BATH, Ill. (KMOX) - First, it was major flooding, then the pandemic struck, but after two years off the Redneck Fishing Tournament is returning to a central Illinois town.
The wild event has gained national notoriety for its lack of fishing poles and surplus of leading fish. The teams in boats target the jumping, invasive Asian carp as a way to control the species. The fish overwhelms natural ecosystems and is known for jumping out of the water high into the air.
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In some years, the winners catch hundreds of fish in their boat in just a couple hours.
The tournament in Bath along the Illinois River has been going on for about a decade and this year’s event set for Aug. 6 and Aug. 7. You can learn more about it on the Facebook group, here.
“We’re back, and the fish had better look out,” event organizer Betty DeFord told the (Peoria) Journal Star.
It's also open to fans for just $3 a day or $5 for the weekend. There will live music, a beer garden, raffle prizes and food vendors, with the proceeds going to veterans organizations.
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