Have you ever wondered what lies under the surface of the mighty Missouri River?  Lots of catfish.  At least that's what participants in the first annual Capital Cat Classic catfish tournament are hoping.

The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau's Athletic Events Committee is hosting the catfish tournament on Saturday, October 23, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Teams, consisting of one or two people, will launch from Noren Access on Saturday morning to catch Blue Cat, Channel Cat and Flathead Cat catfish.   The team who reels in the heaviest five catfish will win 50% of the payout (80% of entry fees collected).  Several other cash prizes will be awarded. Tournament entry is $150 before October 23 and $175 the day of the event.

This event was created by the Bureau to bring in catfishers from across the Midwest. Daniel Helton, Bureau sports sales manager, said that having a catfish tournament in Jefferson City is a great fit.

"The Capital Cat Classic allows us to utilize our most unique natural resource, the Missouri River," Helton said. "There is a dedicated group of men and women who travel great distances to participate in catfish tournaments and we hope that the Capital Cat Classic will draw a strong crowd in its first year."

For more information and the official entry form, go to www.visitjeffersoncity.com or call Daniel Helton at (573) 632-2820.