Youth reel in fun at annual Catfish Rodeo
Fifteen-year-old Coby Lackey, who won the trophy for the largest fish in the 14 and over category in the Youth Catfish Rodeo at Neshoba County Lake over the weekend, competed for the first time this year, though he has fished on and off for three years.
“The most exciting part is when you hook the fish and it takes your bait under water and tries to run with it,” Lackey said. “Just the adrenaline rushing through your body of catching the fish.”
Lackey caught five fish in total, with his biggest catch weighing in at 3 pounds and 13 ounces.
“I like bass fishing the most. This was my first time fishing for catfish,” he said. “I learned that since catfish are bottom feeders, you have to let the bait sit on the bottom for them to come and pick it up.”
The Annual Youth Catfish Rodeo, hosted by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), once again provided an exciting day for young anglers.
Held last Saturday, the event invited children aged 15 and under to grab their fishing poles for a fun-filled day of fishing.
The competition kicked off at 7 a.m., drawing in a crowd of participants to compete for prizes in several age categories: 6 and under, 7-9, 10-13, and 14 and over.
Prior to the event, MDWFP members, with the assistance of divers, set up weighted nets underwater to help stock the lake with catfish ranging from 1.5 to 10 pounds. Seventy-five catfish were specially tagged for prize opportunities.
Throughout the rodeo, children vied for prizes by catching either a tagged fish or the largest fish in their category. To ensure fair competition, only one catfish per participant was weighed to qualify for prizes.
Prizes included gift cards, fishing rods and reels, tackle boxes, games, and a grand prize for the child who caught the largest catfish of the day.
Other winners included Carson Holiness for the largest overall catch, Lundran Anderson in the 6 and under category, Wyatt Presley in the 7-9 group, and Holiness again for the 10-13 category.
Fishing rodeos like this one offer a safe and controlled environment to introduce youth to the joys of fishing, and this year was no exception.
Sherry Hazelwood, the State Fishing Rodeo Coordinator, said that the Youth Catfish Rodeo has been a local tradition since 1999.
“I hope the kids take away lasting memories,” Hazelwood said. “We have some who’ve been coming since they were little, and now they have kids of their own and are still coming. They cherish it.”
This year’s rodeo attracted a large crowd, with involvement from local county and city police officers and several businesses who were eager to set up booths.
“We gave away hundreds of dollars and all kinds of prizes that people donated,” Hazelwood said. “We were blessed this year beyond measure with people wanting to help.”
The rodeo not only provided fun but also included educational activities on fish, fishing, and conservation, led by biologists from the Fisheries Bureau and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. Volunteers and local anglers assisted, while the Law Enforcement Bureau provided boating safety information.
“We even gave away dill pickles and popcorn,” Hazelwood added. “Seeing the kids’ smiles is what I enjoy most. I hope the fishing rodeo continues to grow bigger and better each year.”
For more information about the fishing rodeo program, contact Sherry Hazelwood or Ryan Jones at (601) 432-2208, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or visit the MDWFP website at www.mdwfp.com.