A Jefferson teen took home some hardware for his fishing talents. 

According to Central Iowa Student Anglers, Walter Louk of Jefferson, who is in seventh grade, was part of a duo who placed second in the Junior World Bass Fishing Championship (JWBFC) that took place at Lake Oahe in South Dakota. Louk’s other teammate, Leon Polley of Harlan, qualified for the global competition after they were runners-up at the Iowa State Championships at Lake Okoboji this past April. 

According to the JWBFC, it is a three-day contest each two-person team had to weigh their three heaviest bass at the end of each day and the teams were allowed to replace smaller fish with larger ones throughout the day, as long as the final three were alive and able to be released after the weigh-ins. Central Iowa Student Anglers says after the first day, Louk and Polley were in sixth place with a total weight of 11-pounds and three-ounces. The second day, the teens made the cut for the finals by adding another nine-pounds and nine-ounces.

CISA points out that on the final day, all remaining competitors had their weights set to zero and Louk and Polley prevailed as the runner-ups with a total weight of 11-pounds and ten-ounces. For their efforts, Louk and Polley each earned a $1,000 college scholarship. Their boat captain was Ben McCord, who navigated the vessel and could provide advice throughout the contest.