Heavy rain cancels Vinton County cancer fundraiser catfish tournament

Heavy rain and rising water on the Ohio River forced organizers to cancel the Bink Fox Catfish Tournament at Racine Boat Ramp, stopping one of the Vinton County Cancer Research Group’s biggest fundraisers before the boats ever launched.

The cancellation was announced May 29, one day before the tournament was set for Saturday, May 30, in Racine. Organizers said the decision was made with the safety of fishermen and volunteers in mind after recent rains pushed river conditions to an unsafe level.

The tournament was expected to draw 85 boats and has long been more than a fishing competition. The Vinton County Cancer Research Group, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization made up of volunteers, uses the event to raise money for gas and food cards for Vinton County residents traveling for cancer treatment. The group said the tournament would be rescheduled once a new date is determined.

That postponement matters because the Bink Fox event has become a dependable source of support for local patients and families. Tournament information listed a $100 entry fee for a three-person maximum team, with a 75-percent payback, along with prizes for first, second and third place, big fish, raffles and a 50/50 drawing. For a volunteer-run charity, those dollars help turn a day on the river into practical help on the road to treatment.

The setback also interrupts momentum for an event that has repeatedly proven it can draw a crowd. In 2023, the tournament brought in 85 registered boats, with 78 actually fishing and more than 2,000 pounds of Ohio River catfish taken to the scales. In 2025, high winds forced a postponement from Saturday to Sunday, but 77 boats still took part. The pattern shows both the event’s local pull and its vulnerability to weather.

This time, the Ohio River at Racine Lock left organizers little room to work. NOAA’s gauge showed the river above action stage and trending into flood-category territory around the cancellation, underscoring why the launch site could not be used safely.

For anyone planning to support the fundraiser or wait for the next launch date, Janet Fox is listed as the contact for donations and questions at 740-418-8404 and jfoxmartin@yahoo.com. The next announcement will determine how quickly the group can regain the fundraising ground lost to the rain.