Burlington ? Although the weather was less than ideal and threatened to cancel the Governor’s Fishing Classic at Coffey County Lake, the front moved through, and the tournament was held as scheduled on May 24.

Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer presented the winning trophy for most fish caught (57 during a four-hour period) to the team of John Prather and Will Carpenter of El Dorado, and their guide, Marc Murrell of Newton.

The Grand Champion trophy, awarded for the largest smallmouth bass, was won by a team from Coffey Health Systems consisting of Dennis George, Roger Teal and guide Vic Blaufuss. This team also won top honors in the walleye species. Winners in the wiper species were Mike Mordica and John Bird of Cherokee.

While the adults were on the water, approximately 125 young anglers from the Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs (HOFNOD) programs learned about casting techniques at the Burlington High School until the storm cleared.

Chris Self of the Lawrence Crown Casting club was honored by Lt. Gov. Sherrer for winning the youth essay contest. Self’s essay entitled, “Why I Like Fishing,” was judged the winner among 30 entries among contestants from across the state.

Self received a $100 cash award from the Kansas Wildscape Foundation. Self is a sophomore at Shawnee Mission North.

The Governor’s Fishing Classic is an annual event sponsored and managed by the Kansas Wildscape Foundation, a Lawrence-based not-for-profit foundation.