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This year’s kids’ fishing rodeo participation was more than double that of last year. On Saturday, 168 kids and their families crowded around Hardley Creek on West Point Lake for the second annual event. Last year’s fishing rodeo drew around 80 young anglers. 

The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce (GVACC) partnered with the US Corp of Engineers at West Point Lake to fill the lake with fish. Of the 750 pounds of fish dumped into the lake, two had a yellow tag. The kids that caught those fish won $100.

This year, four kids walked away with the prize money. Three siblings, Merritt, Owen and Oliver Smith combined efforts to catch one of the fish. They plan to split the prize money. Thomas Jackson Dennis caught the other fish solo. 

“We want to say thank you to everyone who came out and had a great day of fishing. We hope that everyone enjoyed their time,” said Carrie Wood, director of the GVACC.

Wood wanted to thank the sponsors of the event. Johnny’s Pizza provided free pizza for the kids, and Coca-Cola provided the drinks. A new edition this year was Bluffton Bait and Tackle which provided free bait for the competitors and sold other fishing gear out of a booth set up by the lake.

This event was a partnership between the GVACC, the US Corps of Engineers, and West Point Lake. The Corp provided approximately 750 pounds of fish for the event. 

Wood said with the event growing exponentially, the GVACC plans to continue the tradition.

“We want to make sure that everyone keeps it in mind for June of next year to bring their kids out. Let’s have another great time,” Wood said.