Walker Matthews brought home another fishing derby championship on June 12.

The 5-year-old from Montgomery City won the age 5 and under division title of the second annual Clint Deimeke Fishing Derby at Becker’s Lake in Laddonia after catching a fish that was 11¾ inches long. He was the only Montgomery County resident to win a championship at the event.

“When he gets one, he gets so excited,” said Irelynn Kobusch, Matthews’ stepmother.

Nine months ago, Matthews was the winner in the age 2-5 division of the Peggy Roesner Memorial Youth Fishing Derby at the Dave and Peggy Johnson Farm, which is outside Montgomery City. After catching a 10-inch fish, Matthews earned plaques for first, second and third since he was the only participant in his age division.

At the Deimeke Fishing Derby, Matthews won his division by one inch over Braxton Kuda of Martinsburg. He received a certificate, a medal and a fishing box for his effort.

“He had a blast,” Kobusch said.

The Deimeke Fishing Derby is named after an avid outdoorsman from Martinsburg who died in a car accident on Feb. 26, 2017. There were 65 children who participated in the event, which returned this summer after it was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. All participants had just one hour to fish.

“We wanted to provide opportunities to the youth,” said Nicki Poindexter, one of the coordinators of the Deimeke Fishing Derby.

Kobusch said her stepson was excited to compete in the fishing event. Matthews, who will be in kindergarten at the Warren County R-III School District this fall, arrived about an hour before it started.

“He was ready to go,” Kobusch said.

Matthews is avid in fishing. He goes fishing with his older brother, William.

“They have a pond at their grandma’s house and they fish out there quite a bit,” Kobusch said.

Cali Fortmann, an 11-year-old from Wellsville, earned an award for catching the smallest fish. She caught three fish, one of them was 5¾ inches long.

“It’s a very unique award and I think it’s cool,” Fortmann said.

Fortmann, who will be a seventh grader at St. Joseph Catholic School in Martinsburg this fall, said she was glad to come back for this year’s fishing derby. She competed in the event in 2019.

“I had fun because I got to spend time with my grandpa and my brother (Aden),” Fortmann said. “Usually, I don’t have this much fun with fishing because I’m a very competitive person.”

Etta Sachs, a 7-year-old from Wellsville and a second grader at St. Joseph School, won an award for catching the first fish. When she competed in last year’s fishing derby, she didn’t catch any fish.

“She’s usually kind of scared of fishing,” said Gina Sachs, Etta’s mother. “She definitely doesn’t want to touch them. She doesn’t fish a lot.”

Ethan Baig of Wellsville earned a third-place award in the age 10-13 division after catching an 11¼-inch fish.

Jack Loethen of Jefferson City won the age 6-9 division after catching a 13-inch fish, the largest out of all of the participants. Caden Thomas of Mexico won the 10-13 division after catching a 12-inch fish.

Ember Nichols of Mexico caught the most fish with 10.