SANDUSKY, Ohio — At Sandusky Bait Company, they offer the usual tackle shop fare. Owners Steve and Tammy Hammer are also big on giving back.
"All us fishermen, we try and rally around our own," Steve says.
Case in point: At a recent Lake Erie Walleye Trail event — yes, the tournament trail recently filling the news cycle — Steve was introduced to 6-year-old angler Levi Lynch, who's battling leukemia. They hit it off immediately.
"After that, he came to my kids derby," Steve recalled, "and I was fortunate enough to take him out in the boat with me."
Hammer recorded Levi on his cell phone, reeling in fish after fish. Sheepshead, perch, the species didn't matter — you can hear Levi say, "This thing wrecked it," while reeling in a nice fresh water drum.
That sheepshead fought hard, but not as hard as young Levi. Hammer video chats with him often to keep his spirits up.
"It's hard for me to see him going through this," Hammer said, "and I just feel like if I can impact him at all, that's what I'd like to do."
Steve is not alone.
Matt Maynard owns M&M Custom Painted Lures, and auctioned off a "LEVI STRONG" walleye lure at an event to help the brave boy.
"It went for $700 which is absolutely insane," Maynard, who donates custom lures to several different charities, told us.
One custom lure is only the start. This movement means so much to Levi, his family, and to the angling community.
"I've had grown men on the phone just busting out crying when they get their lures," Maynard explained, "because again, it's not about us; it's about this family and about Levi."
This young fisherman is making us all "LEVI STRONG." Hammer says this sense of community and caring for one another is what people need to see.
"I think what it really shows right now is the true heart of sportsmen," he said. "It's not anything negative; it's 'How can I help?'"
