Registration is open for area youngsters interested in the TPA Park’s March 17 Youth Trout Tournament featuring prizes and friendly competitions in four categories: children up to six years old, ages 7 – 12 years old, fly casting open to anyone up to 16 years old and those 13 – 16 years old.According to Parks Superintendent Travis Sheets, the $22 registration fee includes a t-shirt, with the event beginning at 9:00 a.m. that Saturday morning.
“We are excited to offer this fun, family-friendly trout tournament at our Golf Course Pond in TPA Park to give our youth the opportunity to compete in timed heats, win prizes and have a great time with each other,” Sheets said.
Every participant regardless of their age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Adults can assist, but not participate in the actual fishing. Every catch will be measured and registered by a tournament volunteer, with the fish released afterwards.
Each heat for the four age categories will be timed for 30 minutes of fishing. Participants need to bring their own fishing poles and bait. Participants can only enter one of the four categories, with prizes awarded after all four heats have concluded.
Heats for category A (up to six years old) will begin at 9:00 a.m. category B (7 – 12 years old) will begin at 9:45 a.m., category C (fly casting open to anyone up to 16 years old) will begin at 10:30 a.m. and category D (13 – 16 years old) will begin at 11:15 a.m.
“Like so many of our events, our Trout Tournament is about building and enhancing relationships, so that’s why every tournament participant – regardless of age – must be accompanied by a parent or guardian,” Sheets said. “We designed this day to be about attendees spending time together while enjoying a fun activity; goals our Parks Department works hard to achieve for park visitors every day.”
The registration deadline is 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 9. The registration form is available to download off the City’s Web site: http://frankfort-in.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Youth-Trout-Tournament-Registration-Form.pdf
The completed form and $22 registration fee need to be mailed or turned into the Parks Department office in TPA Park, 1 Adrian Marks Drive. The office is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Payment can be made with cash or a check made payable to the Frankfort Parks Department.
The registration form provides the option of ordering an extra t-shirt for adults for $20. Forms also are available at the Parks Department office. The tournament is not restricted to Frankfort residents; all youth are eligible to participate.
The March 17 event will happen rain or shine unless there is severe weather.