The Virginia Tech chapter of the American Fisheries Society will host the 36th annual Mudbass Classic Tournament on April 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Duck Pond on the Blacksburg campus.
The tournament is free to the public and open to all ages. The majority of participants are typically between 6 and 12 years old, but the event is open to anyone who would like to fish or learn to fish. Participants age 16 or older need a valid Virginia fishing license.
Students will be on hand to help bait hooks and to show participants how to cast their lines. Registration occurs the day of the event. Fishing gear will be provided and entry prizes will be given. Parking is available near the Duck Pond; no parking permit is required on the weekend.
Several different fish species reside in the Duck Pond, but the difficult-to-catch mudbass (another term for carp) is one of the more abundant. Participants will be able to use both worms and corn as bait to entice a mudbass to bite, and lucky participants will be able to reel one in. All caught fish will be weighed throughout the tournament. At 3 p.m., awards will be given to anglers with the biggest catch and the most catches of the day.
In addition to the tournament, fish from Stroubles Creek and freshwater mussel shells from the Virginia Tech Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Center will be on display for participants to learn more about the freshwater ecosystems in the area. There will be coloring activities, chalk, and face painting available. Participants may even be lucky enough to catch a peek of Otter Sandman, the Duck Pond’s newest resident.
The Virginia Tech Chapter of the American Fisheries Society hosts this annual tournament to encourage both current and future anglers to enjoy a day of fishing and to develop a lifelong interest in the sport. Learn more about the history of this student-led effort in a recent issue of Fisheries Magazine.
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