The U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers and Alabama River Lakes are teaming up Saturday to give local children the chance to go fishing. The 22nd annual Kid Catfish Rodeo will be held at a pond on the Lowndes County Wildlife Management area in White Hall from 7:30-11 a.m. The free catfish rodeo is for children 15 and under, but each child must be accompanied by an adult.

“Kids don’t get a chance to fish or don’t know how to fish so it’s a chance for a parent or guardian to bring them out and give an experience on how to reel that catfish in and how to take off the hook and how to bait it,” said John Williams, a park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “Hopefully, they can take some home with them.

All participants must be their own pole and bait. Williams said last year about 150 children participated.

“Who knows maybe one day one of them will reel in a big fish in a bass tournament,” Williams said. “You have to start somewhere with the child and hopefully this will be a start for some of them.”

The Alabama Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries is a co-sponsor of the event. Refreshments will be served.

To get to the pond from Selma, take Highway 80 East to County Road 23 North in White Hall. Travel to County Road 40 West and take a left turn. Follow the signs and take a right on Henderson Road and continue to follow the signs to the pond.