On Saturday, September 7, 2013, Lake Carlton in Morrison-Rockwood State Park sparkled under a summer sky, like this bluegill in a minnow bucket, adding to the enjoyment of those attending the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office and Mounted Patrol annual Youth Fishing Derby.
They have sponsored the derby for more than 40 years.
From 9:00 a.m. to noon the law enforcement agencies welcomed 135 youths aged 15 and under to this free event.
Donated prizes were awarded to all participants throughout the morning. Grand prizes were earned by those who caught the largest fish in each category and age group: bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, and muskie/walleye. Special prizes recognized individual effort, even if no fish was caught.
Each child’s fish was carefully measured and recorded. Sergeant Seth Janssen is shown below along the shore.
Combinations of skill and luck yielded lots of prizes. The winners are listed below–named from right-to-left–by fish species and in order of age groups: 0 to 7; 8 to 11; 12 to 15. Winners are from Illinois unless noted. *An asterisk denotes no qualifying fish was caught or multiple category winner, with a winner awarded by open draw.
Largemouth Bass: Dawson Price–age 5, Fulton; Ellie Arians–age 8, Morrison; Jarrette Wiebenga–age 12, Morrison
Crappie: Ava Duncan–age 4, Morrison; Taylor Swanstrom–age 8, Morrison; *Virginia Gray–age 14, Dixon
Catfish: Katie Swanstrom–age 2, Morrison, not shown; James Wheaton–age 9, Sterling, right; *Allison Scheer–age 12, Chadwick, center
Walleye/Musky: Austin Jones–age 7, Chadwick above left; *Brylee Kampe–age 8, Fulton, right; *Kerina Gray–age 12, Dixon, center
Bluegill/Sunfish: Ben Martinez–age 7, Montgomery, above left; Stephanie Rodriguez–age 11, Clinton, IA, left; Dustin Rowland–age 15, Albany, back row left.
Special prizes were awarded for individual efforts:
Butch Kimmell/Bud Lattimer Award–Austin Zink–age 14, Rock Falls
Boy that Tried the Hardest–Gavin Arians–age 5, Morrison
Girl that Tried the Hardest–Amy Davis–age 14, Morrison
At the end of the day, a drawing was held, and six lucky participants received new bicycles:
Dawson Alcala–age 4, Morrison, left, and Sarah Weibenga–age 5, Fulton.
Carson Strating–age 7, Morrison, third from the left, and Kristen Peters–age 9, Morrison, right. Sergeant Janssen and Lieutenant Andy Henson, far right, assisted Sheriff Kelly Wilhemi.
Natalie Arbuckle–age 11, Dixon, left, and Toby Troutman–age 10, Morrison.