DALE HOLLOW-With night-fishing action heating up, the timing is perfect for the 16th Annual Kevin Watson-Johnny Rich Memorial to be held here at Cedar Hill Marina this Saturday night.

Evident by a pair of big smallmouth being weighed in Saturday night at Star Point Marina, participants of the event held to fund scholarships in both men’s honor to be given to local students each year will hit the water at the right time.

Those fishing are encouraged to arrive an hour earlier (6 p.m.) to enjoy a meal provided by volunteers in return for the participants’ donation through their entry fee, before blasting off at 7 p.m.

Competitors will be fishing for “bragging rights” and the chance at first, second, and third place trophies, but 100% of their $25-per-man entry fee will be donated to the cause.

The event will follow the “any species” format–where smallmouth, largemouth, and Kentucky spotted bass are eligible to weigh in, and it will feature a five-fish limit adhering to lake rules.  The weigh-in will be held at 1 a.m.

Participants will have the chance to win a little money again this year thanks to a big-fish side-pot for both smallmouth and ‘green fish’ (largemouth or spot).  A $5 entry fee for the smallmouth pot and another $5 for the ‘green fish’ pot will be collected from each angler wanting to participate.

Another feature of the event goes along with the fun atmosphere.  Unlike most tournaments, teams can have as many fishermen in the boat as they want—three or four-man teams are welcome.

5 Star Point events are in books so far

BYRDSTOWN-Five Saturday night smallmouth-only tournaments are in the books here at Star Point Marina, but only two fish over 21 inches long have been carried to the scales.

They came at last weekend’s event, which was won by Brandon Cross and Steve Smith with a total of 6.30 pounds made up of a 4.92-pound big fish and another under 16 inches long.

Ronnie and Robbie Johnson came in second place thanks to a small fish and the other one over 21 inches long tipping the scales at 3.86 pounds, which pushed their total to 5.59 pounds.

The final two paid positions at the most recent event went to Jason Bowden and Anthony Jones (3.52 lbs.), and Raymond Manis and Anderson Moon (3.49 lbs.)

The week prior, the series held their first Major Event, where the fishing hours are extended to 3 a.m. and the entry fee upped to $100 per boat.

Bowden and Jones won it with a total of 3.68 pounds, while Raymond and Coulton Manis finished second (3.50 lbs.), and Josh and Nathan (last names unknown) claimed third (3.32 lbs.).

Prior to the Major, Bowden and Jones also finished second (3.52 lbs.) on May 18 and won the May 11 event (3.56 lbs.).

The night the duo was the runner-up, Dwayne and Casey Jones were the victors with 3.53 pounds, while Raymond Manis and Keith Duncan finished third (3.41 lbs.).

The week before, when Bowden and Jones won, Cross and Smith claimed second place (3.31 lbs.), and Randy Roysden and Aaron Talent finished third (3.28 lbs.).

The series began on May 4, when Raymond and Coulton Manis won the opener with 3.27 pounds.

Dwane and Gidgett Jones finished second (3.20 lbs.) in the first event, while Landrick Leffew and Ethan Probst notched a third-place finish (3.14 lbs.), and Scottie Stults and Ty England rounded out the list of winners in fourth with 3.05 pounds.

The series is fished on Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a $40 entry fee.  They also have a big-fish-of-the-year contest, which is currently being led by Cross.

Fishing rodeo well-attended

CELINA-Approximately 300 kids and their parents enjoyed a day of fishing Saturday at the Dale Hollow Kids Fishing Rodeo, according to information released at Facebook.com/dalehollowlake.

“Corps of Engineers Park Rangers joined other agencies and volunteers to share the love of fishing and water safety to those in attendance,” the post said.

The event is hosted annually by the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery the first Saturday in June in conjunction with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Free Fishing Day.