June 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has announced the return of the Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day Saturday, June 8.
All Tennessee residents and visitors of any age can fish for free without a license in public waters across the state. Additionally, children aged 15 and younger can fish free for the entire week starting Saturday, June 8 through next Friday, June 14. There will also be several free fishing day events held across Tennessee including the Kids Fishing Rodeo at the big pond on Ferrell Road at Pea Ridge.
“Everybody regardless of age can fish without a license legally on Saturday, June 8. We will be having our annual Kids Fishing Rodeo at the big pond in the Pea Ridge Wildlife Management Area,” said TWRA officer Tony Cross.
“The fishing for kids only through age 16 will start at 7 a.m. until about noon on Saturday morning. We will probably have some prizes to give away. The ladies from the DeKalb Prevention Coalition will be there with snacks and drinks for the kids. We may also have some bait but just in case bring your own bait for catfish. The pond will be freshly stocked with channel catfish this week,” said TWRA officer Cross.
“You can arrive as early as 6 a.m. to find a good spot around the pond. A parking area is available. The pond is about an acre and a half or two acres. We can easily accommodate up to 100 kids. After 12 noon adults can also fish the pond. Typically, we have several adults who bring their kids”.
“Directions to the pond, take Short Mountain Highway (Highway 146) from Smithville into Cannon County, then turn onto Pea Ridge Road, look for Ferrell Road and follow the signs to the pond,” said Officer Cross.
Free Fishing Day is named in honor of Bobby Wilson who retired in 2022 after more than 40 years of service to the TWRA.