Kid Fish comes roaring back after 2020 canceled

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 6/10/21

After losing out to COVID-19 last year, and despite the threat of rain this year, the Wood County Sheriff’s Dept. was able to hold the annual Kid Fish Saturday at the Sabine River Authority …

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Kid Fish comes roaring back after 2020 canceled

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After losing out to COVID-19 last year, and despite the threat of rain this year, the Wood County Sheriff’s Dept. was able to hold the annual Kid Fish Saturday at the Sabine River Authority headquarters at Lake Fork. Over 300 youngsters took part in the day’s activities.

Wood County Sheriff Kelly Cole was pleased with the results. “By the time you consider parents and guardians, we had over 600 people there. I think it was a great turnout and a great event especially with people not sure if it was going to rain,” Cole said. “We all had a really good time and the people there seemed to really enjoy the day. The response from everyone including our sponsors was great. We hope to make it even bigger and better next year. We appreciate all the law enforcement officers who were there and all the volunteers who helped to make it a big success.”

Cole indicated the event tee-shirts were a crowd pleaser. “In the past there have been boxes of the tee-shirts left over. We may have had a few extras, but not very many. We are probably going to even have to order some more for other folks who weren’t able to make it but wanted a shirt,” Cole added. 

The results were divided by age groups and type of catch. The catches included bass, catfish, perch, crappie and other. Top catches in 0-4 age group were bass, Arianna Marsh; catfish, Case Caddell; perch, Cade Lingo; and other, Matthew Perez, a 2.18-pound turtle. In the 5-8 year old group winners were bass, Grayson Mapes; catfish, Wes Clanton; perch, Cohen Umbrell; crappie, Bowen Steel; and other Laynee Kull, a 3.59-pound drum. 

In the 9-12 age bracket were bass, Bentley Calvert; catfish, Madilynn Clanton; perch, tie between Cole Applegate and Ian Jones; crappie, Ryan Ringold; and other Konner Barnhart, a 4.8-pound turtle.

In the 13-16 age bracket winners were bass, Tate Smith; catfish, Labria James; perch, Kaqmaran Farnham; crappie Taylor Lamburtus; and other, Ella Glover, a 3.68-pound turtle.

The largest catch of the day belonged to Madilynn Clanton who caught a 5.95-pound catfish.

Wood County Chief Deputy Niki Wright was proud to be a part of the event. “It’s an event we have looked forward to over the years and we are proud of being a part of putting it on this year,” Wright noted. “I have loved the event for many years and it was fun to help organize it this year.”

The Quitman-Lake Fork Kiwanis and Faith Baptist Church of Quitman grilled hot dogs for everyone. 

Dr. Joanne Wisdom of the local Kiwanis said this was the first year the club supplied the meal.

“I would say we cooked somewhere around 1,000 hot dogs. We had quite a few Kiwanis volunteers show up to work, at least 10 to 15,” Wisdom said. “This was actually our first year to be in charge of cooking. We have always helped in the past as much as we could. The Mineola club had done it in the past, but we were glad to do it this year and look forward to next year.”