Staff reports

This spring, Tennessee 4-H launched a new opportunity for young anglers through the Tennessee 4-H Sportfishing Program. Participants competed in either junior or senior divisions and targeted four fish species: bass, catfish, panfish, and trout.

Each participant received a free Check-It Stick and access to the FishDonkey app to record their catches. From March 1 through April 26, youth anglers fished at locations of their choice and submitted photos of themselves with their catches, along with photos showing fish measurements on the Check-It Stick. Competitors vied for awards based on the largest five-fish stringer in each age division and fish category.

Lincoln County was represented by four anglers during the inaugural season: Maggie Heffington, Lucas Durham, Charlie Durham and Sam Costilla. To learn more about their experiences, participants were asked about their smallest and largest catches, favorite fishing memories, and what they enjoyed most about the program.

Maggie Heffington’s smallest catch was a 10-inch panfish, while her largest was a 15.5-inch bass. Her favorite catch was the bass because of the excitement of landing it.

One of her funniest memories happened while fishing near a pond bank. She shared, “I was walking near the bank of the pond and started to sink and slip in the mud and water. I caught myself at the last possible second to keep from falling in.”

Heffington said she enjoyed the flexibility of the program. “I liked being able to fish anytime and anyplace. All I had to do was log my catches into the app to show off my awesome catches!” She said fishing with a partner could make the experience even more enjoyable and plans to participate again next year.

Lucas Durham enjoyed a successful season and caught several fish in multiple categories. His favorite catch was a 27.25-inch catfish. He said the catfish was his favorite because of the challenge and excitement of reeling it in.Durham enjoyed spending time on the water throughout the season and is already looking forward to participating again next year.

Charlie Durham also enjoyed spending time outdoors and fishing throughout the competition. Like his brother Lucas, he entered fish in every category and had particular success in the panfish division. His favorite catch of the season was a 15-inch bass. He is already making plans and setting goals for next year’s competition.

Sam Costilla recorded several impressive catches during the season. His smallest fish was a 4.83-inch bluegill, while his largest was a 29.5-inch buffalo fish. His favorite fishing story, titled “The Turtle’s Revenge,” involved a family fishing trip where turtles seemed determined to steal the spotlight.

“All my family went fishing, but all we caught that night were turtles,” Costilla recalled. “Mom said if we didn’t stop catching turtles, she was going to make turtle soup. While we were fishing and talking about cooking, the turtles were playing a joke on us — they were eating our catch! We pulled up the stringer only to realize half of a bluegill was missing. I guess we had to decide whether we wanted turtle or fish for supper!”

All four participants had a wonderful experience during the first season of the Tennessee 4-H Sportfishing Program. With stories, memories, and plenty of fish caught, the inaugural season was a great success for Lincoln County’s young anglers, said Debra Elliott, UT TSU Lincoln County Extension Office.

Be watching for information about the Spring 2027 Tennessee 4-H Sportfishing Program on the UT/TSU Extension Lincoln County Facebook page. For more information, contact Debra Elliott by email at dellio26@utk.edu or by phone at 931-433-1582.

Elliott said even more exciting news is on the horizon. Beginning next year, youth anglers will have two opportunities to compete, with both spring and summer seasons being offered. “That means twice the chances to get outdoors, enjoy nature, and fish to their hearts’ content,” Elliott said.