Chasing Little Millie | Contestants try to catch tagged brim, win prizes at fishing tournament

April 18, 2021 at 2:36 a.m. | Updated April 18, 2021 at 2:38 a.m.

by Junius Stone

Janna Smith, Little River Chamber of Commerce director, signs up a family for the Millwood Lake Youth Fishing Tournament. She says that families were a huge and welcome part of those participating. "These families were ready for an event like this," she said. "They really want to get out and do things. And we believe supporting family activities is very important."
Janna Smith, Little River Chamber of Commerce director, signs up a family for the Millwood Lake Youth Fishing Tournament. She says that families were a huge and welcome part of those participating. "These families were ready for an event like this," she said. "They really want to get out and do things. And we believe supporting family activities is very important."

Around 130 youngsters took to Millwood Lake starting Saturday in pursuit of a group of tagged brim.

The tags get prizes, mostly fishing equipment. But one special brim, dubbed "Little Millie," has a tag worth $100, and as of Saturday afternoon, she had not yet been caught. The event continues today.

The prize fish, however, were secondary to the main reason for this event, which was ancillary to the adult fishing tournament that had taken place the previous week.

"This is about families, encouraging them to get outdoors and have some fun," said Janna Smith, director of Little River Chamber of Commerce. "This is the first one of its kind done in this community, as was the adult tournament. We plan on doing this once a year."

According to Smith, there is quite the fishing culture in Little River County."

"They are embracing the angling," she said. "This is also about emphasizing local activities, what the community here has to offer. And it could not be better. The weather was beautiful today. The fishing was good, this is just a good time for our families."

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Photo by Ben Goff

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema talks to his team during a timeout Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, during the UTEP game at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Ivory Detter, an interpreter (of landscapes) for the Arkansas State Park Service, had a display set up, showing bones from animals that live in Arkansas parks. She saw the tournament as a good chance to educate the youth and families attending.

"This is a chance to increase their appreciation of our natural resources," she said. "We are emphasizing the animals that live in the Millwood Lake Park. We use items like bones, hides, furs, silhouettes. We even have microscopes to let them have a look at organisms like flatworms, arthropods, water mites and insect larvae."

Latrecia Sanders of Texarkana, Texas, brought her family to participate in the tournament.

"We have a fishing family," she said. "This is our first tournament. Hopefully we catch something, but we are here mainly for fun, relaxation and family time."

(The Millwood Lake Youth Fishing Tournament continues Sunday (today). If interested in attending, go to the Millwood Lake Marina. Go to 1564 AR-32, Ashdown, Arkansas. Follow the signs along US-71 to the marina.)

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