A 6-year-old boy showed just how easy fishing can be this weekend when he reeled in a winning 25-pound lake trout earning the $20,000 grand prize in the Salmon-A Rama Michigan Lake fishing contest. And don’t try claiming the boy’s father actually caught the fish, as he’s not having any of it.
In an interview with TheJournalTimes.com, Jeff Hack, father of the 6-year-old Jace, said the only assistance he rendered the boy was helping to net the fish once his son had reeled it in.
“People who believe a 6-year-old can’t reel in a 25-pound fish, I’m here to tell them that they’re wrong,” Jeff Hack said with a defiant tone when asked by a reporter. “My son did it today by himself.”
The boy bagged the fish just hours before the end of the tournament on Sunday, with race officials declaring it was one of the best stories they have ever heard.
“You couldn’t ask for a better story for this tournament,” said Craig Bender, a longtime volunteer. “A young angler with his family out fishing having a day like today.”
Nearing the end of the contest, Jeff positioned the boat about seven miles out using green-and-yellow flash and a yellow spin and glo bait when young Jace hooked the fish in about 100 feet of water.
Once they caught the fish, however, the drama wasn’t over as the boat engine sputtered a couple of times and had to be restarted before Jeff switched to a backup. The crew ended up getting to the dock just a few hours to spare.
