The two-day Yantis Catfish Classic at Lake Fork concluded today with the 16.17 pound blue cat caught by Tim Morrow (Lindale, TX) holding its first place position from gate-to-gate to win the top prize of $6400. Fred O’Brain (Hobbs, NM) took second place for $3400 with a 14.3 pound flathead, the only one of its species that earned prize money in either day of competition. The 12.05 pound blue caught by Rhonda Howard (Mesquite, TX) on Saturday took third place for $1400 and Tommy Redmon’s (Yantis, TX) 11.25 pound blue ended in fourth for $900. Rounding out the top five was Dean Hutchins (Alba, TX) with a 10.85 pound blue cat worth $550. The most active hourly winners were Stan Edmond (Cason, TX) who caught 2 fish for a total of $700 and Roger Stroman (Emory, TX) with 3 for a total of $600.

The Minnow Bucket Marina hosted the event and a total of 469 catfish anglers participated. Anglers competed individually for big fish with four hourly cash prizes and a bonus jackpot paid to the anglers catching the top five fish overall. The total payout for all hourly and tournament top finishers was $24,750.

The event was presented by the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association and Ken Freeman Outdoor Promotions. Its major underwriters were the Bass Pro Shops (BPS) Big Cat Quest Tournament Trail, BankTexas, the Sulphur Springs Department of Tourism, and the Wood County Industrial Commission. Other major contributors included the City of Emory Tourism Board, the Rains County Chamber of Commerce, and the Rains County Tourism Board.

The Yantis Catfish Classic was closely tied with the City of Yantis and their fifth annual Catfish Day Festival. Activities in Yantis included a Catfish Day parade on Saturday afternoon following the last tournament weigh-in period. The Yantis City Council, who served as the Parade Marshals, led the procession aboard the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association Live Release Boat. Numerous anglers from the BPS Big Cat Quest Tour participated in the parade with their state-of-the-art cat-fishing craft and tow vehicles. At the conclusion of the parade, the tournament anglers and other area residents were treated to a traditional fish fry prepared by the Yantis Volunteer Fire Department.

The Yantis Catfish Classic is a part of the BPS Big Cat Quest Tournament Trail. The next stop on the Trail is at Eufaula, AL on August 8, then at Bend Lake, IL on August 28. Following two other tournaments in September and early October, the Trail concludes with its national championship at Memphis, TN on the Mississippi River on October 24-25. The Big Cat Quest’s major sponsors are Bass Pro Shops, Toyota Trucks, and Coca-Cola. More information on the Big Cat Quest can be found at the Ken Freeman Promotions web site.

The Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association is a non-profit organization formed in 1999 to help promote and maintain Lake Fork as a world-class fishery. It is comprised mainly of local homeowners, business owners, and guides, but it also has numerous members who provide financial and service support from outside the immediate area. More information on the Association and its mission can be found on the lakeforksa web-site.