Billy Bad Bass isn’t going to stand a chance.

It’s time, once again, for the annual fishing rodeo at Riverside Pond in Moline.

The Moline Conservation Club, Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities, and the Moline Police Benevolent Association are holding the event will be held Saturday, June 4 from 8 a.m. to noon. Registration begins at 7 a.m. sharp and is limited to the first 150 fishermen between the ages of 5 and 15. All rodeo contestants must register, have their fishing pole tagged, and receive a bib that must be worn during the rodeo.

A special prize fish, Billy Bad Bass and his henchmen, all wanted for Felony Worm Stealing, will be released at Riverside Pond on Friday June 3 at 11 a.m. The following day, kids will compete to catch the wily wigglers and those that do will win a number of bikes and prizes onated for the event. Fishing poles, tackle boxes, fishing gear, T-shirts, and bikes all can be won. Moline’s Second Alarmers will be providing popcorn to all the fishermen throughout the morning. All fishermen will be invited to a Hot Dog and coke lunch sponsored by Tyson Foods, HyVee, and Coke.

“It’s great to teach kids at an early age to respect natural resources and to teach them about preservation and the environment,” said Amy Tafoya of Geneseo, spokesperson for the Conservation Club. “That’s what we want to do with the Conservation Club.”

“I think it’s great that families can come out and have a fun time together around a great activity,” said another event organizer, Detective Scott Williams of the Moline Police Department Crime Stoppers. “It’s neat to see the kids catch the fish, especially the kids who are catching one for the first time. And it’s really neat when they catch a tagged fish and win a prize.”
The Moline Conservation Club has held an annual fishing rodeo since the 1940s. Crime Stoppers Board members and Moline Police Officers with the Police Benevolent will assist Conservation Club members in enforcement of the rodeo rules.

As for the fish? They’re on their own.

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Sean Leary Director of Digital Media

Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.