Could be the good fishing this year, or a fine prize of fishing lures, that got a record number of anglers excited about entering the 2016 Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette fish story contest.
There were more entries received this year than ever for the contest, which has been going since who knows when. I think Pony Express delivered the first batch of stories. Congratulations to Warren Wilkey of Garfield, our 2016 fish story champion. Wilkey wrote about a fishing trip with his dad and brother and now basks in fish story fame with his victory.
Being fish-story champion comes with a swell prize. That is, a fine selection of fishing lures courtesy of Keith Brashers at War Eagle Custom Lures in Rogers and Mitch Glenn at Arkie Lures in Springdale. The lures are almost guaranteed to catch the big ones at any lake.
Wilkey hopes it will be a youngster doing the catching. He's donated his lures back to fish-story central so we can give them to young anglers in area youth fishing programs. We are happy to oblige. Congratulations to Wilkey and thanks to all our fish-story scribes.
With so many entries, our trio of judges had their hands full picking the winner. Thanks to fish story magistrates Anita Overbey at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, Jon Hobson of Beaver Lake and to my tom cat and chief judge, Boat Dock.
Oh the drama. Here's how the judging played out.
Overbey weighed in with her choice first. Her favorite story was one by Glenn Keaton of Siloam Springs, about a fishing trip in the Pine Creek arm at Beaver Lake. Hobson was torn between three of the stories, so torn that he sought advice at fish-story central on making his choice. Hobson was smitten with a bass fishing saga by Bob Britzke of Eureka Springs and a walleye story by Ben Peszka of Harrison. He also liked Wilkey's story. Such is the tough duty of a fish story judge. Hobson ultimately picked Wilkey's entry.
So we have our two finalists, Keaton and Wilkey. Here's how a tom cat judges a fish story contest. We take both stories and set them side by side on the living room carpet. An equal number of cat treats are placed in the center of each story. Whichever story Boat Dock goes to for his treat is the winner.
Now it's judging time. Boat Dock is in the throes of a 19-hour power nap out on the deck, flat on his back with paws in the air. We shake the treats bag. That gets his attention. Here comes the judge, prancing in with his tail held high. He's making a bee line for the stories, but wait. Chief judge veers off and walks a complete circle around both stories, his eyes on the prize. After his little stroll, Boat Dock goes for his treat. Wilkey wins by a whisker.
As good as the fishing is this year, fish story scribes ought to be gathering plenty of material for next year's contest. Again, thanks to everyone who took the time and effort to enter the contest. Good luck next year.
Sports on 06/21/2016