Over 600 people scattered along the Susquehanna last weekend trying to bring home the biggest bounty in the annual Joseph Kinney Catfish Derby, presented by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 480.
Here, bigger is better. The rules are to fish anywhere along the river in Tioga County. On Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9, the catfish were weighed and the fisherman with the heftiest wins.
The big ones stay in a tank at Hickories Park in Owego. The little guys get slid back into the river via a chute with a hose.
Lee Spinner (“Spinner like you’re going fishing,” he said) is the president of the VVA and has been a part of the Catfish Derby for 15 years. He enjoys seeing the community come together to benefit local organizations.
“We had one little boy this morning, four-years-old, and that’s all he wanted to do was go fishing,” Spinner said.
Seventeen-year-old Cody Browne and his monstrous 14.22-pound catfish took first place and the prize money on Sunday.
Adults paid $25 to register, kids ages four to 12 got to fish for free. All money raised goes back into the community, Spinner noted. The VVA takes the money and redistributes it to charities and organizations such as the Rural Ministry, the Owego Boys and Girls Club, local little leagues, scholarships at Owego Free Academy, and more. They use some of the money to buy Christmas gifts for veterans at the Oxford Veterans’ Home as well.
Be the first to comment on "Catfish derby held in Owego"