Mr. Whiskers Carp & Catfish Derby Returns

Just checking out the new forums here for the first time----looks good and it's good to see a dedicated section for carp and catfish.  Thanks!
 
Might as well make my first post about the longest running carp and catfish wild water tourney (I know the paylakes in the SW have been having fishing contests for decades) that I know of in W. PA making its return this year.  See the following info. below:
 
After a two year hiatus, this tourney returns in 2007 to the same stretch of the Allegheny River that the previous seven Mr. Whiskers events were held. The popular fishing derby for flathead catfish, channel catfish and carp is returning to the Oil Heritage Region in NW PA. In this event, youths (those under age 17) and adults (anyone 17 or over) may fish continuously from 7 p.m. on Friday, August 17 through 7 a.m. Sunday, August 19. Anglers may fish by boat or from shore. Once caught, fish must be kept alive so that they may be taken to a designated weighing station and then returned to the water. Cash prizes will be awarded for top three winners, adult and youth, in each species.
The derby is great for anglers of all ages and skill levels and permits fishing along the Allegheny River and its tributaries, from Hunter's Station to the bridge at Emlenton. Preregister prior to August 10.
The entrée fee for adults will increase to $15; the price for those under 17 will remain at $5.

I will post more info. as it becomes available. Those that have have fished this event in the past should be getting info. in the mail about it shortly. Otherwise, see contact info. in the press release below for more details. Or post questions here.

More Fishing Events Scheduled in the Oil Region
Thanks to a grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for competitive angling events, the Oil Region Alliance is increasing the number of fishing events held in the Oil Heritage Region. Entrants in each of these events may fish along the Allegheny River or its tributaries, from the bridge in Tionesta to the bridge in Emlenton.

For the past seven years, the Alliance has held a bass tournament in the fall that launched in Franklin. In 2007 we will host two bass tournaments, one on September 9 that launches from Franklin, and another on October 14 that launches from Oil City. In each of these tournaments, teams of one or two persons fish for smallmouth and largemouth bass. Fish are kept alive and brought to the weigh-in at the close of the tournament, where cash prizes are awarded to the top three teams as well as the lunker. The awarding of the grant by DCNR will enable the Alliance to advertise these tournaments to a wider audience, as well as increase the cash paid to winners.

Applications for the bass tournaments and catfish or carp derby will be available in May. More information about these events is available by calling Toni Kresinski at (814) 677-3152, ext. 110, 800-483-6264 or by e/mail at tkresinski@oilregion.org. Website: http://www.oilregion.org/

ORIGINAL: Mountian Man

Are there any big carp in there?

Yeah there's some decent one's in there or at least there used to be.  There was a big carp kill on that stretch of river a few years ago from what I've heard, so that may have affected things some.  I've seen a few carp in the low 20 lb. range caught during this tourney in past years.  They have always gone by length for this tourney tho, not weight.  The winning fish have usually maxed out at the low to mid 30 inch range.