Perham Teen to Catch 100 Fish in Fundraiser for Gabby's Gang

A 15-year-old Perham angler is turning a summer pastime into a fundraising push for a local charity that supports families with children in medical crisis. Bryce Olson was recently selected by Future Anglers of Minnesota to take part in a Fish-a-Thon competition that challenges participants to catch up to 100 fish in a single day while raising money for a chosen charity.

The competition pairs skill with fundraising: pledges are made per fish caught, with support tied directly to Olson’s haul. "People pledge a dollar a fish and up to 100 fish you can catch. They give you $100 to catch 100 fish. If you catch 50 fish, they give you $50," Olson said. Olson chose to raise funds for Perham’s Gabby’s Gang, an effort founded in memory of a local girl who faced multiple medical issues and now assists other families confronting similar crises.

Olson has deep roots in the county fishing culture. He has been on the ice since he was 2 years old and fishes summer tournaments; he also plans to compete on a tournament fishing circuit. "I fish almost every day in the summer. That is my favorite time of year to fish," Olson said. For the next few weeks his focus shifts from personal competition to community fundraising, practicing on a local lake and lining up pledges from neighbors, family and friends.

On Monday, Jan. 19, Olson spent time in an ice house on a top secret lake in Otter Tail County preparing for the Fish-a-Thon, which is scheduled for next month. The scene, a teenager in insulated gear, rigs and buckets, working methodically between holes in the ice, is a familiar one in this part of Minnesota, where ice-fishing and tournament circuits are part of the Northwoods rhythm. That local familiarity can help drive donations: small per-fish pledges add up quickly when neighbors and businesses in Perham and surrounding towns back a young fundraiser.

The choice to support Gabby’s Gang ties a recreational tradition to a social need. For families facing pediatric medical emergencies, local financial and emotional support can be decisive. Fundraisers like Olson’s also highlight how youth-led civic engagement channels community energy to local nonprofits whose work is often underfunded.

Residents who want to support Olson can pledge through a Google Form associated with his campaign or follow updates on the Bryce Olson Unreel Outdoors Facebook page. As the Fish-a-Thon approaches, Otter Tail County will have an early test of how a tight-knit community converts local pastimes into practical aid for neighbors in crisis.