Payten Rutledge received the 2026 Scott Jennings Sportsman Trophy at the Macomb FOP Lodge No. 189's 47th Annual Scott Jennings Fishing Contest May 23 at Spring Lake in Macomb.
'Payten spent much of the day assisting her younger siblings and friends untangling their rigs and freeing up snagged lines, which earned her the award,' noted the FOP Lodge.
Sponsored by the Macomb Fraternal Order of Police, the annual free event, which is held for children ages one through 15, is named after the late Scott Jennings of Macomb, who, at age 16 died in a car accident in Spring 1980, the weekend of the first-ever event. Jennings had worked at his stepfather's store selling bait to participating children. The Sportsman Trophy is awarded every year in his memory.
Prizes are given to the top 10 finishers in each age group. More than 50 area children took part. This year, a special guest was on hand … 'Abe Lincoln,' who took part in fishing attire and accessories from the late 1800s.
