6th Annual Andrew Claymon Memorial Fishing Tournament an abundancy of sunshine, fish and fun
The 6th Annual Andrew Claymon Memorial Fishing tournament was held at Merritt Reservoir on Saturday, June 11th with 46 teams and 108 youth and adult participants, competing for prizes in 3 divisions. The tournament is in memory of 16 year old Andrew Claymon who died of cancer on July 5, 2010. Results are as follows:
Division - 1 adult/1 child 10 years and younger:
1st place: Rance and Shawn Hofstetter; total weight of 14.5 lbs.
2nd place: Ryker and Zach Nadolski; total weight of 9.64 lbs.
3rd place: Kurt and Dan Buchheit; total weight of 6.24 lbs.
4th place: Jake and Erik Gulbrandson; total weight of 4.59 lbs.
Division - 1 adult/1 child 11 – 17 years old:
1st place: Holder and Rick Hupfer; total weight of 9.57 lbs.
2nd place: Darian and Wayne Stang; total weight of 8.33 lbs.
3rd place: Sawyer and Jake McGill; total weight of 8.29 lbs.
4th place: Allie and Eric Altwine; total weight of 6.33 lbs.
Division - 1 adult/2 children 17 years and younger:
1st place: Jacob, Morgan and Dave Ishii; total weight of 21.65 lbs.
2nd place: Rylan, Brecken and Jason Erickson; total weight of 16.12 lbs.
3rd place: Mason Drey, Austin and Jimmy Davenport; total weight of 13.89 lbs.
4th place: Haley McNaught, Nash and Doug Hesse; total weight of 11.22 lbs.
Heaviest walleye: Kaden Brecks, Jed and Charley Brown; 6.64 lbs.
Heaviest northern pike: Mason Drey, Austin and Jimmy Davenport; 8.53 lbs.
Heaviest largemouth bass: Jake and Erik Gulbrandson; 4.59 lbs.
Heaviest smallmouth bass: Brodey Frederick, Specer Love and Jerry Isom; 1.74 lbs.
Overall heaviest fish: Mason Drey, Austin and Jimmy Davenport; northern pike 8.53 lbs.
New this year was a Hard Luck Award, created and funded by Andrew’s Uncle Dan Davenport. At their discretion, teams could tell their hard luck story to a judge and the judge then chose the winner from the stories that were told. The winner of this award was Trenton Sayer.
Trophies, medals, fishing/camping/outdoor merchandise, cash and Cabela’s gift cards were presented to the Top 4 in each division. Additionally, each youth participant received a medal and a prize. Numerous random drawings were held from all entered teams and included: three free NE Game & Parks youth lifetime hunt/fish combo permits, an assortment of walleye fishing tackle from Nebraska Custom Tackle, 2 custom made rod holders from Beau Edwards and three $50 gift certificates to Merritt Trading Post Resort.
Tentative date for the 7th Annual Andrew Claymon memorial fishing tournament is Saturday, June 10, 2017 pending approval from NE Game & Parks in December 2016. Visit www.andrewclaymonfishing.com for additional pictures of this year’s tournament and contact information for future tournaments.