CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Many families found a great way to spend some time together Saturday morning with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo. The annual competition with awards and prizes drew 173 youngsters to the pond at Liberty Park.

The pond was stocked with fish earlier in the week and the fishing was free for young people ages 15 and under, and the free fishing goes on for the entire week across Tennessee. TWRA offers the annual free fishing day to introduce more children to fishing and increase interest in fishing.

Nicholas Zydel won the award for biggest fish caught by a male, a 4 lb. 7 oz. catfish, at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Monroe Navarro won the award for most weight of fish caught, 7 lbs. 6 oz. at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kiernan Hein wo for the smallest fish, .1 oz. at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Families in line to register at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Families register at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Bud Burnett, Jake Csiszer, Billy Harris, Ken Busbee, Wes Bridges, Robert & Tara Pasionek, members of the Montgomery County Bass Club at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Families register at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kids fishing at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kenedi Smiling shows off her fish she caught at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Jack Butler won a prize at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kids fishing at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Nicholas Zydel and his catfish at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Ivan Medley, Kaiden Franklin, & Ian Overfelt, at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
TWRA Wildlife Officer Blake Conrad at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A youngster fishing at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Fish being weighed in at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Fish after being weighed in at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Christian Ross won a prize at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A family prepares their fish for weigh-in at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A family prepares their fish for weigh-in at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Families with fish preparing for weigh-in at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Fish being prepared for weigh-in at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A family prepares their fish for weigh-in at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Ava Rogers won two awards for catching the biggest catfish for a female, 4 lbs. 49 oz. and the most total weight, in fish 10 lbs. 23 oz., at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Youth Fishing Rodeo at the Liberty Park Pond on Jun. 10, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

Talking about the free fishing day, TWRA Wildlife Officer Blake Conrad said they want the kids and families to get out and enjoy the outdoors and have fun catching fish. The event included competition with awards for both males and females for the biggest fish caught and most total weight of fish caught.

The award for most weight caught by a male went to Monroe Navarro with 7 lbs. 6 oz. and the biggest fish for a male was 4 lbs. 7 oz. and that went to Nicholas Zydel. Ava Rogers won both awards for biggest fish, 4 lbs. 49 oz. and most weight caught by a female, 10 lbs. 23 oz.  Kiernan Hein was also recognized for the smallest fish caught at .1 oz.

The Montgomery County Bass Club is a supporter of the rodeo by helping the kids and offering tips on fishing. “We like the youth and the fishing that they do. We’ve been partnering with TWRA for eight or nine years now,” Club President Chris Lanier said.