On Saturday, Tennessee is celebrating Free Fishing Day, during which anyone, whether a state resident or visitor, can fish at no cost without a license on the state’s public waters or within state parks.

Kids 15 and under can fish for the rest of the week, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).

In honor of the day, Kingsport’s Cherokee Rod and Gun Club hosted its yearly Carl Lane Catfish Derby. This tradition, held at 4280 Reservoir Road, has reportedly been taking place for over ten years.

Approximately 50 kids joined the event to try their hand at fishing, with many experiencing it for the first time. Marie Jones shared with News Channel 11 that her grandfather, Carl Lane, played a key role in organizing the inaugural event and led it for many years.

“So, my grandpa actually has been, was running this event for many years, and then, he passed away in 2020,” she said. “And after that, we renamed the event to Carl Lane, which was his name. So he was just an avid outdoorsman, and he loved kids, and he really wanted them to come out, get outdoors, get off their screens and fish.”

The TWRA stocks the facility’s pond with catfish each year, and they’re all released after they’re caught. The event is open to kids ages 2-12 every year. Trophies were given to kids based on the largest fish by weight in three different age divisions.