Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Over a hundred youth anglers and parents fish off the shores of Riverside Park during the 22n Annual Free Youth Fishing Contest. The fishing contest always reels in a large crowd.

NEW ULM — Nearly every foot of shoreline in Riverside Park was filled with youth anglers for the 22nd Annual Free Youth Fishing Contest.

The event typically reels in a large number of kids. This year, within the first 30 minutes 125 people registered for the contest. 

The competition is for children up to 18 years of age.

This annual event is sponsored by the New Ulm Area Sport Fishermen. Organization member Jim Hulke said the idea of the contest is to get youth hooked on fishing. The New Ulm Area Sport Fishermen will even provide a fishing rod and tackle to kids who don’t have one.

“Nobody goes away without a prize,” Hulke said. 

Additional prizes are awarded to the largest fish caught. The top prize is $50, with $20 for a second, $10 for third and the next seven fish are worth $5. 

With over a hundred youth fishing the Minnesota River, the contest can be close. In past years the average catch was a fish per kid. 

Hulke said you never know what will be pulled out of the river. Everything from carp and sheepshead to channel cat and walleye swims in the Minnesota.

Early in the contest, Sam Natyson managed to land a 3 lb, 2 oz walleye. Dylan Armstrong set the pace with a four-pound carp. 

The contest has been going for over two decades. It is not unusual for youth from the fist contests to attend with their children. Hulke said “it is gratifying to meet kids on the street show say ‘Mister, I caught a fish on a rod you gave me.'”