MidSouth Jr Fishing Rodeo - June 2009

Every angler that logs on to www.crappieslabfishing.com knows that one of my goals is to see that our young get interested in the great outdoors. I will volunteer or take a kid fishing on my own.

I attended the Fishing Rodeo held by Tennessee Wildlife June 6, 2009, and it is always a great feeling to see all the young kids get so excited about catching maybe
their first fish. I attend this event every year in Germantown, Tennessee and do not have to be asked to volunteer. I kid Larry Rea that does the emcee, I tell Larry he does not have to email me every year. I know that it happens the first Saturday of June and always count on me being there.

The story I have to tell in this article, I thought was the best way to help anglers see just what kind of guy I am.

I arrived at the Johnson Park in Germantown at 7:15am. All the kids were already starting to sign in and picking out where they thought the fish would bite the best.

It amazes me to see the excitement in their eyes and how they were able to handle waiting until 9:am before they could fish. To walk around and hear just how they were laying out the plan on catching MR. Wiskers, what bait to use, where they were going to throw first.

My job is to walk around and assist anyone that might be having problems like not catching any fish. I found this little guy named Tanner from Germantown, that was
giving his all and just was not catching any fish. I asked the parents if I could step in and help to see if I could get Tanner a few fish.

I cut the big egg sinker off his line and re-tied the hook on and put a float on his line about four feet deep. Mr. Jim, the Sporting Goods Manager at Walmart, was walking by and I asked him for some shrimp that he brings to every Rodeo.

I rigged up a piece of shrimp on Tanner's hook and on the first cast Tanner landed his first catfish. Tanner went on to catch more and the brother wanted me to rig up his rod and reel with the same rig.

The mother asked me while we were watching the kids catching fish if I was about to have a fit and said I bet you wish you were catching them. I explained that I get
just as much enjoyment out of watching the kids catching the fish as if I was to catch them.

I gave the parents a card showing them how to get to my site and that I would have Tanner's Picture up in the next few days. I think the whole family had a great time. I know that Mom shot a lot of pictures also.

The second picture is Rachael and Abby that I could not pass up since they looked so cute sitting in their little chairs waiting for the Rodeo to start. I asked if I
could take their pictures with I think it was Grandpa and I found out real quick they like to have their pictures taken. As it turn out Rachael won one of the big prizes for either big fish or the most fish for her age group. (GO GIRLS)

All in All, I do not think a single young person walked away empty handed, there were so many prizes that were donated and I thank everyone for helping out.

The regulars Like BILL DANCE, PeanutCraft Lures, Strike King, Memphis Light Gas and Water, Germantown Park Rec, Carl Gram and a lot of others that I have not listed, but not have forgotten.

If you were in the area and missed the Rodeo, you missed a great day on the lake with our youth. Make plans and mark the date for next year so you can come out and see what all the excitement is all about.

It will be the first Saturday in June and I will remind most of my readers as the date comes up. If you are a reader in another state, check with your Wildlife office and see if you can come out and help in your state.

See if I am not wrong in saying, it is the best medicine you will ever get and it is not from any doctor that
you go to see.

Keep The Hooks Wet! 

Steve McGoldrick