Beech Tree News Network

With only four envelopes remaining and a $10,000 tagged catfish on the line, Tony Deweese may have been a little anxious.  But, a tag number was called for a $600 catfish that matched his and his hopes of snagging the "big one" faded away.  Deweese was one of 19 anglers who caught 22 tagged catfish in the annual Tackle the Green Fishing Tournament, which was held June 23-25.  Results of the tournament were announced at the closing ceremonies of the festival on Tuesday, July 4.

The Green River Catfish Festival Fishing tournament, sponsored by the Morgantown-Butler County Chamber of Commerce and Camping World of Bowling Green, gave fishermen the opportunity to catch 111 tagged catfish, hoping for a cut of $32,500 provided by numerous community sponsors and other cash and gift card prizes from Camping World. 325 fishing tickets were sold.

The Morgantown-Butler County Chamber of Commerce sponsored the grand-prize $10,000 tagged catfish. 

Sponsoring $150 fish were: Butler County Clerk, Sherry Johnson; Brandy Cook, Best Choice Roofing; Hometown Trophy, Jarrod Evans; and Tony and Shirly Coots. $200 fish were sponsored by: C & L Wrecker Service; Farm Boy Restaurant, 2; and Wayne Russ, Jailer. Kentucky Farm Bureau Agent, Bobby Smith; Cohron Family Optometric Services; The Essentials Insurance Group; Green River Equipment Leasing, Inc.; Scott Flener, in honor of Dale Flener; Johnny and Courtney Embry, 2; K & M Supply and Rentals, LLC.; and The Dam Welding and Fabrication, Lesa Gabbard all sponsored fish worth $250. 5th District Magistrate, Dillon Bryant and Newton Homes, LLC. sponsored fish worth $300. 

$500 fish were sponsored by Aerospace Composites Solutions; B & R Lumber, Co,; Bluegrass Roofing; BTN/WLBQ; Butler County Judge Tim Flener and Morgantown Mayor Billy Phelps; Double E Vending; Drakes Farm Service and Jones Funeral Chapel and Monument Co.; Embry and Watts CPAs, 4; In Memory of Ernie Embry; Johnson Farms; Kuntry Kitchen; Star Tek Recycling, LLC.; Triple C Pawn; and Western Kentucky Roofing and Guttering, 2. There was a $600 fish sponsored by the Morgantown City Council and $1000 fish sponsored by Chad’s Body Shop, and New Image Car Care. 

Below are the tagged fish winners and the amount won: 

Tony Deweese $600

Patty Garner $500

Jody McKinney  $100, $200 and $500

Ronnie Norris $500

James Jared $500

Debby Carathers $500

Troy McIntosh $300

Dakota Lawrence $200

Emmit Cox $200

Vic Coots $100 and $100

Michael Capps $100

Talon Calvert $100

Billy White $100

Kyle Fields $100

Darrell Hinkle $100

David Shain $100

Cindy Cardwell $100

Jessica Cox $100

Shawn Elmore $100