URBANA, Ill. – Illinois 4-H is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 4-H Hooks Us Together Fishing Tournament, a statewide virtual fishing competition that encouraged youth to explore the outdoors, develop fishing skills, and connect with nature.
This virtual tournament attracted an impressive 791 entries from youth anglers across Illinois. Participants submitted photographs of their catches along with accurate fish length measurements and a photo of themselves holding their fish. The tournament was conducted from May through July, with entries competing in several species categories.
In addition to the statewide contest, Illinois 4-H partnered with programs through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Chicago Park District to offer a unique Chicago-area tournament for urban youth anglers.
The 2026 statewide champions are:
- Mason Hicks, Jefferson County 4-H, Largemouth Bass
- Maggie Paschal, Logan County 4-H, Catfish
- Jacob Wenzel, Saline County 4-H, Bluegill
- Kayin Hampton, Jefferson County 4-H, Crappie
- Oscar Pagles, Winnebago County 4-H, Coho Salmon
The Chicago tournament winners are:
- Martin Ngan, Largemouth Bass
- Mark Harman, Catfish
- Jeronimo Chavarro, Carp
Each winner will receive a $50 Bass Pro Shops gift card to encourage their continued interest in sport fishing and outdoor recreation.
"The Hooks Us Together Fishing Tournament continues to provide young people with opportunities to build confidence, practice outdoor skills, and create lasting memories with family and friends," said Curt Sinclair, 4-H Extension specialist. "We're excited to celebrate the accomplishments of all participants and congratulate this year's winners."
The Hooks Us Together Fishing Tournament is part of Illinois 4-H's commitment to providing engaging experiential learning opportunities that foster leadership, responsibility, and a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.
For more information about Illinois 4-H outdoor recreation programs, visit 4-H.illinois.edu.
About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.