Families flock to annual fishing tourney

Families from Georgia and South Carolina dropped their bait along the banks of Mistletoe State Park on Saturday.

Though they were hoping to take home a prize, many seemed happy to spend the day together as a family.

The park was the site for the 11th Annual Parent/Child All-Fish Tournament. The event brought in 32 families for a day of fishing, which is the purpose of the tournament, said Park Manager Bill Tinley.

"I want to get families together," Tinley said. "It doesn't matter if they catch anything as long as they are together."

The Selph family drove all the way from McCrae, Ga. after reading about the tournament on the internet. Doyle and Ellen watched their son Nate cast his line, getting it stuck in the water several times. Doyle managed to catch a bream by 11:30 a.m.

"We go to a lot of state parks," Doyle said.

"It's just a way to get away from all the noise," Ellen added.

All those fishing had a chance to win one of four categories: largest game fish, largest non-game fish, most weight fish and most weight non-game fish.

Lesa Lamback, of North Augusta, said her son Gerry brought home the prize for biggest game fish during the 2001 tournament. He reeled in a 2.82 pound fish, winning a new tackle box filled with lures.

Gerry was out there again this year and brought his friend Michael DuBose with him. Both are students at North Augusta High School.

"This is fun for everyone," said Lesa, who has taken her family to the tournament for the past four years. "That's why we like it so much."

Winners:

Grand Prize - Most weight overall: The Rawlins family - Johnathon, Daniel, Kristen, Angela, Willie and Linoa.

Largest non-game fish: Sean Ballard and Thomas Inderrieden of Aiken, S.C.

Most weight non-game fish: Jeff Perdue and Eric Ellis of Wrens, Ga.

Largest gamefish: Lee and Johnathan Sidener of Harlem

Most weight gamefish: William and Nicholas Huey of Augusta