Neshoba Lake Youth Catfish Rodeo this weekend

The Youth Catfish Rodeo isn’t just an ordinary fishing event. It’s all about the kids, aged 15 and under. 

So its that time of year again when the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks gets ready to host their annual Youth Catfish Rodeo at Neshoba Lake on Saturday, September 9.

The day starts early with registration beginning at 7 a.m. Children are reminded to bring their own tackle, bait, and fishing lines for a day of fishing fun.  

The Youth Catfish Rodeo has attracted about 500 kids and their families in years prior, so turnout is expected to be high on Saturday. 

The event will be action-packed as it kicks off with a helicopter arriving and soldiers placing flowers on a grand monument.

Ahead of the fishing rodeo, members of MDWFP placed two weighted nets underwater, thanks to the help of divers. They stocked Neshoba Lake with anywhere from one-and-a-half to 10-pound catfish and tagged 75 of them.

Prizes can be awarded for reeling in a tagged fish or for catching the biggest fish of the day. Only one catfish per child will be weighed for a prize as conservation officers are there to make sure operations go smoothly. 

The prizes include gift cards, rods and reels, tackle boxes, and games with a special grand prize awaiting the child who catches the largest catfish of them all.

For kids who have no interest in fishing, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy as well. 

They will have helicopter tours, city and county law enforcement fingerprinting, firetrucks to explore, archery, a Museum of Natural Science exhibit, and more.

“This will be a well-monitored safe event. It is family-oriented, educational, and it’s fun,” said State Fishing Rodeo Coordinator Sherry Hazelwood. 

“I’ve always said that if we can keep these kids on the banks, we can keep them off the streets. This program reaches thousands of kids.”

For more information about the fishing rodeo at Neshoba County Lake, call (601) 656-7376 or visit www.mdwfp.com.