The Daytona 500 of Catfishing, the National Catfish Derby is set for March 03, 2007!!!

What is increasing in popularity, big money, fun and prestige by leaps and bounds? Catfishing. Especially popular in the South, the sport is beginning to accelerate across the country and is becoming "the' monster fish to catch. It is growing in tournament trail venues and the Mid-South is fortuanent enough to have the one event where you can find all the aspects of Catfishing in one great tournament, The National Catfish Derby, The World Championship of Catfishing offered and owned by Ken Freeman of Ken Freeman Outdoor Promotions. This tournament is one of the oldest fishing tournaments in the United States, and is considered to be the granddaddy of all Catfishing tournaments.

Unique by any trail standard, The Derby, as it is affectionately known, has some great challenges in many forms. First, moving from the hot, sultry season of summer in mid July, for the first time the event will be presented in early spring to cure all those with cabin fever and present a really enormous event right out of the gate to start the fishing season with a big bang. Secondly, The Derby begins with a 6 week fishing challenge kicking off on January 19th, 2007 and ending on March 2nd. Each week the biggest fish caught and weighed in at one of the official sites of Ken-Tucky One Stop and Pick-Wick Pro Bass will win $100.00. This all culminates on March 3rd at Pickwick State Park with the team challenge and crowning of the World Champion. The event has several categories in which to win, which are all special to The Derby. The senior category is for the anglers 55 years old and older with a prize of $1000.00. The lady angler division offers a cash prize, once again, of $1000.00, to the team with the best weigh-in and has a female team member. Don't forget the young ones also have a chance to participate and win a cash prize in their category of a team with a junior angler of 17 years or younger. The grand prize of $6,000.00 and the crown of World Champion will be given to the winning team. A total of over $20,000.00 in cash will be doled out.

Located right in our backyard, the National Catfish Derby, World Championship of Catfishing, is part of the Bass Pro Shops' Big Cat Quest national trail and is the blast off for the 2007 tournament year. Presented by an historical local company of The Packaging Corporation of America {PCA} a hallmark of Counce, Tennessee, the tournament is also sponsored by Tennessee Tourism and is hosted by Team Hardin County and Tennessee State Parks. Several local sponsors also participate to make the event truly a local happening on a national level. Located near several hotels and resorts, there will be plenty of entertainment and fun things for the whole family to see and do.

Ken Freeman Outdoor Promotions puts on a fun, family oriented event with entertainment, prizes and other exhibits all day at the state park. The tournament will be filmed for the "Ken Freeman Outdoors" television show. Several newspapers, magazines and television stations will also be covering the prestigious and historical day of competitive fishing. Last year with all the cash and prizes awarded over 100 boats participated and represented 17 states and the country of Brazil. Several state dignitaries and a representative blessed the tournament with their presence including Bill Dance, who participated in the fishing tournament.

This great event is something no fisherman wants to miss. With several species of catfish to be caught, the sport is interesting and challenging and all tied up in a unique competitive form offering many opportunities to win in Pickwick, TN. You can get all the details and register to enter at www.kenfreemanoutdoorpromotions.com or contact Team Hardin County at 731-925-8181. Ken Freeman stated, "This event is found no where else in the United States and I hope this year is bigger and better than ever. After all the best is yet to come."