For many young people in Knox County, summer is all about fishing. And better yet, there are now monthly sponsored fishing tournaments in the Knox County Park District and Ariel Foundation Park complete with the chance to win gift cards.

“Each month, the number of participants continues to grow as youths compete to catch the biggest fish in a body of water within Knox County,” the Knox County Park District said in a press release. 

The tournaments will be held each month through September. July's tournament will be July 10.

You have to be between 8-18 to participate, and if you are 16 and older and fish on public land, an Ohio fishing license is required.

You also have to download an app on your mobile device called Fish Donkey, which identifies the species of fish caught and measures its length, the park district said.

“The species categories for the tournament include bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish, carp and any other fish,” the press release said.

If you don’t have fishing equipment, you can borrow one from the Kokosing Valley Junior Anglers youth club.

Recent winners were Noah McCallen, who caught a  9” yellow perch; Dax Sabo, who landed a 9.5” bluegill; Truman Chester with a 22.5” catfish; and Landon Groff, who caught an 18” largemouth bass.

“Fishing locations included farm ponds throughout the county, Ariel-Foundation Park lakes and the Kokosing River,” the park district's release said.

Ariel-Foundation Park awarded the winners with $25 gift cards to Domino's. Participants can enter a grand-prize drawing at the end of the tournament series for $50 gift cards.

For more information, go to knoxcountyparks.org and click on events.