Nations biggest and best free kids fishing tournament held in Paintsville

By Chris Ferguson
Co-Founder Tournament Director

If you build it, they will come, unbelievable!! A new record for the Casting for Kids event that was held at the Paintsville Lake, Friday and Saturday, June 12-13.  

Attendance kids count to Friday Evening to Shine was 128. On Saturday, Kylies Kids Foundation Kayak attendance was 32, with the main event a total of 1,642.  

1,802 kids fished.

Kids from Tennessee, central, western and eastern Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Texas attended.

A huge thank you to Ugly Stik, Shakespeare Fishing and Pure Fishing for sponsoring 1,600 Rod and reels for kids; Lakeside Bait and Tackle for 1,600 plus cups of free wax worms; EL-Hasa Kool Kookers, Morehead Shrine Club, and all ladies fixed over 2,000 hot dogs.  

Sincere thank you to all my First Responders, Kentucky State Police, Paintsville/Johnson County Emergency Management, US Army Corp of Engineers, Kentucky State Parks, Johnson County Sheriff Dept., Johnson County Fiscal Court, Job Corp, UPIKE Fishing Team, and Paintsville Tourism.

Special thank you to the companies who were present at Casting with KIDS events both days who have made a massive impact for us to do what we were able to do!!

And Thank you to ALL Companies who sponsored and supported us in 2026.

Next Year’s event will be Friday and Saturday, June 4-5, 2027, at the same location, Paintsville Lake State Park.  

Thank you KIDS for ALL the Smiles, nothing but Gratitude! To learn more about the event, to go www.castingwithkids.org.