The 1^st Annual Andrew Claymon Memorial Fishing Tournament was held on June 11^th at Merritt Reservoir and was blessed with great weather and fantastic people.  Seventeen adult/youth teams, with youths ranging from 4 years old thru 17 years old, participated in the tournament and the following awards were presented :

 10 and under age group:

1^st place:  Kayla Bales and Darren Vacek, Omaha, NE
2^nd place:  Dylan and Adam Naslund, Cody, NE
3^rd place:  Jonathon Booker and Mark Kaiser, Omaha, NE

11 to 17 age group:

1^st place:  Rusty Hagedorn and McKeil Michalek, Valentine, NE
2^nd place:  David and John Bauer, North Platte, NE
3^rd place:  Brianna Henkenius and John Nadolski, Valentine, NE

Heaviest walleye:  Jonathon Booker and Mark Kaiser, Omaha, NE

Heaviest northern pike:  Kayla Bales and Darren Vacek, Omaha, NE

Heaviest largemouth bass:  David and John Bauer, North Platte, NE

Overall heaviest fish (all species):  Kayla Bales and Darren Vacek, Omaha, NE

In addition, every youth participant went home with a prize. 

The winner of the special drawing from all youth participants to fish with Noel Scott and Jeff Brokaw, members of the UNL Husker Bass Anglers team, was Dylan Naslund.  Noel and Jeff delighted Dylan and his dad, Adam, with fishing on Merritt the day following the tournament.  The Claymon family, Mike, Joni and Brian, also presented a donation to the Husker Bass Anglers team in memory of their son, Andrew.  One of Andrew’s dreams in life was to attend UNL and fish with the Husker Bass Anglers team.

Some comments from this year’s participating teams:

“We want to thank you both very much for hosting a wonderful tournament!!  When we saw the tournament posted on Merritt’s Facebook both Darren and Kayla were determined that they would be fishing in it.  It was a dream come true for both of them,  they still feel like it was a dream.  We are sure that Andrew was not only smiling, but beaming, shouting, and very proud of his parents!  Thanks again so much, if we can help you in any way let us know, we will be looking forward to seeing you all next year.” - Rich and Cindy Vacek

“I've got the date for next years’ tournament penciled in on our calendar! My husband and son had such a good time and were truly touched to be a part of such a special event! My son LOVES his Walleye hat and Walleye shirt that he received also and has been wearing them with pride all week long!!! Thanks again, god bless you all.”  - Sami Erickson

“ First of all, I want to thank you for giving my son Dylan the most exciting weekend of his life, he is already excited for next year.  We already have plans for at least 2 more teams for next year with a niece and her dad too,  and if you do the adult tournament I’ve got about 4 or 5 teams right now.  I think everything went very smooth in my opinion, we have not fished many tournaments but this one was a lot of fun.  Dylan had extra excitement getting to go fishing with the Husker Bass Angler team on Sunday.” – Adam Naslund

The Claymon Family would like to thank all of this year’s sponsors:  Cabela’s, Cherry County Visitor Promotion Board, Nebraska Walleye Association, Merritt Trading Post Resort and the Bauer Family, Winners Circle Auto Center and Ryan Porter, Young’s Marine, John Nadolski Fishing Guide Service, Jim’s Bar, Mills Hardware, Larreau Construction Inc., Trade Winds Motel and Husker Bass Anglers, especially Noel Scott and Jeff Brokaw.  Additional donations were given by Subway in Valentine,NE, Jo Crow, Tiff Varney, Steve and Iris Olofson and the 10 and under winning team, Kayla Bales and Darren Vacek.  The tournament would not have been so successful without the terrific help of Steve Isom, Jon Davenport, Steve and Iris Olofson and the Claymon and Davenport families. 

A tentative date of Saturday, June 9, 2012 has been set for the 2^nd Annual Andrew Claymon Memorial Fishing Tournament to also be held at Merritt Reservoir.  A possible adult/adult tournament will be added next year and will be held on Sunday, June 10, 2012.  These tournaments are non-profit events with all of the sponsorships, donations and entry fees going back into the tournament in the form of advertising, hats, t-shirts, trophies, prizes and a tournament dinner.  For more information, visit www.andrewclaymonfishing.com or contact Joni Claymon at jclaymon@vail.net to be put on the mailing list for next years’ tournament(s).