EAST BRADY — What started as a small, friendly neighborhood catfish tournament 12 years ago remains the same today — except for that "small" part.

The 12th season of the Steiner's Outdoors & More catfish tournaments begins at 6 p.m. June 19. Steiner's also will host tournaments on July 24 and Aug. 28.

"We always do three each summer," said store proprietor Denny Steiner. "That first year, we had 12 or 13 (two-person) teams. ... It was just a bunch of local folks having fun competing against each other."

Each tournament now draws 40 to 60 teams, including some from Pittsburgh, Erie and Ohio.

"It's still mostly people around here, but word of mouth has moved our drawing area out a ways," Steiner said.

Fishing begins at 6 p.m. that Saturday and registration is accepted up until that time. The tournament concludes at 7 a.m. Sunday with fish being weighed in at 8.

"Our tournament runs overnight because that's when the big cats run," Steiner said.

Boats can go on the Allegheny River anywhere from the Clarion River entrance to the Allegheny to Lock 9 — a distance of roughly 25 miles.

"We allow shore fishermen to go 200 yards below the lock, but that's it," Steiner said. "The turnout generally depends on the weather. Some people will go out in the rain, some people won't."

One of the tournaments drew 63 teams two years ago. The biggest catfish in the event's history was turned in by Brian and Denny Michael last year. It weighed 26 pounds, 4Z\x ounces.

Only three catfish per team can be weighed in and each must be at least 20 inches long.

Three cash prizes are awarded. First prize goes to the team with the biggest catfish, second and third go to the teams with the highest combined weight of three catfish.

"We encourage that all catfish be returned live to the river once they're weighed in," Steiner said. "We do weigh dead fish, but that's not preferred.

"There's not a whole bunch of rules. It's still a friendly contest."

Registration the day of the tournaments takes place at Steiner's Outdoors & More, 502 Ferry Street in East Brady.

Call 724-526-3442 for details.