BRANSON, Mo. — Branson Bassmasters gave 17 Tantone Industries employees a chance to catch fish at Lake Taneycomo, June 12.
Tantone is an area workshop for adults with fundamental disabilities. Employees were treated to a fishing trip by 14 club members, who helped them catch trout, bass and bluegill while fishing from seven bass boats and three pontoon boats. In addition to providing the bass boats, the club supplied the employees with seven rod and reel combos, while Bass Pro Shops of Branson provided 10 Zebco rod and reel combos.
"Some of the employees were saying they had never been fishing before and never been in a boat before," said Joe Hreha, a Branson Bassmasters club member whose handicapped son worked at Tantone. "The club guys really enjoyed it. They had a little apprehension because they weren't sure how to handle and take care of [the employees] in the boat, but it went smoothly and everyone caught fish."
A Tantone employee was paired in each bass boat with a boater and nonboater club member. Each pontoon boat was filled with three or four Tantone employees, a Tantone staff member and a boater and nonboater club member.
Hreha said he thinks fishing with the Tantone employees has the potential to become an annual event for the club. "We haven't discussed yet if we are going to do it again in the future," he said, "but I'm sure it is going to be a topic of discussion because everyone had a wonderful time and it was a great success."
