Troy Lions annual fishing tourney held Saturday
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Bryce Cast (far left) is flanked by his younger brother Ayden Cast and friend Waylon Wiemers at the Troy Lions 4th Annual Charitable Fishing Tournament held Saturday at Tri-Township Park (Photo by Pat Pratt)
By Pat Pratt
ppratt@times-tribunnews.com
Bryce Cast had yet to land a “monster” catch in the first few hours of the Troy Lions Club annual fishing tournament Saturday at Tri-Township park, but to him the event was far more fun than spending the day staring at a video game.
“I mean this is something you can do for fun and just have a great time with your friends or brothers and sisters and it’s an amazing event,” Cast said. “I think I’ll catch a couple bass today because the water is getting a little muddy and they like to push up on the bank and feed on bluegill.”
Cast, who was last year’s first-place winner, was one of many who participated in the tournament, which offers prizes for the total weight of participants’ five biggest fish caught. Those honors this year went to Brennan Bronnbaur with 3.8 pounds of fish, Dylan Keller with 3.05 pounds and Jake Nischwitz with 1.95 pounds.
Troy Lions President Jeff Dunahee also said the event is about giving the community something fun to do with family and friends. However, now in its fourth year the event also has another purpose, to raise money for the many charitable works by the Lions Club.
“We are just trying to give the kids and the community a chance to come out and have fun fishing,” Dunahee said. “Hopefully we can raise some money for some Lions things. We haven’t made money on the tournament yet, but we will keep trying. It’s just nice to get out in the community and see people.”
In addition to its well-known efforts to help people with eyeglasses and sight and hearing issues, the club is currently trying to raise money to help with local sporting teams for young people, according to club secretary Cathy Dunahee.
“We donate to the ball teams and soccer, we give them money for their shirts every year,” Dunahee said. “We also support a lot of community events and pay for Sight and Sound, where if someone is in need of eyeglasses we will help with that. We also have a program with preschoolers where they come around and check if there is a problem where they need to go to an eye doctor.”
Troy Lions help stock the lake where the fishing tournament happens. The club is also helping raise money for young people to attend Camp Lions.
“We are also trying to help kids go to Camp Lions, which is a camp out in central Illinois for blind and deaf children,” Jeff Dunahee said.
Troy Lions were instrumental in the acquisition and construction of Tri-Township Park as well, according to long-time member Tim Greenfield. He said when the park was established in 1967, it was club members who put up money to buy the property. Over the years, members have donated towards equipment and other features in the park.
Some of them took money out of the bank, some mortgaged their homes so they could buy it,” Greenfield said. “And so the Lions have been affiliated with this park district since it began.”
