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   What a beautiful day for fishing.  With the sun shining and a bit of a breeze, the lake blew in 3 of the biggest large mouth bass of the season between 1.5 and 2 pounds, 2 of which won the largest fish in their age groups. Thank you to everyone that visited our contest this year.  We had so much fun hosting all the kids and their families.  Watching a child catch their first fish, or the big bass, or at the end of a contest day, kids and parents coming up to us and thanking us makes everything worth it.  This year we had 773 kids who caught 2061 fish over 9 contests (1 rain out).  

Grand Prize Winner

Owen K. from Walker took home top honors from the Aug. 15 Children’s Fishing Contest. Photos submitted.

Kids fishing contest ages 0-5

At the Hackensack Kid’s Fishing Contest Tuesday, Aug. 15,  23 kids in the 0-5 year old group, caught and released 40 fish. Doug M. caught the largest fish (4.3 oz.); Quinn K. reeled in the first fish; Raymond P. landed the most fish (7); and Alya S. hooked the smallest fish (2 7/8 inches).

Kids fishing contest ages 6-9

At the Aug. 15 Hackensack Kid’s Fishing Contest, 26 kids in the 6-9 year old group, caught and released 32 fish. Cullen E. caught the largest fish (24 oz.); Cooper S. reeled in the first fish; Liam S. landed the most fish (11); and the smallest fish was hooked by Eli K. (2 inches) .

Kids fishing contest ages 10-15

In the 10-15 year old group, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 18 kids caught and released 40 fish. Valarie L. hooked the largest fish (34.3 oz.); the first fish was caught by Alma E.; Logen S. caught the most fish (12) and the smallest fish (2 inches) was landed by Geena L.

Minnow Racing Winner

Eli K. from Walker was last week’s minnow race winner.

Casting Contest Winner

Valarie L. of Hackensack took home top honors in the casting contest, with Geena L., also from Hackensack, coming in as runner up.

   Congratulations go out to Kate from Belle Plaine, MN.  We gave away an artic camoflauge colored backpack tacklebox on Week 10 and she is the one lucky winner who entered in one of our weeks.

   As always, great big shout out to all the volunteers that help to make this contest happen. It takes about 54 volunteer hours of work every week to make this happen.  Including the months of prep work to get ready, approximately 700 hours a year.

   Of course, thank you goes out to all the sponsors that donate money, products, coupon prizes, hot dogs, and pop.  Without this support, it would be incredibly difficult to continue.

   Mark your calendars, next year is the 27th Annual contest and the dates are every Tuesday, June 11 – August 13, 2024

   Visit our Facebook page to view the weekly photos. You can search Facebook for “Hackensack Children’s Fishing Contest” and click on the Photo Album link on Facebook. Once on the photos page, you can select Album and go to the week you would like to look at.

   If you are interested in helping as a volunteer or in sponsoring our contest next year, contact Bill Kennedy at 218.838.9468 or [email protected].

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