It's February 4, 2023 — Joseph Salmon was up to his chest in the frigid waters of West Lake Okoboji.
He waded through the waters toward a sinking Jeep, its 83-year-old driver trapped inside with his dog. Without hesitation, the at-the-time 17-year-old from Okoboji High School smashed the rear window with a pocket knife and crawled into the vehicle.
That afternoon in 2023 made Salmon a national hero. Eight months later, a hunting accident nearly took his life.
Now at the age of 20, Salmon has transformed his story of rescue and recovery into "Hooked on Hope," a book chronicling his journey from small-town savior to survivor. The community that once rallied to support his medical bills is gathering once again — this time to celebrate his resilience and raise funds through a weekend event.
"Hooked on Hope: A Weekend with Joseph Salmon," runs June 14-15, featuring a book signing, comedy show and an intimate fishing and media event. Proceeds benefit Salmon, who continues his recovery while sharing a message — a message of perseverance that resonates far beyond the Iowa Great Lakes Region.
INTO THE FROZEN LAKE
The act that launched Salmon into the national spotlight unfolded during the annual Okoboji Vintage Snowmobile Races on Feb. 4, 2023. Tom Lee, 83, was driving his Jeep across East Lake Okoboji toward his son-in-law's fish shack when he made the fateful decision to pass underneath the Highway 71 bridge.
Ice conditions near the bridge are notoriously poor, due to currents that prevent thick ice formation — a fact that Lee learned too late.
The Milford man drove the route about three weeks earlier, having moved to the area only a year prior.
"I'll never go through there again," Lee said.
Emergency personnel received the first call at 1:19 p.m., but five fast-acting bystanders had already sprung into action. Salmon, who had been ice fishing with his mother, watched Lee's vehicle pass their fishing hole and head toward danger.
"I know what's back there," Salmon said. "You're not supposed to drive back there, no matter what. That's not a safe place."
Along with Corey McConnel of Spirit Lake, Cody Chester of Estherville, Chris Parks of Hawarden and Kody Harrelson of Nevada, Salmon chased after the jeep. The teenager had his thumb poised to dial 911.
Lee appeared to spot open water near the bridge and attempted to turn around, but momentum carried his vehicle forward. The Jeep's front end crashed through the ice into water that was approximately 4-5 feet deep, with temperatures around 32.7 degrees.
Lee's rescuers waved to him, shouting for him to exit the vehicle, but the driver sat motionless in his seat, unable to open the door as his Jeep slowly sank.
Salmon didn't hesitate for a moment. Stripping off his layers of clothing, he plunged feet-first into the bone-chilling water.
"It was up to my waist," Salmon said. "I took one step, and it went to about my chest. So if no one was there, I don't think it would have ended good for him and the dog."
Memory guided Salmon's next move. He had once witnessed his cousin break the rear window of an overturned truck to free a trapped driver near Lake Park. Using McConnel's pocket knife, Salmon smashed the Jeep's back window.
The teen first rescued Lee's dog Cooper, tossing the animal toward McConnel and Chester. But Lee remained trapped, his foot stuck between the seat and the center console. Salmon crawled inside the sinking vehicle, freed the man's foot and helped him toward the shattered rear window.
The Jeep's front end jolted downward. Water came rushing in.
"It scared me, but I was more or less worried about getting him out," Salmon said. "I didn't really worry about it, but I could feel the Jeep going down."
When Lee still couldn't escape, Salmon re-entered the sinking vehicle and adjusted the rear seat to create a wider escape path. Harrelson, watching Salmon struggle, jumped into the water to help.
"There's just really no choice," Harrelson said. "He was stuck in the window and there were no rescue workers on site yet. Somebody had to do it."
Together, the teens carried Lee through the freezing waters to safety, while Parks relayed information to emergency personnel. The group headed to the nearby Okoboji Store for warmth and dry clothes. McConnel happened to have a key through his lawn care work for access to the business.
Lee was taken to Lakes Regional Healthcare and released the same day. Salmon, who had lost his shoes during the rescue and sustained minor cuts to his hands, torso and toes, was also cleared to leave.
The teen returned to ice fishing that afternoon, catching a perch and a bass.
TRAGEDY STRIKES
The rescue made Salmon a local celebrity, earning him national media attention.
Athletic shoe companies were encouraged to provide the multi-sport athlete with new shoes to replace those lost in the lake.
For a time, life was hectic — but things eventually returned to normal. Track, football and wrestling kept Salmon busy. He planned to attend Simpson College on a football scholarship, while pursuing an engineering degree.
Then came October.
Salmon was duck hunting with friends at the Spring Run Wildlife Management Area when a hunting accident changed everything.
Shot in the side of the head, the 18-year-old senior was airlifted to Avera Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota., an occurrence Dickinson County Sheriff Baloun could only recall happening a handful of times in his 20-year-career.
"I already knew he was duck hunting, so you automatically think the worst," Tammy Salmon, Joseph's aunt, said while recalling the family's panic.
Salmon underwent hours of surgery and was placed in a medically-induced coma. Two pieces of buckshot remained too deep for surgeons to remove safely. The main concerns were blood clots, swelling and the risk of aneurysms.
But Salmon fought through it. That same fighting spirit which helped him save a stranger from icy waters emerged again. When sedatives were removed, he moved his legs, squeezed hands and acknowledged his visitors.
"He's definitely staying strong," Tammy Salmon said during the early days. "We know he's not paralyzed — for now, we know he can move his fingers and hands, which is amazing."
COMMUNITY STRONG
That same community that celebrated Salmon's heroism rallied around his recovery. Fundraisers popped up around the region. Liberty National Bank in Okoboji established a donation account. Local businesses contributed proceeds from sales.
Ruthven Locker donated 22 percent of its sales on Oct. 22, 2023, matching Salmon's football jersey number. The Prairie Lakes Delta Waterfowl Chapter partnered with Timber Waterfowl to sell T-shirts bearing the number 22 and Salmon's name.
Fifth-grader Charlie Sires created artwork for "Be a Hero, For a Hero" shirts, with all proceeds supporting the family. The community understood that the young man needed their help.
Tammy Salmon said the accident shows why gun safety matters.
"One mishap can just take and ruin so many people's lives," she said. At the time, she was worried her nephew might never be able to fish, hunt and do all the things he's done his whole life, all over one "careless mistake."
FINDING HOPE ON THE WATER
Recovery proved to be a long and challenging venture, but Salmon discovered solace in an unexpected place: fishing.
"With every cast, Joseph reminds us that even life's hardest battles can lead us to deeper waters — and just maybe to a new beginning," the synopsis of his book read.
The book, "Hooked on Hope," is a memoir which chronicles Salmon's journey from heroic headlines through traumatic injury through his recovery. It's told through the quiet strength of fishing, and the enduring strength of the Midwest.
In spring of 2024, Salmon graduated from Okoboji High School, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd when he got his diploma.
Salmon chose to keep showing up — "for himself, for others and for the quiet hope he found on the water."
CELEBRATING RESILIENCE
The upcoming June 14-15 weekend reflects Joseph Salmon's heroism, perseverance and ongoing recovery from an outdoors accident.
Saturday, June 14, begins with a book signing from noon to 3 p.m. at Oak Hill Outdoor. The event includes drinks, lawn games and family activities.
That evening, comedian Dustin Ybarra brings his show to the Oak Hill Outdoor from 8-9:30 p.m.
Sunday's fishing and media event, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will showcase Salmon's passion for angling and healing, with cameras rolling for a segment about his journey. The location is yet to be announced.
Organized by Circus Street Comedy and coordinated by volunteers like local filmmaker Zach Koepp, the weekend has more than fundraising — it's a celebration of Salmon's endurance and the community's consistent support.
For Salmon, whose story began with split-second heroism, the weekend shows that recovery, like fishing, requires patience, hope and faith. Sometimes the best catches come after the longest waits.
"He always thinks of other people," Tammy Salmon said.
From the icy waters of Okoboji to the pages of "Hooked on Hope," Joseph Salmon's journey continues — one cast, one page, one day at a time.
Tickets and information for "Hooked on Hope: A Weekend with Joseph Salmon" are available at circusstreetcomedy.com. Donations may be mailed to PO Box 109, Okoboji, IA 51355, attention Matt Mueller.