Heading out on the Mississippi River to honor veterans.
Leaving the Greenville Yacht Club dock, we headed down Lake Ferguson into the powerful Mississippi River current.
“The Mississippi River can be a very dangerous place,” warns David Magness with Cat’n Aroun’ Guide Service (901-356-1008, catnarounguideservice.com) from Hernando. “People need to respect the river, but it can produce some huge catfish.”
Christopher Halley of Brookhaven holds the Mississippi state record for blue catfish. He pulled a 104-pounder from the Mississippi River at Natchez in August 2022.
We didn’t catch any 100-pounders on this day, but some special people did land some special fish. Magness carried two Army soldiers on their first catfishing trip. Staff Sgt. Austin Leavitt from Ogden, Utah, runs the Army recruiting office in Greenville with Staff Sgt. Overgie Wiley from Troy, Alabama.
He caught it while fishing the Mississippi River out of Greenville with Keith Powers.
“We went to the American Legion meeting in Greenville the night before,” Leavitt said. “It’s always a good time to sit around and just hear their great stories. It’s a brotherhood. We might have worn different uniforms, but it’s like we’ve known each other forever. We tease each other from different branches of the service, but if anyone messes with one of us, they are going to get all of us.”
Magness pulled up to one of his many spots on the mighty river and dropped the lines down to just above the bottom in about 45 to 60 feet of water. Wiley caught the first fish of the day and his first fish ever, a five-pound blue catfish.
“It was an awesome experience,” Wiley said. “I didn’t get a chance to do much fishing or other outdoors activities when I was growing up. This was also the first time I had ever been in a boat. I had a great time. I’d love to see more events like this for other veterans. I feel that it brings a good camaraderie to the community and allows us to network with the community. It’s a great opportunity for us recruiters to get to know people.”
Leavitt followed next. He brought up a 13-pound catfish, his personal best fish. In Utah, he fished for trout.
“I’ve done lots of river and lake fishing, but nothing like on a boat in the Mississippi River. That was a new experience for sure.”
I’ve done lots of river and lake fishing, but nothing like on a boat in the Mississippi River. That was a new experience for sure.
The youngest member of our expedition landed the biggest one. On another boat, David’s friend Keith Powers brought out Michael Holiman of Greenville and his 14-year-old son, Micaiah. On this special day for veterans, they fished in honor of Micaiah’s grandfather, Anthony Holiman, who served with the Army in Vietnam.
“Micaiah had an absolute blast,” his father remarks. “Micaiah loves fishing, but it’s never outside of a pond in the neighborhood. This was his first guided fishing trip, first catfish, first time on the Mississippi River, and he caught his personal best biggest fish to date, a 14-pound catfish.”
“I had a good time,” Micaiah said summing it up for everyone. “I caught my first catfish and my biggest fish ever so far. We had a great day.”
