Fishing Party Report 2014

The annual "Catch-Clean-Fry-Eat" Catfish Fishing party was held at the Sternadel pond on Saturday, May 17th, 2014. We had a total attendance of 45+ members, spouses & guests. The weather could not have been any better. And although the fishing was a bit slower this year as compared to last year's party (maybe due to the cooler weather or wind), we had more more people fishing this time. By the late afternoon, we had a total of 59 catfish in the tub! And although we had purchased a 2-gallon bucket of Benny Robert's famous catfish punch-bait for the occasion, there was only about 1/4 bucket of the bait left by the end of the fishing day. Many thanks goes to chapter member, Frankie Laitkep, for his outstanding "Bait Master" duties during the entire afternoon! Frankie's main duty was to keep all hooks baited with the wonderful aromatic bait. In all, the party was a great success and everyone had a wonderful and fun afternoon.

The event provided a great opportunity for taking a wonderful Chapter group photo under the Pioneer Well Service tent - see below.

Leonard Sternadel, president of VVA Chapter #1069 of El Campo Texas, and the Chapter itself, would like to express thanks and appreciation to all the following folks and Chapter members who helped make the event a great success.

A big Thank-You goes out to Pioneer Well Service of El Campo Texas (Joe Freeman) and Crew for letting the chapter use their large tents and for also setting them up and then taking them down.

Thanks to Kenneth Sternadel for contacting and working with Pioneer Well Service on using the tents.

Thanks to Bubba and Patsy Baker for doing all the cooking (frying fish, hush puppies & french fries, etc) and setting up the food line. The fried catfish was absolutely wonderful!

Thanks to Ryan Services (Mike Ryan) for the use of the porta potty.

Thanks to Bob & Sheila Supak for providing 2 gallons of the famous Benny Robert's catfish punch bait and also helping us set-up our tent and keeping the days activities going.

A big Thanks to Frankie Laitkep for volunteering as official "Bait Master" and "Fish Remover" during the entire event. Main "Bait Master" duties included the baiting of everyone's hook with the wonderfully aromatic catfish punch bait.

Thanks to Jimmy Neumann and Leonard Sternadel for performing the cleaning & fish preparation duties for 59 catfish!

Thanks to James Kulcak for bringing a truck full of ice chests, filled with various party goodies, and for making a run to town for additional party items that were needed.

Thanks to everyone who brought additional party foods, snacks, desserts and side dishes to the event. There were plenty of good eats for everyone.

And finally, the Chapter members, spouses & guests would like to express their appreciation and thanks to Leonard & Dana Sternadel for hosting the event and for letting all of us invade their property and privacy on such a beautiful Saturday afternoon. And I'm sure Leonard & Dana spent at least an hour or two mowing, weed-eating & grooming the place before our arrival. Of course I'm kidding as we all know they spent many hours/days preparing for our arrival. Be sure to thank them the next time you see them. Be sure to also thank them for allowing us to take 59 catfish from their pond and consume them with the greatest of joy!

Many thanks to Dana Sternadel and Carolyn Milder for providing the pictures shown below! Just so everyone knows, even someone with lots of computer experience (Bob Supak) can still be an idiot. I had taken over a 100 pictures and a dozen video clips at the party, with the intention of creating a pretty nifty report. However, while transferring all the pictures and videos from my cell phone to my computer, I accidently lost all of them. No need to explain the details, but it was one gigantic stupid senior moment.

So, if anyone has some nifty pictures they took at the party, either please send me a few or bring them to our next chapter meeting. I will then add them to this webpage at a later date.

Above photo - there was plenty of tent cover for everyone to sit under while fishing.

To have seen above chapter member, Frankie Laitkep and his protective "Bait Master" outfit, you would think that there was something potent about the Benny Robert's catfish stink bait that we had purchased for the fishing event. Ok, ok, maybe the bait was a bit overly pungent, however it seemed that the Sternadel catfish loved it! ALL 59 of them!

Again, much thanks to Frankie Laitkep for "volunteering" his services for the event, and even more thanks to his wife Gertrude for allowing Frankie to become in such close contact with the potent bait. I would imagine that Frankie slept in the garage that Saturday night!

It was an absolutely beautiful day for fishing and camaraderie amongst Vietnam Veterans, their spouses and guests!

The above photo shows everyone gathering for the evening meal - Yummmm - fresh fried Sternadel-fed catfish!

YES - A great day of camaraderie for VVA Chapter 1069 members and spouses! Note the U.S. & VVA flag flying in the background.

Above photo - Carolyn and Louis Milder's grandaughter shows off the BIG catfish she caught.

The above photo shows VVA Chapter 1069 president, Leonard Sternadel, and chapter member, Harold Simmons. Harold is about to lead the attendees in a meal prayer. Note the large foil pans on the table - freshly fried catfish, hush puppies & french fries!

The above photo shows Bubba and Patsy Baker & daughter (from El Campo). Much thanks to them for doing all the cooking (frying fish, hush puppies & french fries, etc) and setting up the food line. The fried catfish was absolutely wonderful!

Fishing Party Report - May 2014 [posted on: 5-27-2014]