Youth throughout the area recently had the chance to haul in a big catch.
With sponsorship from various organization, including the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the United States Forest Service, the seventh annual Kids’ Catfish Tournament experienced overwhelming success Saturday at the Workforce Development Complex in Stoney Creek, according to director Kim Eggers.
“We’ve had higher numbers this year,” Eggers said. “We had over 170 kids sign up for today’s event.”
Other sponsors for the event included Cater County Hunting and Fishing Association, Carter County Tourism, WRRWA, North Elizabethton Water, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local #538, Allstate Insurance (Charlie Long) and Food City.
The annual tournament coincides with Tennessee’s Free Fishing Day, which is also part of Free Fishing Days. Children 15 years and younger have the opportunity to fish for free until Friday, June 17.
Free hot dogs and drinks were available to families along with various informational booths provided from the likes of TWRA, Forest Service and the Carter County Hunting & Fishing Association.
The tournament was broken up into three age categories: toddler to five years old, six to nine years old and 10-12 years old. Two winners were selected from each categories, one for most fish caught and the biggest catch, and were awarded a $50 gift card to Wal-Mart and a ‘Smiling Catfish’ medallion.
The story of the tournament’s inception brings up fond memories, according to Eggers. The Workforce Development and TWRA worked together to get the event underway.
“Dennis Ward with the TWRA came into my office and caught someone who was fishing out here,” Eggers said. “He went out there and asked if the gentleman had a fishing license and the guy told him ‘no, Kim Eggers told me I could fish and that I didn’t need a license’.”
Eggers continued her story with a chuckle,” Well, I did not say you didn’t need a license, but I did give him permission to fish. Dennis and I started talking and he came up with the idea of stocking the pond with catfish and having a tournament here. That next year, we had our first fishing tournament.”
While the tournament takes part during Free Fishing Day, it was part of the festivities offered during the Covered Bridge Celebration.
“We’re a separate entity,” Eggers said of the Workforce Development Complex’s involvement. “But I do booking for the four entities, including tourism, the Chamber of Commerce and the complex. That’s how we’ve worked together. I’ve worked the Covered Bridge all week, came down here for the tournament and will be back at the Covered Bridge later tonight.”
The involvement of the tournament goes back to the effort of Elizabethton and Carter County making family-friendly events,” Eggers said.
“We just want to give back to the community,” she added. “This is something the Workforce Development Complex can do each year for our community. The tournament is important, I’ve talked to several people that have moved here. I had one family call in that moved from Texas, and they were so amazed that everything was free and that is was just a great family, fun day for them. A lot of parts in the United States, you have to pay for certain events. With this week, with the Covered Bridge Celebration and this tournament, it turns out to be a great day for the family to go out, spend time together and enjoy what our community has to offer.”