Rosiclare Fire Department held 7th Annual Bowfishing Tournament RFD
Calvin Winters and David Burton received fish for weigh in from team Fish Gods: Skyler Smith, Bobby Smith, Garrett Walker, and Hillary Smith. — Jennifer Lane and Jessica Bogue photos
Cole Whitehead and Anthony Long of Team Night Stalkers took the first place prize. Cole also got the Big Fish.
Hillary Smith was presented a check for the littlest fish.
Catfish fry fund raiser was held Saturday night
By Jennifer Lane
Editor
Volunteers of the Rosiclare Fire Department held the 7th Annual Big 15 Bowfishing tournament “Battle Between the Locks” which started on the Ohio riverfront at the Rosiclare Park and Campground Saturday, August 19 and overnight into Sunday, August 20. The event was coordinated by David Burton and Calvin Winters (Capt.), both Rosiclare Volunteer Firefighters, and Mitchell Conkle, Director of EMA. They are all bowfishermen of the Hickstown Headhunters.
In addition to the tournament, other RFD volunteer firemen held a catfish fry fund raiser on Saturday night of the event. They also sold smoked bologna, hamburgers and hotdogs and the fixins. The Shakin’ Sisters Shake-Ups sold food that evening and then breakfast for the hungry bowfishermen and women the next morning. The RFD also had two large bouncy houses for free that kids could come to the park and play on that day.
A 50/50 raffle was held during the event and $217 was donated to the Shop with a Cop program, which will help two children have presents under their tree at Christmas this year. Gabby Presley won the raffle.
At sign ups on Saturday, 9 teams of bowfishermen and women reported for the tournament. After registration, teams set off and scattered to various locations to drop their boats in the Ohio River to battle for the win and bring in the invasive carp.
Out of 9 teams, 7 reported back for weigh in by 7 a.m. Sunday morning. David Burton announced the winners.
Official results/placement of all teams:
1. Team Night Stalkers – 265.70 lbs.
2. Forced Induction Outdoors – 201.55 lbs.
3. Wigglin Nock – 193.70 lbs.
4. Fish Gods – 163.45 lbs.
5. Carnage Bowfishing – 154.80 lbs.
6. Penetrators – 137.65 lbs.
7. Silver Fin Slammers – 68.50 lbs.
Didn’t return for weigh in:
8. All Around Outfitters didn’t compete because one of their wives had just had a baby and another wife was delivering that day. One teammate came to Rosiclare to pay their entry fee and support the RFD.
9. Soggy Bottoms
Anthony Long and Cole Whitehead of TEAM NIGHT STALKER from Albion, IL, won the 1st place prize of $400. The team weighed in 265.70 pounds of fish. Cole Whitehead of this team won the BIGGEST FISH, weighing in at 36.00 pounds. He won $200.
Hillary Smith of the FISH GODS from Rosiclare, IL won the LITTLEST FISH weighing in at 4.15 pounds. She won $100 donated by Michael Eikenberry of All Around Outfitters of Golconda. Her teammates were Skyler Smith, Garrett Walker and Bobby Smith.
A total of approximately 1,842 pounds was brought to the banks as a result of this year’s tournament. Bowfishermen weighed in an eligible total of 1,185.35 pounds for the competition. All carp shot, including the 656.65 pounds not eligible for weigh in, were disposed of by Aquatic Protein, LLC of Eddyville, KY. The fish may be used in the production variety of items like dog and cat food, fertilizer and fish oils. The company donated 9 cents for each pound to the Dustin Winters Memorial Scholarship.
Funds raised from this event benefit the Rosiclare Fire Department to help with costs of equipment, training, and fuel.
Those who donated or sponsored to this year’s event are listed as follows: V Cut, Banterra Bank, Harrisburg NAPA, Kunath’s Clean Getaway Carwash, Jim Hayes, Inc., Bill Knowles ACI X, Wallace Sanitation, Bob Winchester, and Bob’s Food Market.
For information about next year’s tournament, call Rosiclare Volunteer Fireman David Burton at 618-518-9501 or visit the Rosiclare Fire Department facebook page.
See more photos from this event on the Rosiclare Fire and Rescue facebook page https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=rosiclare%20fire%20and%20rescue .
Some of the firemen and women who put on the catfish fry, back row, l-r: Asst. Chief Kevan Eddleman, Bobby Turner, Chief Andy Atkinson, Roy Turner, David Holbrook. In front: Tony Lane and Rachel Atkinson.
Published in the August 24, 2023 Hardin County Independent.
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