2023 Southern Illinois Kayak Club Season

Director: Joshua Lincoln

The 2023 Southern Illinois Kayak Club season delivered one of the most competitive and memorable years in club history. From brutal winds and stormy conditions to record-setting performances, the season showcased the resilience, skill, and camaraderie that define SIKC.

Across six regular-season trail events and the SIKC Classic Championship, anglers battled it out on some of Southern Illinois’ best fisheries. Tight finishes, first-time winners, and season-long storylines made every stop matter as competitors chased Angler of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and championship honors.

Scroll below to revisit the full 2023 season — including tournament results, season awards, and final AOY standings.

2023 Tournament Schedule & Results

SIKC Classic Championship – Cedar Lake – April 2, 2023 → 🥇 Darren Hemker
Record-setting 100.75” bag and Big Bass honors in brutal 20–30 mph winds.

Stop #1 – Newton Lake – April 2023 → 🥇 Jake Schultz
First SIKC victory in tough main-lake winds with 92.75”.

Stop #2 – Kinkaid Lake – May 20, 2023 → 🥇 Darren Hemker
Late-day frog kicker seals his first win of the season.

Stop #3 – Sangchris Lake – June 11, 2023 → 🥇 Darren Hemker
Topwater bite produces 89” as the top 16 anglers break 80”.

Stop #4 – Coffeen Lake – June 24, 2023 → 🥇 Jonathan Kessler
First win of the season with 94” fishing main-lake points.

Stop #5 – Banner Marsh – July 15, 2023 → 🥇 Jonathan Kessler
Back-to-back victories with 97”, taking the AOY lead.

Stop #6 – Devils Kitchen Lake – August 14, 2023 → 🥇 Jay Reidler
First SIKC win and Big Bass honors battling stormy conditions.

Finale – Cedar Lake – September 10, 2023 → 🥇 Darren Hemker
Third win of the season, locking up Angler of the Year.

Season Awards

🏆 Angler of the Year: Darren Hemker
🌟 Rookie of the Year: Jay Reidler
🎣 SIKC20 Big Bass Champion: Jonathan Michael Kessler
🤝 Team Up for Bob Monthly Team Fundraiser Winners: Jonathan Michael Kessler & Jay Reidler

Tournaments
Cedar Lake – September 10, 2023
Cedar Lake – September 10, 2023

Darren Hemker overcomes adversity to claim his third win and lock up Angler of the Year as the 2023 regular season concludes at Cedar Lake.

Devils Kitchen Lake – August 14, 2023
Devils Kitchen Lake – August 14, 2023

Jay Reidler earns his first SIKC victory at Devils Kitchen Lake, landing a 20.25” Big Bass while battling stormy conditions in Tournament #6.

Banner Marsh – July 15, 2023
Banner Marsh – July 15, 2023

Jonathan Kessler claims back-to-back wins at Banner Marsh with 97”, taking the Angler of the Year lead as the 2023 season heats up.

Coffeen Lake – June 24, 2023
Coffeen Lake – June 24, 2023

Jonathan Kessler earns his first win of the 2023 season at Coffeen Lake, posting 94 inches while fishing main-lake points with a jig.

Sangchris Lake – June 11, 2023
Sangchris Lake – June 11, 2023

Perfect weather and a red-hot bite at Sangchris Lake saw Darren Hemker earn his second win of 2023, with the top 16 anglers all breaking 80 inches.

Kinkaid Lake – May 20, 2023
Kinkaid Lake – May 20, 2023

Darren Hemker earns his first win of the 2023 season at Kinkaid Lake, outlasting tough boat traffic and a stingy bite to take the top spot.

Newton Lake – April 2023
Newton Lake – April 2023

The 2023 season kicked off at Newton Lake with 157 fish submitted and Jake Schultz earning his first SIKC win with 92.75” in tough, windy conditions.

2023 SIKC Classic Championship – Cedar Lake
2023 SIKC Classic Championship – Cedar Lake

Darren Hemker captures the 2023 SIKC Classic title at Cedar Lake with a record-setting 100.75” bag, battling 30 mph winds to earn championship and Big Bass honors.

2023 AOY Standings (Final Top 5)

1️⃣ Darren Hemker — Angler of the Year Champion
2️⃣ Jonathan Kessler
3️⃣ Dalton Williams
4️⃣ Kevin Cox
5️⃣ Rece Schneider

Darren Hemker’s combination of three wins, strong finishes, and clutch performances under difficult conditions ultimately secured him the 2023 Angler of the Year title, edging out a stacked leaderboard that stayed competitive until the final stop.

A table with numerous fishing trophies, including fish figures on top, displayed at an outdoor event by a lake. A banner with various logos and the text "SIKC Southern Illinois Kayak Club" hangs above the table. People are gathered in the background
Smiling man holding multiple fishing trophies in front of a lake with green trees in the background.
Man with a gray beard and sunglasses holding a trophy shaped like a pineapple near a river with green trees in the background.
Person standing outdoors near a river holding multiple trophies, with trees and grass in the background.
Three men standing outdoors near a body of water with trees in the background, holding oversized checks for fishing awards. The man on the left is holding a check for third place, the man in the middle for first place, and the man on the right for se
A man standing outdoors by a river holding a giant check and a foam fish cutout. The check is made out to Wil Abbott for $342, awarded for second place in a fishing competition. The foam fish indicates the prize of $20 for Big Bass. The background fe
A man with sunglasses, a cap, and a beard holding a large check for $684 made out to Kevin Cox, awarded for first place by the Southern Illinois Kayak Club, standing by a river with trees in the background.
A young man holding a large check for $114.00, awarded for third place in a kayaking competition, standing outdoors near a lake with trees in the background.
A man smiling and holding a wooden award plaque beside a river, with green trees in the background. He is wearing sunglasses, a cap, and a long-sleeved fishing shirt with various patches and sponsor logos.
A person fishing on a kayak in a lake surrounded by trees.
Man fishing on a kayak with fishing poles on a lake, surrounded by green trees.
A person sitting on a kayak holding a fishing rod with a fish in hand, smiling, in a calm lake with green trees in the background.
Three men standing outdoors on grass with trees in the background, holding large checks for kayak tournament prizes. The man on the left holds a check for second place, $360, and is dressed in camouflage shirt and gray pants. The man in the center ho
A man holding a fish-shaped sign that reads 'Big Bass $215.00' outdoors on green grass with trees in the background.
A man standing outdoors in front of green trees and grass, holding a large ceremonial check for second place in a kayaking competition, issued by Southern Illinois Kayak Club
A man standing outdoors holding a large white check for $120 made out to Jerry Bryson from Southern Illinois Kayak Club, indicating a third-place finish at Cedar Lake, date 7/19/25. The man has short gray hair, a beard, is wearing a black T-shirt, an
A young man wearing a fishing shirt and cap, standing outdoors in front of green trees, holding a large check for $720 made out to Dalton Williams for first place at Cedar Lake from the Southern Illinois Kayak Club, dated July 19, 2025.
Young man with curly hair smiling, holding a large check for third place, in front of a lake with green trees in the background.
Two men standing by a lake holding boxes of Railblaza products, with trees and water in the background. The man on the left has a grey beard, wearing a white and green long-sleeve shirt, a cap, and is holding a box for a kayak mount. The man on the r
A young man standing by a lake, holding a large fish-shaped sign that says 'Big Bass $245.00,' with logos from the Head's Up Taxidermy and Midwest Kayak. He is wearing a beige and brown fishing jersey with multiple patches, a cap with sunglasses, and
Man holding large check in front of a lake with green trees in the background.
A man holding a large check standing by a lake with trees in the background. The check is made out to Dalton Williams for $770, dated 6/7/25, and is from the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. The man is smiling and wearing a kayak fishing jersey and a ca
Three men standing outdoors by a lake, each holding a large check with details and awards for a kayaking competition. The backdrop is a wooded area with a body of water, and the sky is overcast.
Four people fishing from three small boats on a calm lake at sunrise with trees on the shore.
A man holding multiple packages of baby diapers and wipes outdoors near a lake, smiling at the camera.
A man smiling outdoors holding a trophy and a box of Huggies diapers in front of a lake and trees.
Young man holding a large check for $150 at Otter Lake during a rainy day, with trees and lake in the background.
A man wearing glasses, an orange hat, and a brown jacket holding a large check from Southern Illinois Kayak Club, awarded for second place in a fishing competition at Otter Lake, dated 5/31/25, with a background of a lake and green trees.
Young man holding a large fish-shaped sign reading "Big Bass" and "$270.00" in front of a body of water, on a cloudy day.
Three men standing on a dock holding oversized checks, with a lake in the background. The man on the left has a beard, glasses, and is wearing an orange hat and brown jacket. The man in the middle is wearing a racing jacket, holding a check for first
A young man holding a large check at Otter Lake, celebrating first place in a kayak fishing contest, with trees and lake in the background.
A man with curly hair and sunglasses on his cap standing in front of a lake, holding a large check for third place at the Southern Illinois Kayak Club, dated 4-12-25, made out to Darren Hemker for $154.00.
A man holding a large check in front of a lake with trees in the background, celebrating his second-place finish at the Southern Illinois Kayak Club event on April 12, 2025.
Man holding a large check for 1st place at Southern Illinois Kayak Club, date April 12, 2025, $924.00, standing by a lake with trees in the background.
A man wearing sunglasses, a boat racing jersey, and a cap stands by a lake holding a green fish-shaped sign that reads "Big Bass" with a $280 price tag. The background features a blue sky and trees on the shoreline.
Two men standing on a rocky beach near a lake, holding kayak and canoe cart boxes, with a clear blue sky and trees in the background.
Three men standing on a lakeshore holding large checks with the date 4-12-25. The man on the left holds a check for Keith Gressler for second place, the middle man holds a check for Wade Hobaugh for first place, and the man on the right holds a check
A man in a blue jacket and shorts standing on a small fishing boat in a lake, holding a fishing rod. The boat has multiple fishing rods and equipment, with a forested shoreline in the background.
Smiling woman holding a wooden trophy with a lake and a small dock in the background.
Three people standing outdoors near a lake, holding large checks. The person on the left is a man with a beard, wearing a black cap, dark clothing, and blue shoes, holding a check for second place. The person in the middle is a woman with glasses, we
A woman stands on a dock by a lake, holding a large check for $504 made out to Susie Roloff, indicating she won first place at the Southern Illinois Kayak Club event on March 29, 2025. She is wearing sunglasses, a blue t-shirt with the club's logo, a
A man holding a large award check standing by a lake with a dock in the background. The check is from the Southern Illinois Kayak Club, dated 3/29/25, made out to Brady Barlow for $144.00, for second place in the SIKC Classic.
Man with beard wearing fishing jersey and cap, standing by a lake, holding a large cardboard fish cutout with the labels 'Big Bass', '$135.00', and 'Heads Up Taxidermy' logo.
Young man holding a large check at a lake, celebrating third place in a kayaking competition, smiling, wearing a kayaker sponsored jersey and sunglasses, with a floating dock and water in the background.
A person in a fishing kayak holding a yellow fish release tool with a fish in a net, with the Ketch logo overlayed on the image.
Man fishing on a yellow kayak in a peaceful lake surrounded by green trees.
A man fishing on a kayak on a lake with trees showing fall colors in the background, and a logo with the text "Midwest Kayak Co. 2023" and crossed paddles.
Person in fishing gear standing on a boat fishing in a river with trees in the background.
Man in kayak on river with lush green trees in background, holding a fishing rod and wearing a cap and life jacket.
A person fishing on a kayak on a lake, with a lush, green forest in the background. The image includes a logo for the Southern Illinois Kayak Club and text announcing that memberships are now available.
Schedule for the SIKC 2025 fishing tournament, listing dates at various lakes, including Coffee Lake on 4/12/25 and Newton Lake on 9/13/25. A man is fishing from a kayak in a natural setting.