A champion’s comeback

The road to Norm Lindsay’s record third Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship win didn’t include improving on his deep water technique. Nor was it catching onto Rainy Lake’s tricky patterns.
For a lifelong angler, this particular road went beyond fishing. Victory came on the heels of recovering from two cracked vertebrae suffered in a car accident involving him and angling partner Jess Swenson last March.
“I went and got neck surgery to get my discs fused together,” recalled the 34-year-old Lindsay between accepting congratulations and meeting well-wishers after he and Swenson bagged 55.72 pounds to win the FFCBC.
“Six weeks of physiotherapy. It was pretty intense,” he added.
Swenson, who came away unharmed from the accident, said he’s seen a renewed Lindsay after his mandatory physiotherapy ended, and prefishing for the FFCBC began. “[Norm’s] feeling much better these days. Thank God he came away with that O.K.”
It wasn’t too long ago when Norm was one half of the famed Lindsays (with brother Dave) one of the region’s finest bass fishing duos. They captured the inaugural FFCBC crown in 1995 and again in 1997, as well as the 1998 Kenora Bass International title.
Dominance led to a change of partners–a chance to get family and friends involved. Dave fished with nephews Scott and Colin Gluting while Norm fished with Jess, the son of his old friend, the late Ted Swenson.
“Every time we won a tournament together, we decided to fish with the kids,” said Norm. “I’ve known [Jess] since he was a baby. I’ve just grew up taking him fishing.”
“My dad moved to Sioux Narrows from the [United States] and they worked together,” said Jess. “He’s been a real friend of the family over the years.”
Norm credited support from his family, especially long-time girlfriend, Kari, in his recovery.
“Family had a lot to do with it. Kari took care of me through the tough times,” he said. “The will to get back on the water was a major drive, too.”
Those close to Norm and Jess know how tough it was watching them finish 39th in last year’s FFCBC. Engulfed in a neck brace, Norm still hit Rainy Lake but was merely a shell of his former self.
“I was fishing to keep my spot,” he said. “I take pride in fishing here every year . . . but it was very frustrating, one of my poorest showings.”
“While he was still in braces, the doctors told him not to get in the boat and he got in the boat,” said family friend and fellow angler Dorese Harrison. “Considering that, it’s amazing what this man has done.”
“I’m so happy for him,” echoed 2001 FFCBC co-champ Steve Ballan, a self-proclaimed “bass pupil” of the Lindsays.
And even as the final 10 boats were paraded into the tent–a sign of Norm’s return–he gave that moment to Jess.
“I wanted Jess to hold the fish up, so he can experience it. It was thrilling for me to see him enjoy that moment,” he said.
“It was awesome. Really nerve-racking, though,” said Jess on the experience.
Entering KBI in two weeks, there’s no doubt Norm and Jess are on a roll. They finished 10th at Sturgeon Bay and third at Shoal Lake before this past weekend’s win.
The two families will warm up for KBI with Jess’ wedding this weekind.
“It’s the only way we could squeeze into our schedules,” said Jess.
“Everything is starting to come back together. Things are good,” said Norm.