SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - About 300 children cast lines to fish Saturday at Bubeck Park in Schuylkill Haven for the annual Scott Shade Fishing Rodeo.
The rodeo is named in honor of Scott Shade, who died unexpectedly at age 29. As a child, Shade loved fishing, his mother, Penny Shade, an organizer of the event, said.
"That was his biggest passion in life. I want kids to know that fun and experience," she said.
Some of the participants were there at 4:30 a.m., picking out their spots, even though the event did not start until 8 a.m., Terry Bensinger Jr., an organizer of the event, said.
Children, ages 4-15, from the Schuylkill Haven Area School District could attend the event for free while other children in that age group had to pay a $5 fee. Participants were permitted to catch a limit of four fish each using live bait such as worms. Prizes were awarded Saturday for things such as longest and largest fish, with some prizes including bicycles and fishing-related gear. Various businesses sponsored the fishing rodeo.
"OK. We caught a big one," Blake Dottery, 5, of Orwigsburg, said as he pulled a fish out the water. "Dad, can you take the hook out?"
"That rainbow trout was hard to pull in," he said of a fish he caught earlier that his father, Rich Dottery, 41, of Orwigsburg, estimated was 15 inches long.
Blake was not the only one who caught fish at the event.
Bensinger said the longest fish was 23 inches.
Konner O'Reilly, 13, of Schuylkill Haven, arrived at 7 a.m. and caught three fish before 11 a.m. The fish were a tiger trout, a spotted trout and a palomino trout.
"I love fish," he said.
Madison Bensinger, 8, of Schuylkill Haven, daughter of Terry, caught a rainbow trout about 10 a.m., using a worm as bait, something she also used on the other two fish.
"We tried hot dogs, but it didn't work," she said.
Hailey Bowers, 7, of Minersville, was proud of the 12 1/2-inch fish she caught.
"I'm going to eat that," she said.
Her mother, Nicole Bowers, 38, said her daughter loves to fish.
"The kids really enjoy it. They look forward to it," she said.
B.J. Folk, Schuylkill Haven recreation director, said the event is good for the community.
Terry Bensinger Jr. agreed.
"When you see the little kids jump up and down screaming when they catch one (fish), that makes it all worth while," he said.
In all, about 1,500 fish were to be stocked Saturday and today at Stoyer's Dam, Shade said.
Proceeds go toward the event next year. The fishing rodeo continues from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today.