARTICLE IN THE BRAINERD DAILY DISPATCH - Year One
Memorial fishing tournament promotes good cause
The first Tyler Magnan Memorial Tournament, sponsored by RodBenders Fishing Club of Brainerd, was Saturday, Aug. 18, on the Mississippi River in Brainerd. The event netted more than $1,000 for Fishing Has No Boundaries, a Camp Confidence event that offers people with disabiilties the opportunity to fish for a day.
Tyler, my neighbor for most of his 21 years, died last December when his ATV went through the ice on Round Lake. He was a diehard fisherman, hunter and outdoorsman all his life, and he participated in RodBenders fishing tournaments each summer.
He fished many RodBender tournaments with his mom. Then he paired with his girlfriend, Beth, while his parents, Tim and Monique, fished together.
He also volunteered to take people with disabilities fishing each summer with Fishing Has No Boundaries at Camp Confidence.
It never mattered whether it was hot or cold, windy or calm, rainy or clear; no type of weather could keep Tyler off the lakes.
"He was a great fisherman and a great guy and I'm sure he's smiling down on us," Mike Guin of the RodBenders Fishing Club said about Tyler at the memorial fishing tournament picnic at the park in Merrifield.
Those of us who knew Tyler know how true those words are.
The memorial fishing tournament attracted 22 boats of two anglers each. At the picnic after the tournament, plaques and prize money were awarded to the top three places, and prize money was awarded to the fourth- and fifth-place finishers, as well as for the largest northern, walleye and bass caught. Tyler's grandpa, George Magnan, donated prize money for the top two co-ed teams.
Many area businesses donated food and raffle prizes. All money raised from the sale of $1 raffle tickets went to Fishing Has No Boundaries in memory of Tyler. Raffle ticket sales raised about $1,300 for the event.
The grand prize was an Abu Garcia fishing pole, and a young boy claimed the prize.
How appropriate. Perhaps he will follow in Tyler's fishing footsteps.
NANCY VOGT is editor of the Lake Country Echo in Pequot Lakes.
2018-
Since starting this tournament in 2007 with 22 teams we've grown to 50 teams!
In 11 years our donations to Fishing Has No Boundaries will now be over $41,000! FHNB is a great organization helping people with disabilities experience a day of fishing and fun! Many of our memorial tourn teams volunteer their boats/time and take out them out fishing for the day. It's a wonderful experience and a really fun time.
This tournament would not be such a success without the help of many volunteers and the generous donations from individuals and local business. Thank you!