By By Lydia Grimes
features reporter
Young and old alike will have an opportunity to put a catfish dinner on their tables Saturday as a day of fishing is planned.
The event, which was not held last year, will be making a comeback as Fishers of Men Ministries bring it back to life.
Allen Couch, a member of the ministry group, has taken on the event and organized everything from stocking the pond to supply prizes. “We decided to take it over and make it an all-day fishing day,” he said. “We will have over 1,500 pounds of catfish to stock the pond. We will furnish the fishing equipment for the youngsters and give away one rod and reel to each age group from 5 to 15. It won’t be a cheap rod and reel either. They are made by well-known manufacturers. The youngster who catches the biggest fish for their age will win.”
A new addition to the event will be senior fishing. Senior citizens will be allowed to fish in the pond after noon on Saturday. “We won’t have prizes for the seniors, but they will be able to take their catch home for supper,” Couch said.
Rods and reels will be supplied for children who don’t own their own equipment. Children are also invited to bring their own equipment to use. Chicken livers, which will be used for bait, will also be made available. Snacks will be provided throughout the fishing time. Drinks, hotdogs and chips will be available at lunchtime.
During past fishing events, there have been as many as 200 fish in the pond with most events averaging 120 to 150.
Members of Alco Baptist Church and students from Jefferson Davis Community College will be on hand to provide assistance to those fishing. Catfish for the event is being purchased from Fuqua Catfish farms.
Sponsors for the event include Fishers of Men, Alabama South, Escambia County Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Game and Fish Department, First Progressive Bank, Bank of Brewton, BankTrust, Weyerhaeuser of Castleberry, Brewton Kiwanis Club, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Pensacola, Fla., Gulf Coast RC&D, WalMart of Brewton, Pic N Sav of Brewton, The Brewton Standard, The TriCity Ledger, WKNU, WEBJ and WFLJ Radio.