by Kim Odom, City of Lakeland Special Events Coordinator
Patience paid off for youth anglers, up to age 12, at the City of Lakeland’s annual Fishing Rodeo on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at International Harvester Managerial Park Lake.
On Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Officer Andy Tweed’s cue, the first of seven 15-minute fishing sessions began. The catfish were slow to bite as kids dropped their lines. Once they took the bait – it did not let up for many youth participants. Nine-year-old Brady Long made the first catch of the day. Keeping up the pace, the young man took home the “Most Fish Caught (Boy)” trophy for his effort, reeling in 15 catfish.
Ellie Lacey, 6, got the second catch of the day. There were plenty of catfish to be fished out during the rodeo. The lake was stocked with 900 lbs. of catfish earlier in the week. The TWRA donated 400 lbs. and Lakeland Parks and Recreation purchased 500 lbs.
Worms and liver seemed to be the popular choice of bait for the young anglers coming out for the event. The Spencer brothers, Owen, 4, and Reed, 6, caught a bucket full of fish. At the end of the fishing rodeo, the “Most Fish Caught (Girl)” trophy went home with seven-year-old Leila Helbling. In a hot spot, Leila caught 16 catfish for the day. Toddler Emmerson Hiller took home the trophy for “Longest Fish,” measuring in at 18 inches. Measurements were handled by Wildlife Officer Jay McMillen.
Several prizes donated by the TWRA were given away during the fishing rodeo, as “spotters” of the event sounded air horns for the first catch by a boy and first catch by a girl of each of 15-minute fishing sessions. Spotters for the fishing event were Scouts with Troop 455 based at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Lakeland.
It was a good day for fishing with a record-breaking attendance over the last few years. “We were happy to see so many families come out for our annual fishing rodeo,” said Pat O’Mara, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “We kicked off our LAMP (Lakeland’s Amphitheater) Summer Series this weekend and are looking forward to more family fun this summer as we get back to normal after COVID-19 interrupted our programs.”
