Retired Trainer Lands $500 Walleye in Arkansas’ Hot Springs Fishing Challenge
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission 06.20.13
The second time proved the charm for retired horse trainer Carlos Nanez. He landed a $500 walleye in the 2013 $60,000 Hot Springs Fishing Challenge.
Nanez’s catch was the eighth prize fish landed so far in the Challenge.
However, it was not the only time he had caught a Fishing Challenge money fish.
Nanez caught a tagged fish last year that would have been worth $1,000. The problem last year was that he landed the prize catch on Sept. 15. The 2012 Fishing Challenge ended on Aug. 31 and Nanez was not able to cash in on his catch.
This year, he hooked the prize walleye fishing off the bank at Entergy Park on Lake Hamilton.
There are still 45 other Challenge cash prize fish in lakes Catherine and Hamilton, including the $10,000 Grand Prize fish known as Big Al II.
This year’s Challenge runs through July 31. The Second Hot Springs Fishing Challenge, which began May 1, provides anglers the opportunity to catch tagged fish that can be redeemed for cash prizes.
Here is how the Fishing Challenge works:
Eligibility: The contest is open to anyone with a valid Arkansas fishing license. Employees of the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at the Andrew H. Hulsey Fish Hatchery, and their immediate family members, and/or those living in the same household of each are ineligible to win a cash prize.
How It Works: Fifty-three tagged fish were released in Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine. The fish are largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, white bass, crappie and walleye. The tags have a phone number and a prize number on them. If a fish is caught the angler must call the number and present the fish with the tag attached.
No cash prize will be awarded to any participant presenting a tagged fish that has been caught other than during the fishing period. Tags must be presented during the fishing period to be redeemed. All tagged fish must be caught in accordance with all state and local laws, codes, rules and regulations. Rules and regulations can be found at: http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/FishingRegulations.aspx.
No cash prizes will be awarded to any participant who does not comply with state and local laws, codes, rules and regulations.
Publicity Release: Each angler who catches a prize fish grants Visit Hot Springs the rights to use their name, likeness, biographical information, and photographs, without compensation, in any and all media without limitation for advertising and promotional purposes.
General Prize Conditions: Prize winners shall be solely responsible for all federal, state and/or local taxes associated with their prize.
Prize Distribution: The tagged fish that remain are:
- 1 fish $10,000
- 2 fish $5,000
- 24 fish $1,000
- 18 fish $500
For more information, call Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.
