HURON, Ohio — Sunrise comes awfully early for Lake Erie anglers, and the public boat ramp in Huron is a busy place.
Especially when they're six year old boys. "My name is Bill and we're going to get you some fish," says Wisconsin charter captain Bill Kutka.
He's soon to see that young Levi Lynch, the focus of this fishing trip, is no ordinary boy. Levi's dad Jessi Lynch explains. "On February 9 of this year, he was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia."
It's a very rare form of cancer and the treatment really has worn him down. But through it all, he's kept his love for the sport of fishing and a lot of anglers have noticed like Hayward, Wisconsin guide Bill Kutka, "We're going to get him out and get him some fish he's pumped, we're pumped."
Bill's Ranger boat cut through the Lake Erie chop and it was a short ride to the fishing grounds. Levi was raring to go, calling out "FISH ON!"
Levi caught a nice mess of fish including a Fish Ohio walleye and Fish Ohio white bass. He's a great angler. Levi's Dad says fishing is Levi's therapy. "He likes to say he wishes he was normal he wishes he was back normal but when he's fishing, he forgets all that."
Levi's big walleye weighed in at 8.95 pounds. A huge fish for a little angler that's touched the hearts of many, just like Captain Kutka. "We take care of each other, we take care of our own and this is our way, as an industry to get behind Levi."
Behind that incredible smile is one strong, young man. His Dad says Levi is a living example for us all. "Don't give up. That's what Levi says. Keep going, you know? Don't let something take a hold of your life and define who you are."
And that makes us all Levi Strong.
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