17th annual Fish Fest
Published 11:13 am Tuesday, April 29, 2025
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Hundreds of children took part in the annual Fish Fest along the canal in downtown Middlesboro on Saturday.
Families fish together along the canal.
A young fisherman holds one of the trout that was caught in a net.
One of the rainbow trout caught out of the canal during Fish Fest.
Organizer County Attorney Chris Douglas was joined by members of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, Jimmy Rose and other volunteers who passed out free rods and reels to children during the event.
Lunch was provided by the Tri-State Veterans group assisted by Americorps students from Bell County.
A young girl poses for a photo with a fish she caught during Fish Fest.
The 17th annual Fish Fest was held last Saturday at the Middlesboro City Parking Lot. A tradition started by former County Attorney Neal Ward, rainbow trout are stocked into the city’s canal and netted off to keep them in place. Children 15 and under are allowed to fish for free throughout the day. The event is sponsored by the Bell County Fiscal Court, City of Middlesboro, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, A-1 Septic, and Tri-State Veterans. (Photos by Jay Compton)