TWRA’s Youth Fishing Rodeo in Clarksville was a great time for kids and adults alike

Monday, June 8, 2015

Clarksville, TN – On Saturday, June 6th the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) along with the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department held the annual Youth Fishing Rodeo at Liberty Park. The event gives the youth of Clarksville an opportunity to enjoy a day of free fishing. This is the 14th year for the event.

“Saturday is free fishing day in the State of Tennessee. Here in Clarksville we team up with Clarksville Parks and Recreation to host a free fishing day event for youth 16 years of age and younger,” stated TWRA officer Jereme Odom.

This young lady caught her first fish ever at Saturday's Youth Fishing Rodeo. — This young lady caught her first fish ever at Saturday’s Youth Fishing Rodeo.

For Free Fishing Day, the TWRA stocks lakes across the state with fish, and invites the public to bring out their children in the hope that these events will instill a love of the outdoors in them.

Over 300 kids gathered around the fishing pond at Liberty Park to have a great time outdoors. TWRA stocked the pond with farm raised catfish on Monday, June 1st for the event.

The weather was beautiful, with a slight breeze and the kids were just having a blast. Some of the kids were fishing for the very first time.

Prizes were awarded awarded for the biggest and smallest fish caught by the boys and the girls, the biggest creel (most weight caught), as well as a variety of door prize drawings. Prizes included gift certificates, as well as fishing equipment and other sporting-goods.

When asked how the event went, Clarksville Parks and Recreation Special Events Supervisor Jessica Goldberg said, “It was wonderful. TWRA does such a great job of doing these in educational sessions for the children and really the outdoors to children that may not have experienced this before. They even had things like pole rentals. So if the child did not have a fishing pole they could come in and get a pole. They had worms available as well.”

The winners of this year's Youth Fishing Rodeo. (L to R) TWRA officer Jereme Odom, Wyatt Wooten, Ethan Duffie, Cailin Robinson and TWRA officer Dale Grandstaff. — The winners of this year’s Youth Fishing Rodeo. (L to R) TWRA officer Jereme Odom, Wyatt Wooten, Ethan Duffie, Cailin Robinson and TWRA officer Dale Grandstaff.

Ethan Duffie, age 10, caught the smallest fish at 0.01lbs. Female most weight was won by 16 year old Cailin Robinson with 9.32lbs. Wyatt Wooten had the most weight for a male with 10.09lbs. Wooten also had the biggest fish at 4.40lbs.

The winners each received a rod from Grandpa’s, a trophy, and a $50.00 gift certificate from Grandpa’s.

“This is actually the first year that I have participated in the event. It was the first year my kids participated in the event and we will definitely be back next year. It was great,” stated Goldberg.

This year’s sponsors include Grandpa’s Outdoors, Walmart and numerous others.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency provides the free day in hopes of increasing interest in fishing. The day allows anyone the opportunity to try this great outdoor sport, especially children. In addition, children ages 15 and younger may fish without a license beginning on Free Fishing Day through the following Friday (June 12th).