Fishing Rodeo successful

On Saturday, June 2, approximately 200 young fishermen and women came out for the U. S. Forest Service's nineteenth annual Kid's Fishing Rodeo at Lake Winfield Scott. The young anglers caught many of the 4000 trout stocked for the event along with an assortment of catfish, perch, bream, and bass. Many children caught their first fish, and several even caught their limit.

Special thanks go to all the sponsors who helped make the rodeo a success. Prizes and food were donated by Ingles, Foodland Grocery, Nelson's Tractor Company, Jerry's Bait and Tackle, Nelson's Ace Farm and Garden, Robert F. Jackson Insurance Agency, BB&T, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald's, Suches General Store, the Blairsville Restaurant, Budget Propane, Rocky Mountain Builders, Coca- Cola, Flowers Bakery, O. Mustad and Son, Wright and McGill, Shakespeare, and Stanley Jigs. United Community Bank and Coosa Creek Embroidery Company provided Tshirts to all of the participants. Wal-Mart store in Dahlonega provided a number of prizes, refreshments, and even bait for the eager fishermen and women. Grand Door prizes included tickets to the Tennessee Aquarium, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, and the Georgia Aquarium, a turkey cooker donated by Amerigas, and a tackle box donated by Cabela's. We again thank all of the sponsors for their generous contributions that helped make the rodeo a success.

Thanks also go to the Suches Volunteer Fire Department for cooking and serving the refreshments. The Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources provided the fish for the rodeo. Other volunteers included George Andrin of Trout Unlimited, Nancy Wood, and Frances and Charles Mason. As always, Ms. Gail Lynn did an outstanding job this year in securing donations of prizes and food for the rodeo. This was the 18th consecutive year that Gail assisted us with the rodeo.