This was the 10th year that Aaron Donamaria and his wife, Sam, of Burlington have organized Warriors on the Water. They started the event in 2014, skipping 2020 due to the pandemic.

Donamaria said he and a friend started the event as a way to give back to local veterans. His friend moved on, but he and his wife have kept the organization going with the help of a dedicated group of volunteers.

“It runs pretty smooth with a small contingency of guys,” Donamaria said.

On Saturday, 55 warriors took part, along with 24 boats captained by volunteers.

Jill Schramm/MDN Craig McBean, left, and Klint Steele, right, stop at the Van Hook campground shelter after spending the day fishing with Warriors on the Water Saturday

Ryan Currier, Minot, who is active-duty Air Force, said he was impressed all he had to do was show up. A fishing rod was provided, along with fishing guidance from a boat captain who also cleaned his fish for him.

“When I first got stationed in Minot, which is about a year ago, I heard from other people that you have to sign up for this event – that this is like the coolest thing. And now that I’m coming here, I’m just blown away,” he said. “It almost brings tears to your eyes how nice it is. I really enjoyed it.”

That the event fell on his birthday multiplied his enjoyment, he said.

“I didn’t know it was important to me before I showed up, but it’s important to me now,” he said. “I’m going to tell all my friends.”

Craig McBean of Minot, a return participant in Warriors on the Water, said the walleye fishing at Saturday’s event was especially good.

“Last time we caught exactly the limit and we were, like, the last ones to haul it in. This time, we limited out in the first two hours,” said McBean, who added they practiced catch and release once they reached their limit.

“If you catch one fish or 40, as long as they’re having fun, that’s the main thing,” said McBean’s fishing partner, Klint Steele of Garrison, a first-time captain.

“It was a lot of fun. Craig is a good fisherman, and it was a good time,” Steele said.

Stationed at Minot Air Force Base since 2019, McBean, an Alaska native, said he has had experience with fishing and has fished Lake Sakakawea with a buddy. But fishing with Steele offered something new.

“He took me to spots out here I’ve never been to,” McBean said.

Theo Toliver, who came to Minot with the Air Force more than 13 years ago, gained his first experience with Warriors on the Water several years ago as a warrior.

“The following year I became a board member,” he said. He also now regularly volunteers as a captain.

“It’s always been a great event. It’s always had a great turnout, and it’s something that everybody looks forward to every year. A lot of regulars come back and a lot of the same captains always volunteer their time,” he said.

Toliver added he’s lost military friends to suicide and believes such tragedy can be prevented by breaking through the isolation that newly stationed personnel can experience in a rural area.

“If I can help take them outside and help fight a little bit of the depression, maybe take that edge off, that’s, honestly, the main reason why I do this – so I can, hopefully, prevent suicide,” he said.

Warriors on the Water has grown from about 25 warriors and 12 boats the first year to more than 100 warriors several years ago, Sam Donamaria said. Participation now is limited to around 50 warriors to keep the event manageable.

Aaron Donamaria said the event draws veterans from all major branches of service and even has had Coast Guard veterans at times. Older veterans who don’t have boats still can enjoy a day of fishing, he said, while new recruits at Minot Air Force Base who don’t think there’s anything to do in North Dakota get a pleasant surprise.

“This is showing them what we have to offer, and it really changes the mind of a lot of the younger airmen,” he said.

Aaron Donamaria noted the local Warriors on the Water is not affiliated with any national organization but is sustained through support from around the state. Businesses have donated, including one that provides all the bait every year, and financial donations help provide door prizes and a meal to close out the day. The event also is dependent on the individuals who donate their boats and time.

Donamaria said he welcomes more volunteers to get involved. They won’t be disappointed based on the positive feedback Donamaria said he’s received from past warriors and captains.

“It’s a really good day all around,” he said.