The East 52 Volunteer Fire Department gearing up for its annual Catfish Tournament at Horse Creek Marina honoring the late firefighter Bobby Massingille.
Chief James King said Massingille was one of the founding members of the volunteer fire department and was instrumental in the department’s growth. While the event raises funds for the department, King said the real value is having fun out on the lake with community members.
“Just to keep Bobby’s memory alive, that’s it,” King said.”That’s what it’s about, you know, because, you know, usually in somebody like that passes away, you don’t really think about them every year, you know, you kind of… as time goes, you kind of, they drift away.”
Catfish, Massingille’s favorite fish, can be caught on Dale Hollow Lake by any legal means, including noodling, limb lines or fishing poles. A family-style fish fry will proceed the tournament and King said people are encouraged to bring sides.
“You know, that’s what it’s about, getting the community out and let them eat,” King said. “Get some nice catfish, some fresh, fresh catfish, I should say. And have the fellowship of it, the enjoyment of, you know, seeing everybody every year.”
King said the fishing tournament is the biggest yearly fundraising event for the fire department. King said the putting offers a chance to engage with the community and break bread with neighbors.
“And we don’t necessarily have a charge for the food,” King said. “We put food at the end of the table and people just donate what they want, what they feel like they need to donate, and eat what they want.”
The competition will run all through the night with a weigh-in on Saturday morning. King said the tournament, which costs $20 to enter, is the department’s main fundraising event.