Youth fishing tournament draws anglers statewide to Oak Ridge

On an early February morning, Clark Center Park hosted the group Beast of the East for a youth fishing tournament.

Beast of the East is part of the Tennessee Bass Federation.

More than 100 people came from Middle and East Tennessee and launched 33 boats on Melton Hill Lake in pursuit of elusive bass. To his delight, Korbin Crabtree, a 14-year old from Overton County, caught a 50 pounder.

The top winners were awarded prizes including reels, rods, and contributions to their college funds. Even if they did not catch a fish, the TBF awards all the young people a prize.

Clark Center Park is a 40-acre park located on Bluff Creek Road in Anderson County. The park offers opportunities for birding, boating, biking, fishing, hiking, paddling, picnicking, star gazing, swimming, and wildlife viewing. The newly improved boat ramp is a favorite of local fisherman, and the wheelchair accessible fishing ramp allows everyone to enjoy fishing.

Clark Center Park is the gateway to the Gallaher Bend Greenway and  provides access to Solway Bend and Freels Bend, which have important scientific, historic, habitat, and biodiversity attributes. While access to protected areas on Solway and Freels bends are limited, the public is invited to participate in occasional guided walks.

Beast of the East is a grassroots group of anglers who promote catch-and-release, encourage community involvement, and enjoy introducing youth to fishing. Sherrie and Jeff Stafford from Sparta, Tennessee, have been running the youth fishing program for decades. They started with six kids and now have more than 200 youth, ages 9-17, engaged in fishing.

Most of the people participating in the tournament had never heard of Clark Center Park. The group enjoyed their visit so much that they voted to return for a tournament next year.

Korbin Crabtree, a 14-year-old from Overton County, displays the 50-pound bass he caught in Melton Hill Lake on Saturday, Febr. 7.