Beech Tree News Network

A total of 36 tagged fish were caught over the weekend at the annual Green River Catfish Festival (GRCF) Fishing Tournament.  The Fishermans' Dinner took place shortly after 6 p.m. on the banks of the Green River at the J. Guy Cook Boat Ramp in Morgantown.  Hundreds of anglers took part in the 3-day event. There were 139 tagged fish released into the river last week. The "big one" is a  $10,000 catfish sponsored by the Morgantown-Butler County Chamber of Commerce.  Other prize tagged catfish range in value from $200 to $2,500.  Renegade Marine matched all of the original $100 fish, making any winnings a minimum of $200.  Overall, approximatley $47,000 worth of tagged catfish were released.  Winners (value of each individually tagged catfish) will be announced at opening ceremonies of the GRCF on July 4. 

Several gift cards and cash prizes were given for numerous categories, including entering the river, all ticket holders, biggest and small catfish, veteran, youth, daily goose egg, etc. 

The biggest cash winner of the event was Rebecca Hurd (photo above), who won $1,000 in the ticket holder drawing.  

The following individuals caught tagged catfish:  Joddie McKinney, Billy Ray White, Michael Embry, Robert Holzkhect (2 fish), Ken Flewallen, Landon Cardwell, Bobby McKee, Darrell Ashby, Robert Leach, Cindy Cardwell, Garrett Embry, Colton Givens, Jeff Raymer (2 fish), Cainan Jenkins, Michael Capps, Lindel Keown, Mark Cardwell, Jeff Jenkins, Dillion Shepherd, Billy Hurd (2 fish), Brian Huckleberry, Brazen Baker, Willie Taylor, Rebecca Hurd (3 fish), Cyle Morris, Bernard Ray, Donnie Mullen, Tim Blair, Mark Harrison, Scotty Goodall, Heather Blair.  

 For photos of each fisherman who caught a tagged catfish, visit the Beech Tree News Facebook page.