VOLCANO - Despite a thunder and lightning storm, the fifth annual Moon Over Mountwood Fishing and Outdoor Festival brought out young and old alike to enjoy the outdoors.
Mary Beth Held, marketing and events coordinator at the park, said Saturday's turnout was just slightly lower than the 2010 edition with 160 anglers showing up for the events sponsored by Haessly Hardwood Lumber.
"(Friday's) storm didn't hurt us much," she said. "It delayed the fishing and they all got soaked. It came at 11:15 p.m. and kept up for an hour."
Article Photos
Zach Wright, left, of Riser Ridge, has the catfish he caught at the Moon Over Mountwood Fishing and Outdoor Festival weighed by Nick Pahoundis, of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection children’s programs, and Marie Beth Held, Mountwood Park’s marketing director. (Photos by Jeffrey Saulton)
Held added that each winner in the adult and kid categories received prizes from Cabela's, and all kids who caught a fish received a trophy as well, she said.
"This is a big family event and we have some that come from far away. This year we had a family from Elkins," she said. "The families come in campers and stay at the campground or near the lake and others pitch a tent on flat ground."
Held said some of the children like to come and watch their dads and moms fish during the first part of the tournament and then take their turns the next day. Held added Saturday was a free fishing day in the state of West Virginia.
"For the kids that is a big thing," she said. "They get really excited about that."
In addition to the fishing tournaments, the festival also featured a 3D archery shootout organized by the Red Arrow of Mountwood Archery Club and a basketball shootout organized by Wood County Recreation.
"We had about 30 at the archery shootout at our new archery range," Held said. "We also had about 20 sign up for the basketball shootout."
A kids archery range took place as well, organized by the Mountain State Sportsmen.
The fishing tournament results include:
Men's final results
Women's Final Results
Boys 7-14
Girls 7-14
Boys 1-6
Girls 1-6
