Student Boater Fish Fish
Alive		 Total
Weight
Zach Chip Harrison 5 5 7.046
Catie Tony Kaser 5 5 6.672
Joe Ron Fabiszak 5 5 6.202
Dylan Ken Rybicki 4 4 5.114
Christian Mark Nelson 4 4 4.832
Dustin Derek Deardorf 4 4 4.762
Luke Kevin Rybicki 3 3 3.936
Daniel Brian Craft 2 2 2.896
Brad Bob Allen 2 2 2.776
Justin Rick Kedik 2 2 2.404
Isaac Pat Pilmore 2 2 2.386
Dustin K. Larry Regina 2 2 2.326
Austin Mark Regina 1 1 1.722
Skyler Joe DeNardo 1 1 1.264
Danny Larry Thomas 1 1 1.226
Mason Phil Strakowski 0 0 0
Michael Brent Burgess 0 0 0
Landon Dave Steed 0 0 0
Totals: 43 43 55.564
On May 16, 2010, 19 area fishermen and 18 students gathered on Koontz Lake for the annual UMS Kids' Tournament. The students smashed previous weigh-ins with 43 fish weighed! Fishermen brought their boats and shared tackle with students who fished from 8 am until noon. Each student was partnered solo with a fishermen to maximize teaching.
2010 UMS Tournament
< Zach teamed up with professional tournament angler Chip Harrison to catch the heaviest limit of the day. Zach culled several fish to upgrade his limit.
> The only female in the class, Catie, outdid 16 of her male peers, proving gender has nothing to do with performance on the water. She was partnered up with local angler Tony Kaser.
< Joe teamed up with Ron Fabiszak to catch the 3rd largest limit of the day. Here Joe holds up a largemouth (right) and a rare smallmouth (left) caught in 2 foot of water.
< 4th place finisher, Dylan, learned how to toss a wacky worm from one of the best wacky worm fishermen in the area, Ken Rybicki. Ken showed Dylan that patience is a virtue in fishing. Dylan weighed 4 fish.
Results:
Few of these students have been in a bass boat before; taking off at 60+ mph was a brand new, but exciting experience. Students learned about boat performance, trolling motors, and electronics. Above, Danny sits behind the steering wheel of Larry Thomas' rig.
Above, Justin poses with the 2 fish he caught under the guidance of Rick Kedik.
Weigh-in was conducted by R & B Bass Circuit Tournament Director Kevin Rybicki. Above, he readies to weigh Justin's fish.
Unfortunately, there were 2 incidents of dead cranking batteries. Pictured left is Michael in Brent Burgess' boat while being towed by Kevin Fletcher. Pictured right, is the pair returning safely. Fletcher drove over an hour from Elkhart to take a student fishing, but the student was a "no show." He still made good use of his time by helping out Burgess and took pictures on the water.
< Isaac, Justin, and Lucas wait to weigh their fish while Christain awaits his total weight.
The event was sponsored by the following businesses and people. Before the students took off for the tournament, they were all given a tackle pack valued over $75! During these tough economic times, it says loads about the character of the fishermen and businesses who donated.
Jeff Regina
Mark Nelson
Marty Robinson
Brandon Liechty
TJ Brubaker
Jimmy Thatcher
The Travel Tender





The success of the students was mentioned in Louie Stout's "Outdoors" section of the South Bend Tribune in the May 23, 2010, Sunday edition.