On a perfect late summer morning, beginning at 9:00 a.m., the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office and Mounted Patrol hosted their annual Youth Fishing Derby on Saturday, September 12, 2013. These law enforcement agencies have sponsored the derby for more than 40 years. Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi quipped, “Fishing is o-fish-ially over at 11:00,” when prizes are awarded.
Two local Sheriffs are shown flanking 36th District Illinois State Senator Neil Anderson. Wilhelmi is at left, and former Sheriff Roger Schipper is at right.
Left-to-right are winners of prizes for individual efforts. All towns are in Illinois unless noted. The Girl that Tried the Hardest was Brianna Cramer, 10, of Fulton. The Boy that Tried the Hardest was John Winckelman, 13, Morrison. The Shane Hurliss Memorial Award went to Elliot Yaklich, 5, of Rock Falls.
This popular, free fishing contest is open to all youth aged 15 and under. “Up about 30 from last year,” 165 children registered. Grand prizes for the biggest fish, by length, went to the following. If no qualifying fish were caught in a category, a name was drawn from the list of participants who registered catching at least one fish. Winners in five groups of fish are listed sequentially by age: 0 to seven; eight to 11; 12 to 15.
Largemouth Bass: Dean Geiger, Dixon; Mykala Muldering, Morrison; Jasmine Heisler, Milledgeville
Crappie: Kinley Duncan, Morrison; Travis Martin, Princeton; Alex Heisler, Milledgeville
Catfish: Mariah Peterson, Tampico; Jacob Huizenga, Fulton; Benjamin Heisler, Milledgeville
Walleye/Musky: Karter Scott, Erie; Blake Huizenga, Morrison; Sam Janssen, Sterling
Bluegill/Sunfish: Brady Anderson, Morrison; Maddox Bouschol, Dixon; Mathew French, Camanche, IA.
Prizes were awarded to all participants throughout the morning. Children selected something from the prize table.
There were six lucky children who received a new bicycle. From right-to-left are Cara Tack, 4, Fulton; Devon Alcala, 3, Morrison; Jada Shipley, 9, Morrison. Other winners were Dean Geiger, 6, Morrison; Kiera Turner, 11, East Dubuque; Keaton Still, 11, Morrison.
Chief Deputy Andy Henson stated, “Hope everyone comes back and brings a friend” next September.