Catching fish and fun at Lake Fork
Lake Fork will be the center of attention in Wood County this week, as Bassmasters brings its professional fishing tour to the famed fishing lake, and Wood County celebrates the event with a two-day Family Fun Fest at Caney Point Recreation Area.
The fisherman will compete over five days beginning on Thursday, while the festival will be Saturday and Sunday at the newly-developed park off Hwy. 154 on the west side of the highway just north of the lake bridge between Quitman and Yantis.
A variety of events are planned throughout the two days, with a headline concert on Sunday afternoon by Neal McCoy and musical entertainment on Saturday by Eric George.
The music and all the events are free to attend.
There will be pickle ball tournaments both days and a cornhole tournament on Saturday.
The fishermen launch each day between 6:30 and 7 a.m.
Men’s doubles kick off pickle ball on Saturday with registration from 7:00-7:45. Women’s doubles follows with sign up at 10:30.
Cornhole registration will be from 8:30-9:30.
A variety of vendors and food trucks will be on hand Saturday from 10:30-5 p.m.
Entertainment will include the Texas Parks and Wildlife Teacher Creature’s catfish tank and a cooking demonstration by local chef Tyler Brown of Fusion in the Woods.
Eric George performs at 1 p.m.
The daily weigh-in is at 3 pm. for the contestants.
Sunday includes mixed doubles pickle ball with check-in at 10:30.
Vendors and food trucks will again be on hand from 11-5.
McCoy performs at 1 p.m., and the pickle ball and cornhole awards will be presented at 2:30.
The final weigh-in caps the event at 3 p.m.
Chef Tyler will be demonstrating a creole shrimp with white cheddar green chili grits, and if time permits, an old school bananas foster with vanilla ice cream.
He will also be giving out samples of the items and open a period of time to the audience for those that have food-related questions that they would rather ask a chef.
The Quitman Pilot Club is the local sponsor of the festival, partnering with the Wood County Economic Development Commission, the Sabine River Authority and UT Health Quitman.
