Aylana Marion got to participate in her first fishing tournament on Sept. 7.

The 8-year-old didn’t have to travel far. She was one of 31 participants who competed in the annual Peggy Roesner Memorial Youth Fishing Derby at the Dave and Peggy Johnson Farm, which is nearby her home outside Montgomery City.

“My mom asked me if I wanted to do two things in one day and I said yes,” Aylana said. “She said there is a fishing tournament. I knew it was from my neighbors because they own this pond.”

Aylana left the Johnson Farm all smiles as she won a plaque for the biggest fish in the age 6-9 division. She caught two catfish, one of them was 27.5 inches long.

“It’s really cool because it’s my first tournament,” said Aylana, who is a third-grade student at Montgomery City Elementary. “I have never won a plaque like this in my life.”

Aylana, who caught a total of three fish, said fishing is one of her favorite hobbies.

“A lot of my family does it,” she said. “I just do it. It’s fun. We have a lake and a pond at our house, so it only makes sense that I like it.”

The fishing derby gives out awards for the biggest fish, smallest fish and total fish caught in four different divisions – ages 2-5, 6-9, 10-13 and 14-17.

The winners in the age 2-5 division were Ryker Rose (largest fish and total fish caught) and Tucker Jones (smallest fish).

Besides Aylana, the other winners in the age 6-9 division were Charlie Hans (smallest fish) and Hadley Warren (total fish caught). There were 14 participants in the age 6-9 division, more than any other group.

The winners in the 10-13 division were Zion Meyer (smallest fish), Ian Hinkel (biggest fish) and Leo Rose (total fish caught). Jaidon Helbig (biggest fish and total fish caught) and Hailyn Weldon (smallest fish) were the winners in the 14-17 division.

Ian, who participated in the fishing derby for the second time, caught two fish, one of them was 11.25 inches. But it wasn’t the biggest fish he ever caught.

“I caught an eight pounder which was about 24 inches,” said the 10-year-old Ian, who is a fourth-grade student at MCE.

Zion, a Montgomery City resident who is a fifth-grade student at Liberty Christian Academy in Wright City, caught a 4.75 inch fish to earn a plaque for the smallest fish. He said he was hoping to catch a bigger fish.

“I was trying to catch a catfish at the end within the last 10 minutes (of the derby),” Zion said.

The fishing derby is sponsored by the Montgomery City Lions Club and is named after a former Lions Club member who passed away in April 2015. It is held every September.