The Andover Wetlands Annual Kids Fishing Contest celebrated its 30th anniversary with participants from Andover as well as Alfred Station, Almond, Kendall, Canisteo, Wellsville, Scio, Belmont, Hornell, Whitesville, Swain, Livonia, Black Creek, Richburg, Niskayuna, Lindley, Cameron Mills, Portageville, Wayland, Cuba, and Livonia.
Special guests in attendance who assisted in handing out the trophies included Senator George Borello, Former Senator Cathy Young, Allegany County Legislators Steve Havey, Gary Barnes, Janice Burdick and Bill Dibble, Andover Mayor David Truax, and Andover Town Supervisor Gus Weber.
Trophies were awarded in the following categories: 5 & under: First Place: Brenda Shepard of Hornell for a 2lb16in Carp. Second Place: Amelia Wagner of Andover with a 6 in 2 oz Bluegill and Third Place: Kwihnlynn Williams of Wellsville with a 2 oz. 5 1/4 in Bluegill,
Winners in the 6 – 8 age group were: First Place: Karson Shepard of Hornell for a 2 lb. 8.8 oz 18 ¾ in Carp and Second Place Aevuh Odell of Andover with a 8 ¼ in. 3.8 oz Perch and Third Place: Ryker Seaman of Andover for a 18 1/4 in 3.6 oz Perch.
In the 9-11 age group: First Place Nathan Mersenzaho of Wellsville for a 20 in 2 lb. 15.6oz Carp, Second Place: Tyton Updyke of Andover with a 10 1/4 in 9.2 oz Bullhead, and Third Place: Samuel Wagner of Andover for a 6 1/2 in 2.8 oz Bluegill.
For the 12 – 15 age group: First Place: Ian Allwood of Portageville with a 19.5 in 3 lb 4.2 oz Carp, Second Place: Hadleigh Watson of Cameron Mills for a 18 1/4 in 3 lb 1.2 oz. Carp, Third Place: Brooklyn Seager of Cameron Mills, for a 19 in 3 lb. .18 oz Carp.
Trophies were also presented for Largest Fish: Nolan Mattison of Andover for a 19 ¼ in 3 lb. 10.6 oz Carp, Smallest Fish: Jaxon Odell of Andover for a 4 3/4 in .08 oz Sunfish. Most Fish: Meole Shepard of Hornell with 17 fish. Other categories were won Largest Bass – Blake Burris of Hornell for a 1 lb 15 oz 15 1/4 in Bass, the Largest Carp –Izzabella Seager of Wellsville for a 4 lb 4.8 oz 20 1/4 in Carp.
The Seventeenth annual Jess Present/Pat McGee Memorial Sportsmanship Award given in memory of the late Senators for their tireless work and dedication to the Andover Wetlands Project. Both the Senators were avid outdoors people and believed in the preservation of recreational habitat. This year’s winner, Collin Button of Hornell.
