More than 100 kids enjoyed a day full of fun, food and fishing at McKamy Lake, in the Chilhowee Recreation Area at the annual Cherokee National Forest Kids Fishing Day over the weekend.
All the kids and their parents appreciated a morning of catching trout off the bank of the McKamy Lake, in the scenic Cherokee National Forest, and getting a free lunch provided by the local Cherokee Chapter of the National Wild turkey Federation.
Luckily for all the anglers, the weather was cool and the lake was well stocked with rainbow trout by the local Trout Unlimited chapter, just days before the event. The event was not only a chance for members of the community to enjoy a day of free fishing, but it was also an opportunity for all the local wildlife officers from the U.S. Forestry Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to get to know all the local outdoor enthusiasts in their area and help them have a good day in the outdoors.
Almost all the kids caught some keepers and all the kids went home with some great prizes and free fishing poles provided by Cabela’s in Ft Oglethorpe.
“It sure is fun seeing all the kids have such a good time catching fish and enjoying the great outdoors,” said Philip Sparn, marketing manager at Cabela’s – Ft Oglethorpe. “This event is such a cool experience for all the kids, the parents, the wildlife officers and all the volunteers that make it happen.”
The annual free event was organized by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Cherokee Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the U.S. Forestry Department. Visit www.fs.usda.gov/news/cherokee/ for more news and events happening in the Cherokee National Forest.
Sponsors for the event included Cabela’s, Trout Unlimited, the Bargain Barn, the Etowah Chamber of Commerce, Benton Shooter’s Supply and the Polk County/Copper Basin Chamber of Commerce.
Participants at the annual Cherokee National Forest Kids Fishing Day