It’s gonna’ be like a two-day party
Finding a bunch of catfish vendors in the same spot at the same time has not been common in the catfish community. Catfish Conference in 2016 was the first big one to have a lot of vendors in one place. It is just natural for anglers to want to touch and feel the products that they are thinking about using. This year’s Mississippi River Monsters tournament (MRM), out of Memphis, will be the next best chance to touch and feel some of the best stuff out there and meet the folks that sell it.
Organizer George Young Jr. has been working endlessly to make the 2017 MRM bigger and better than last year. He wants it to be great for the anglers, the families, the visitors and the sport of catfishing.
George is planning what can only be described as a two-day catfish party. He has dubbed it “Angler Roundup.” Visitors can visit the Angler Roundup on both Friday, Sept. 15 and Saturday, Sept. 16. They will be able to enjoy seminars, meetin’ and greetin,’ strolling the isles of more than 25 catfish product vendors, eating, listening to music and just having fun.
Celebrity guest like Bill Dance, GTO Fishing, and the Mud Bums will be on hand sharing catfish tales and conversations. The carnival like atmosphere will include three food trucks to provide nourishment and three bands to provide music. It will all be topped off with a live weigh-in on Saturday afternoon.
The vendors will be set up in the Bass Pro Shops parking lot near the weigh-in stage on Friday and Saturday. Visitors can visit with Pro Staff anglers, shop for clothing, rods, and all kinds of fishing accessories. Many vendors will have special giveaways to sign up for and offer products at a special price at the event.
Rob Clodfelder will be there, in the booth and on the water, with Whisker Wear Apparel. “We will have our most popular products on hand for sale,” reported Clodfelder. “There will also be periodic visits by some of our Pro Staff. Jonathan and Jackie Cooksey, Carl Morris Jr and Robert Parsons, David Shipman and Brooke Wilkins, to name a few, will spend a bit of time amongst all the prefishing and tournament activities. We will also offer giveaways throughout the two-day event. And of course, I will be fishing the tourney.”
Katfish Clothing will be on hand displaying their wares with some of their Pro Staff anglers. “I’ll be selling apparel of course,” said Matthew Miles, owner of Katfish Clothing. “Some of our Pro Staff will be there to assist at the booth and visit with the folks. Dieter Melhorn, Matt “CatMatt” Jones, and Chris Souders, to name a few, will be at the booth.”
Rod manufacturers are standing strong in support of the tournament. Companies like B’n’M, Big Cat Fever, Blackhourse Custom Rods, St Croix, and Warrior Cat Tackle have all stepped up to the plate and will be there supporting the catfish community in one way or another.
Warrior Cat Tackle will have a booth in the Angler Roundup. “The Warrior Cat crew will be there both days with a booth,” said John Adams. “We will have some sales going on with all of our in-stock rods and tackle. I will also be helping George with boat launching and loading, like I did last year.”
This article has identified only a small sampling of the vendors expected at the Angler Roundup. Be sure to plan enough time in your visit to take it all in. It is taking place at the Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, an attraction in itself. While you are there be sure to visit the huge tank that’s filled with monster catfish. You can stop by and study their behavior. Maybe it will help you catch one. That tank includes the 72-pound blue cat that won the Big Fish competition in 2016.
It was the Catbusters Team of Tim and Teresa Owenby, and Teresa’s dad Russel Richards, that brought the big blue to the scales. “We were going to release her,” said Teresa. “But she wasn’t doing good and she needed further care. So, we decided to let her stay at Bass Pro. We check on her a few days after the tournament and she was doing good.”
A replica, supplied by Bass Pro, now hangs on a wall at the Owenby abode, reminding them of an awesome day at the MRM in 2016. “It was at my dad’s catch,” revealed Teresa. “But he wanted us to have it. So, it’s hanging in our living room right under the TV so we can look at it all the time.”
Make your plans now to attend this once-a-year event. It’s carnival atmosphere, celebrity guests, free giveaways, shopping, talking, seminars, and the final weigh-in, is something you don’t want to miss!
