GENTRY — It was a hot afternoon on Saturday, with temperatures close to 100 degrees, but that did not keep the children and parents from coming out to the Gentry Chamber of Commerce fishing derby at the spring-fed pond in the Flint Creek Nature Park and having fun catching fish.
More than 45 children came out for the event, along with parents and family members, according to Janie Parks, executive director of the Gentry Chamber of Commerce. Most found shady places around the pond from which to cast out their baited hooks.
According to Parks, more than 50 fish were caught. The average size was 17 inches, with the longest two being 191/2 inches, caught by Janie-Day Jones, age 6, and Allan Mayen, 12. Peyton Modlin, 6, caught the most fish -- 12 of them -- with 17 children catching fish and winning prizes.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocked the pond at the Flint Creek Nature Park on Friday, and the park was closed until the fishing derby to ensure there were plenty of hungry fish for the children to catch on Saturday.
In addition to an afternoon of fishing with parents, children were given prizes provided by Chamber sponsors.
Community on 07/26/2017