Many families in the area mark their calendars for the second Saturday in June each year.

    Children 15 and younger will participate in the Neshoba County Lake Youth Fishing Rodeo to to try and win prizes by landing specially tagged fish.     

    Registration starts at 7 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish, per age group.

    Up to $50 in prizes from Bass Pro Shops and Wal-Mart can be won from catching one of the 75 tagged fish.  

    The rodeo is free but each participant must bring his or her own bait, tackle, cooler, fish stringers and other fishing gear. Each child fishing must also have adult supervision, organizers said.

    “It is a fishing rodeo, but it is a fun-filled day,” said Sherry Hazelwood, state coordinator of the youth catfish rodeos for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. “Two nets were placed around the docks and thousands of catfish have been placed in there. They are not going to be fed, so they will be very hungry.”

    Other activities will include games, fingerprinting by the sheriff’s department, face painting, clothesline art, food, and archery.

    “Archery In The Schools will be here to give the kids an opportunity to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow,” Hazelwood said. “It is one of the largest programs we have in the state. All kids will get the opportunity to shoot.”

    The MDWFP organization conducted 70 rodeos last year, with more than 7,000 children participating, Hazelwood said.

    Neshoba Lake is located just off Mississippi 486 on Road 1711.

    For more information, call 601-656-7376.