Entries sought for FOP Catfish Tournament May 18 in Havana

 

[April 22, 2024] 

Entries are now being sought for the first annual Catfish Tournament sponsored by Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Spoon River Valley Lodge 427 that will be held Saturday, May 18 starting at Riverfront Park, 112 N. Schrader Street in Havana, Illinois.

Boats with teams of two to three people may launch at 5:30 a.m. with fishing for Flathead, Blue and Channel Catfish with line and pole only to commence at 6 a.m. The entry fee is $80 per boat with cash prizes of $800 for first place,$500 for second place and $300 for third place to be awarded based on the largest five fish caught per team. Participants may enter the largest fish pot for $10 with all of the pot being awarded for the largest single fish caught that day. Fishing is limited to the Illinois River and its tributaries and all fish must be alive at the weigh-in, which will occur no later than 1 p.m. Food may be purchased near the boat ramp, and a free raffle for all participants and a 50/50 drawing will take place after the last weigh-in.

“Come and drop a line in some of the best catfishing waters in Illinois while supporting a good cause,” said Lodge 427 President Donald “Ike” Hackett. “All proceeds from the event will help us fund benevolent services for our FOP members, who range across 15 counties in West Central Illinois.”

Registration forms for the Catfish Tournament are available at www.foplodge427.com/events.  Anglers may also register the day of the event. Call Brad at [phone] for more information.

The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 34,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.

[Brad Koke]