Published: May 17, 2009 10:43 pm      

Kids hoping for Sunday rainbow — trout, that is

Annual fishing rodeo attracts 160

CUMBERLAND — The Bittinger kids of Wiley Ford seemed to have a corner on the fishing rodeo conducted Sunday at the Evitts Creek Community Ponds.

Angling in the crook of the first pond, their corner was both a figurative and literal one. Leah, 9, John, 5, and Lara, 4, contributed to a stringer full of nice rainbow trout that had been stocked Friday by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources from its Albert Powell Hatchery in Washington County.

The Bittingers, corralled and assisted by their mom, Julie, were doing OK for themselves. “We don’t miss a rodeo,” Julie said, adding that the fish caught at the events end up in their Wiley Ford kitchen in the form of fish nuggets.

A little flour, corn starch, egg and water, some hot oil and the dinner bell rings.

The rodeo is an annual event, this being the 22nd, and is hosted by the Maryland Natural Resources Police, Town Hill Lodge 77, Fraternal Order Police.

“This gives us great one-on-one time with kids and their parents,” said Lt. Brad Stafford. “This is one of the few times we are not interrupting someone like when we check their licenses. It’s a good way for us to give back to the community.”

Swimming in the ponds were 450 pounds worth of rainbow trout. If the fish average a half-pound apiece, we’re looking at 900 or so. The ponds reopened to public fishing at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Not all the young anglers — 160 showed up — were whacking and stacking rainbows Sunday. Derek Thompson, 12, alongside his dad, Kevin Campbell had gotten a bite about 1:30 or so. That was it.

“He lost a real nice one,” Campbell said. Thompson discarded the bobber, thinking his angle worm might attract fish if it were let to sink to the bottom. In the short run, it had not made any difference.

Chris Lippold, 15, being helped by his uncle, Warren Linn, was in the same boat... no fish, though he quickly pointed out he had been successful in past years at the rodeo.

“The trout bite better when it rains,” Lippold said. Rain was nowhere to be found Sunday, though a partly-cloudy and brisk day was evident.

The anglers, as old as 15, were separated by age into three divisions for the awarding of prizes.

“It’s been a great day,” Stafford said about halfway through the two-hour event. “We haven’t had a hook in anybody yet.”

Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.