A full field of 52 Teams from Wyoming, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan and Illinois arrived at the City of Hennepin for the 2nd Annual Adult Young Angler Competitive fishing tournament. The teams consisted of fathers, Grandfathers, and friends with the youngest participant of 4 years old to the maximum age of 17. Every team was a winner with all the kids receiving a grab bag full of fishing equipment, trophies for the day on the water and prizes. The day concluded with a cook out in the park for everyone.
Thunderstorms and rains two days before the tournament on June 1, 2008 in the Illinois Valley finally gave the fishing teams a break on Sunday with bright sunny skies, mid 80’s on the temps but the river had risen about 3 foot and water clarity had gone down causing the fishing to be tough.
The winners Mike Thomas, Ginger Thomas, and Jake Thomas from Wilton Center, Illinois caught a limit of 5 Saugers weighing 6.19 pounds. the father, daughter, and son team were trolling double Rapalas at the Hennepin flats on lead core. For the first place win the team received a brand new Lund Boat, Mercury Outboard and Shorlander trailer. They will also receive an invite to the Lake of the Woods International Championship on August 16, 2008 along with $500.00 expense money to compete against 19 other regional winners from the United States and Canada.
The winners of the International Championship will receive a two tier Grand prize fly-in trip for 6 for 4 days, 3 nights to Mininiska Lodge, in Ontario and then depart for 4 days and 3 nights to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Placing second was Max Actis and Matt Healy from Spring Valley with five fish weighing 5.92 pounds. The third and final limit of the day went to Adam Sandor, Kaylan Trompinski, and Chris Harsted, from Tonica, Illinois with 5 fish scaling 5.96 pounds. Complete results can be found at http://www.prairielandeyes.com or http://www.hennepinmarine.com If you would like to be involved or need additional information on the Angler Young Angler Tournaments you can go to http://www.angleryoungangler.com
The 3rd Annual Tournament will be held on June 3, 2009 in Hennepin, Illinois.
We would like to Thank our fine Sponsors for all the support and donations for the event without your help we could not make this event happen for the kids. Lund Boats, Mercury Marine, Hennepin Marine, Illinois Walleye Trail, Jennifer Franks, Dan Wheaton, Marquis Grain, A&M Guttermen, Illinois Commercial Fishing, Walleye Central, Ball Warehousing and Distribution, JT’S Grill, Midwest Trophy, Spring Valley Bank, Hennepin Township, City of Hennepin. North Central Bank, Spring Valley Walleye Club, Bank of Cherry, Mittal Steel, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Staples, Eagle Claw, Guy Lopez, Jim Melton, Frabill, Reef Runner, Adventure Sports Outdoors, Hagens, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Rattle Trap, Country Companies, Heartland Outdoors, Spring Valley Boat Club, Larry’s Fishing Hole, Hutch’s Tackle, John Mannerino, Blakemore Tackle, Oak State Products, Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Casey’s General Store, Spring Valley Walleye Club, Guerrinni Financial, Order of St. Francis, Midwest Outdoors.