By Myra Bean

Two hundred children participated in the annual Sardis Lake Youth Fishing Rodeo on Saturday, June 21. Youth and their parents gathered at 7 a.m. for registration and were fishing by 7:30 on the banks of the lower lake.

Children ages 1 to 15 caught all types of fish located in the lake, along with a few turtles along the way.

Aidan Gouldin came away the overall winner with a fish weighing 3.54 pounds and 21.5 inches in length. He also won the 1-5-year-old category.

In the 6 to 10-year-old category Emma Humphreys was first with a catch of 3.14 pounds and 21 inches.

In the 11 to 15-year-old category, Christina Willis was the top placer with a catch of 3.40 pounds, 21.75 inches.

Other top placers in the 1 to 5-year-old category were second place C.J. Hollis with a catch of 3.41 pounds, 20.5 inches long; and third place, Hunter Brown, 1.97 pounds, 18 inches long.

Finishing out the 6 to 10-year-old category in second place was Robert Burns, 3.04 pounds, 20.5 inches long; and third place, Landon Watts, 3.0 pounds, 21.50 inches long.

Bethany Elmore was second in the 11 to 15-year-old category with a catch of 2.92 pounds, 20.25 inches long, followed by Mitch Grizzle in third place with a catch of 2.66 pounds, 21.25 inches long.

Participants also won bicycles, backpacks and tents in different drawings throughout the morning.

They heard a talk from renowned fisherman Carl Graham, a special guest of the fishing rodeo. Also addressing the crowd were Sardis Lake park ranger Chris Gurner and Sherry Hazlewood, special projects officer from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.