"Catfish Was King in Yantis, Saturday!"

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

At promptly 4:00, on Saturday, "The Catfish" took over the city of Yantis, stopping traffic on State Highway-154 for the parade, and starting the annual celebration for the community, that coincides with the Catfish Tournament on Lake Fork. Many of the parade participants had already been on Lake Fork, for most of the day, in search of the biggest catfish, before coming to the festivities in downtown Yantis.

 

City Secretary, Tonya Norris, drives Mayor Jerry Miller, and Parade Marshals, Billy Ray and
Kathryn Burnett, down the parade route, in Saturday's Annual Yantis Catfish Parade.

 

 

 

 

Antique tractors, antique cars, boats, 4-wheelers, and other conveyances moved down the parade route, led by Mayor Jerry Miller, and this year's Parade Marshals, Billy Ray and Kathryn Burnett. Participants waved to the crowd, threw candy to the kids, and yelled to family and friends along the route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, Bailey Petty, made her appearance in Saturday's Yantis Catfish Parade.

 

 

And, this young man had it right....wave the flag, eat the suckers, and watch the parade!!!

 

 

 

Following the parade, the annual Yantis Volunteer Fire Department Fish Fry, that celebrated its 7th successful event, got underway in the Yantis School Cafeteria, where everyone enjoyed music, door prizes, and some of the best catfish and all the trimmings. "This is always a highlight of our summer," expressed one elderly couple. "We get to eat some of the best food and then see all of our friends and neighbors, while supporting the fire department!"

 

 

 

 

 

"This is some of the best fish around!" declared another Yantis area resident. "But, mainly we come for the fun and to visit with everyone here in Yantis!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parade participants and those eating fish had come from as far away as Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, as they participated in the Lake Fork Classic Fishing Tournament and brought their boats to ride in the parade. "We make it a point to come participate in the parade and we're not going to miss eating the fish," exclaimed one fisherman from Mississippi. "It sure is much, much easier to come in here and eat this fish, regardless of how much luck you've had on the lake. You don't have to clean these!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishing on Lake Fork was to resume on Sunday, with the winner of the 2010 Catfish Classic being named on Sunday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

"Going After The Big One!!!"

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