Fishing tournament draws 70 teams

PINE BLUFF — Despite being forced to postpone the tournament twice, organizers for the annual Reeling for Meals fishing tournament said they were pleased with the turnout June 20 at Pine Bluff’s Regional Park alongside the Arkansas River.

The tournament, hosted by the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, is the agency’s only organized fundraiser during the year.

“We were originally scheduled for April and all of this covid hit, so we were on the fence about doing it at all,” said Kathy Tynes, the agency director. “But as the state opened up and we came into phase two we decided to go ahead. They’re encouraging people to go fishing, so that’s what we’re doing. And the fishermen are telling me that the river is running just right to catch a lot of fish.”

Tynes said the turnout, at 70 boats registered, was lower than in years past, but she said the fishing conditions still made it one of the agency’s better tournaments.

“We’ve had over 100 boats registered but considering all the circumstances of having to change the date, we are very pleased with the turnout,” she said.

Samantha Stichert, the tournament director, said in the 16 years she has been directing the tournament, this year has been particularly challenging.

“This year has been crazy,” Stichert said. “We’ve had to change the date twice because of the covid. And all of the other little things — like, we usually have our fish dinner in the waterfront building, but this year we’re having to do it as a grab-and-go kind of thing, which will actually be helpful because people can get out quicker.”