Published: June 11, 2009 11:43 am      

Little Anglers Land Big Fish

ATHENS, Texas — Out of the more than 1,000 people who visited the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens on National Fishing Day June 6, 65 boys and girls entered the fishing contest.

Fishing in two divisions, age 11 and under and ages 12–17, five girls and three boys took home prizes for catching the biggest catfish.

Winners in the 11 and under division were: First, Lorem Wofford, six, of Tyler, 3.58 pounds; second, Jo Micah, six, of Jacksonville, 3.42 pounds; third, Nicholas Lopes, six, of Athens, 3.22 pounds; and fourth, Haley Herriage, eight, of Athens, 2.56 pounds.

In the 12–17 division, first place went to Tyler Pustejovsky, 12, of Waco, 2.68 pounds; second, Kaylee Nicholson, 12, of Athens, 2.56 pounds; third, Rachael English, 13, of Wills Point, 2.28 pounds; and fourth, Mason English, 12, of Wills Point, 2.22 pounds.

Kaylee Nicholson also caught the new junior angler rod and reel state record bluegill, a 1.14-pound monster that also qualifies her for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department big fish award, a catch-and-release water body record and the Lake Zebco water body record.