Nevaeh Martin shouts to her mother on shore as her father Joe pulls his boat in. The Martin family traveled to Seeley Lake from Sutherlin, Ore.
Seeley Laker Isis Snow, 9, holds up her 1.59 pound northern pike for her mother to take a photograph.
Fishing didn't end in the boat. This young fisherman kept reeling them in at the Big Larch Boat launch.
Brooklyn Williams and her dad Rami watch boats come in on Saturday, June 23 at Big Larch Campground for the annual Kids' Fishing Tournament.
Silas Brown holds up a smallmouth bass while he waits his turn at the weigh-in table. Brown's fish weighed in at 1.24 pounds.
SEELEY LAKE- "You're a real fisherman because real fishermen don't let the rain keep them from going out and having fun," Kids' Fishing Tournament organizer Bobby Maddox told the participants at the post-tournament barbecue, June 23.
Despite rainy conditions on Saturday morning, 25 of the 40 youth ages 7-13 attended the annual tournament. Maddox said he was originally concerned that the rain would keep kids away but the actual turnout was better than he expected.
Declan Bell, of Missoula wasn't worried about the weather, according to his dad Casey.
"He rolled right out of bed this morning and was ready to go fishing, pouring rain or not," Casey said.
Levi Brown, of Potomac, even said he enjoyed being out in the rain. Brown finds being rained on enjoyable because it feels cold and refreshing.
Brooklyn Williams, who came to the tournament from Dillon with her Dad, was a little bit more concerned about how the weather would affect her ability to catch a fish and her ability to stay warm and dry.
"I was worried about trying not to get totally soaked," she said. "But it worked out okay. I stayed dry."
Williams' other concern was also abated when she caught a total of 0.88 pounds of fish.
First place for the highest weight of fish caught was AJ Martin, of Sutherlin, Oregon with a haul weighing 3.69 pounds that included perch and smallmouth bass. Second place went to Devin Solomon for the single northern pike he caught. Solomon also won the award for largest single fish, with his pike weighing in at 2.971 pounds.
Winners received cash prizes and plaques with their placing. All tournament participants received goody bags, a plaque with their name, chances to win more prizes donated by local businesses in a drawing, a coupon for a free ice cream cone at The Ice Cream Place and a t-shirt.
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