Geoff Zivic thought Samantha Riemann had the ``hands down qualifier'' for Fish of the Week.
The chairman of the Island Lake Lions Club's ice Ice Fishing Derby had it right.
Her 20-inch largemouth bass with a girth of 16 inches easily earns FOTW honors. It was quickly released, but Zivic guessed it easily weighed 5.5 pounds. She also was picked as the adult division champion in the derby.
FOTW tops the Midwest Fishing Report in the Sun-Times each Wednesday. An extended online version with photos is posted here, usually about midnight Tuesday. I am a little behind today.
Here's Zivic's extended account of the derby, and Riemann's catch.
``Despite the below zero windchills on Saturday, we had 54 adults and 8 kids (under 16) sign up and fish all day!``I ran 2 divisions, 1 for adults, 1 for age 15 & under. There were 5 categories in which to qualify, Longest Bass, Walleye, Northern, Crappie, and most panfish for the day. Of the 5, one name was drawn from a hat to determine the champion (in each Division).
``Cameron Marcus won the childrens division with his 9" crappie, over Jake Buckel, who reeled in 94 Bluegills, to take the most panfish category.
``Now the fun part, the Adult Division. Jim Eggelston iced 115 Bluegill to take Most Panfish, Ron James jigged an 11" Crappie, and Joe Zarowski caught a 28-1/2" Northern Pike.
``All qualified as Runners up to.........Samantha Riemann,( who I think may be a hands down qualifier for your Fish of the Week), brought in a VERY HEALTHY 20" Largemouth Bass, with a 16" Girth. As it was below 0 w/windchill, and a Catch & Release tourney, we did not take time to weigh it, but figured that it had to go 5-1/2 pounds EASILY.
``Samantha's name was also drawn as the Adult Division Champion. I've attached her photo, as I just happened to be walking up to her group as she pulled it from the ice. Very Nice!
``One last mention. In our main raffle for the day, 15 year old Neal DeYoung, Jr. took home over a $500 ice fishing package, including a Vexilar FL8se, Strikemaster Handheld Sonar, 3 jigrod combos, a couple tip-ups and a slew of misc. equipment. I've attached his photo also (with his proud father, Neal Sr.).
Very nice indeed.
E-mail FOTW nominations to outdoordb@sbcglobal.net.
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