The Bassmaster Elite Series fishing tournament is a whopper. Each year, the series consists of nine professional-level tournaments nationwide and is televised on Fox Sports.
When Bassmaster announced the series would be held at Lake Fork in 2022, the Sabine River Authority and Wood County Economic Development Commission partnered to develop the Lake Fork Family Fest to boost the economy. The 2022 festival was a major success.
Troy Henry, Upper Basin regional manager at the SRA, and Tom Keenan, chairman of the WCEDC, agreed to involve a charity to reel in some organizational help. They chose the nonprofit Pilot Club of Quitman to arrange activities, vendors and sponsors for the festival. The club benefits from any festival revenue and invests it back into the community.
The series didn’t come to Lake Fork in 2023, but it returned in 2024 to the SRA’s newly completed Caney Point Recreation Area. With a new spacious venue, festival fun included cornhole and pickleball tournaments, kids’ activities, food trucks, retail vendors, and a headline concert by Neal McCoy.
“While (the SRA’s) primary purpose is to act as caretakers of precious water resources, they have poured back into our community by developing world-class park and recreation sites,” Keenan said. “In particular, the Caney Point Recreation Area serves our communities very well as a desirable venue for tournaments and other activities. It is one of the reasons we can attract such prestigious tournaments and hold events like this.”
Last year’s tournament drew more than 10,000 visitors, and most of them came on festival days. Because of the festival’s popularity, the WCEDC aims to make it an annual tradition, whether a tournament is in town or not.
The series, which along with the festival is expected to bring nearly $3 million to the region, returns May 8–11 to Lake Fork. The festival will be held Saturday–Sunday, May 10–11.
“Having the Elite Series at Lake Fork is a huge boon for our restaurants, hotels and retail shops, and it shines such a positive light on our region,” Keenan said. “I would encourage everyone to come out and show some support to the professional fishing community while also enjoying the fest.”
Pro angler Trey McKinney, at just 19 years old, became the youngest Elite Tournament winner during the 2024 Lake Fork competition.
Lake Fork Family Fest
Activities will kick off at 7 a.m. May 10 with the Great Dam Race, a 5K on top of the Lake Fork Reservoir Dam, which is usually closed to the public. The Quitman-Lake Fork Kiwanis Club will oversee the race, and online registration is available at runsignup.com. The fee is $50, which includes entry and a Family Fest T-shirt.
The Pilot Club of Quitman will organize an array of activities at Caney Point Recreation Area. “We are so grateful to be a part of this process, and we have a full lineup of complementary events planned,” said Susan Ukleja, the club’s festival chairwoman. “Since 2022, we have continued to expand the activities for both adults and children. Our goal is to have something for everyone.”
The pickleball and cornhole tournaments will be back by popular demand. There will also be a free axe-throwing station. Kids will be able to enjoy a catfishing experience courtesy of the Lake Fork Sportsman Association as well as interact with farm and exotic animals from Hooker Ranch Equine Refuge and the Creature Teacher. There also will be radio-controlled car demonstrations and an antique car show.
There will be free public concerts both days and a wine and beer garden. Venture South, an upbeat four-member Southern rock-influenced group, will play two sets Saturday, and Chris Cagle, known for hits such as I Breathe In, I Breathe Out and What a Beautiful Day, will perform Sunday.
An array of retail and artisan vendors will be on hand to sell their wares.
Members of the Quitman Pilot Club, from left: Brenda Hunter; Susan Ukleja, festival chair; Pat Durst, club president; and Vanetta Plumlee.
A True Cooperative Effort
“The fest is family fun at its best,” said Christine Thomas, executive director of the WCEDC. “There will be much to see, do and enjoy, including top-notch free concerts and other no-cost kid-friendly activities. I want to point out that this is due to the strong community support through sponsorships and the countless hours of volunteer work by civic organizations like the Pilot Club of Quitman and the Quitman-Lake Fork Kiwanis Club.”
It takes a firm commitment from area businesses and organizations to produce such an event. Volunteer firefighters from Alba, Quitman and Yantis work traffic and safety. Employees from SRA transport people and coordinate set up. Peoples Telephone Cooperative helps with connectivity.
Organizations like the Quitman Rotary Club and Quitman Lake-Fork Kiwanis offer other valuable help, and UT Health Quitman has been the fest’s headline sponsor since its inception.
“Our community members are incredible,” Ukleja said. “The electric cooperative community has also rallied behind our efforts to offer this free event to the public.”
Wood County Electric Cooperative and Texas Electric Cooperatives have sponsored each year. Greenville-based Farmers Electric Cooperative will sponsor this year’s new axe-throwing activity.
Fishing has always been good at Lake Fork, but when so many catch the community spirit, the whole region reels in big fun and uplifting social and economic returns.
That’s a trophy claimed by all.
The Creature Teacher is a fun and interactive attraction with animals such as a Patagonia cavy.
Country music artist Chris Cagel is the featured entertainer for the free concert Sunday afternoon.
Deborah Mushock, owner of Reel Inn and Lodge, created the art for the festival T-shirt.
The Organizers
The event is made possible by the following community organizations.
Sabine River Authority
The SRA is a state agency responsible for controlling, storing, preserving and distributing the surface waters of the Sabine River and its tributaries, including Lake Fork. It also promotes economic development within the Sabine River Basin by providing parks and recreation areas. Caney Point Park features a large pavilion, a six-lane boat ramp, and parking and restroom facilities suitable to accommodate regional and national fishing tournaments. To learn more, visit sratx.org.
Wood County Economic Development Commission
The commission is comprised of a 10-member board appointed by the Commissioners Court of Wood County. It focuses on fostering economic growth and prosperity in Wood County. Through strategic planning and collaboration with local businesses and government entities, the commission works to attract new businesses, support existing industries and create jobs within Wood County. To learn more, visit lovewoodcounty.com.
Quitman Pilot Club
The club is a charitable nonprofit service group dedicated to improving lives in Quitman, Alba and Yantis, within the mission, scope and guiding principles of Pilot International. It focuses on three areas: brain safety and fitness, supporting youth, and caring for others. All funds raised support those with traumatic brain injury and brain-related disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, stroke and autism. The club also produces a bicycle safety program and Special Olympics, supports Project Lifesaver, and awards college scholarships. The club funds Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which makes it possible for every child up to age 5 in Quitman, Alba-Golden and Yantis to receive one free age-appropriate book in the mail each month. To learn more, visit quitmanpilot.org.
Quitman-Lake Fork Kiwanis
A true service-oriented group, the QLFK participates in community-oriented service projects throughout the year that focus on developing youth, promoting recreation and supporting charitable needs in the community. Projects include volunteering at and financially supporting food banks, offering scholarships, improving local parks, and developing a signature walking trail. They also support the Kiwanis International Children’s Fund. To learn more, visit quitmankiwanis.com.
