If you've got a kid who loves to fish, there are quite a few places you can go locally to reel in a catch. There are also organizations sponsoring fishing rodeos for kids, designed to foster their interest. The dates are below.
Of course, many Tennessee state parks offer great lakes for fishing, where you can angle for bream, crappy, catfish, bass, and more. Several parks with lakes include Meeman-Shelby Forest, Chickasaw, Fort Pillow, and of course, Shelby Farms Park.
To receive an angler's guide to fishing in Tennessee or to learn more about family fishing destinations, go the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) website.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SATURDAY, JUNE 14 • 8 a.m.
Youth Fishing Rodeo at Fort Pillow State Park, Henning, TN
All kids 12 years old and under can participate and win prizes. FREE. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Call 731.738.5581 for details or go here.
South Side Optimists' Youth Fishing Rodeo, Jackson, TN • 8 a.m.-noon
South Side Optimist's Club Lake (Corner of Perry Switch Rd. & Hwy 45 South) in Jackson. Open to kids ages 15 and under. Sponsored by TWRA. FREE. Prizes and trophies for Most Fish, Biggest Catch, and Most Unusual Catch. Rain date: Saturday, June 21. Call 731-234-4946.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28 • 8 a.m.
City of Bartlett Children's Fishing Rodeo
Kids 12 and under are invited to bring a pole and test their luck at Appling Lake (3663 Appling Road, next to BPACC) in Bartlett. Prizes will be awarded in three age catagories: 6 and under, 7-9, & 10-12, along with a Grand Prize. The rodeo is free, but participants must register. Go here to learn more.