Trout Derby coming to New Philadelphia
Families who love to fish, or who want to try their hand at fishing knowing they have a good spot waiting, will love the New Philadelphia Trout Derby coming up Saturday, April 29 at the pond at Tuscora Park.
Families who love to fish, or who want to try their hand at fishing knowing they have a good spot waiting, will love the New Philadelphia Trout Derby coming up Saturday, April 29 at the pond at Tuscora Park, 161 Tuscora Ave. NW.
The derby is a project of New Philadelphia resident Jeff Miller and Ward 2 Councilman Mitch Pace. Miller said he and Pace have worked together on the city’s little league baseball teams and the pair talked about the possibility of doing something to get young people interested in fishing.
“I’m an avid fisherman myself,” said Miller. “And I learned that every year, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources stocks community ponds and lakes across the state with rainbow trout.” Finding the pond at Tuscora Park had never been included in this statewide program, Miller reached out to Pace, whose Ward 2 district covers the Tuscora Park area.
‘The ODNR sent a representative out to have a look at Tuscora Park,” said Miller, “and found that it was a good match. There’s plenty of parking, a good sized pond and it’s handicapped accessible.” Pace was able to secure a five year contract under which ODNR will stock the pond with about 800 rainbow trout, which residents can then catch—and, unusually, keep.
“You are encouraged to harvest the trout and take them home to prepare,” Miller said. “But no other species can be removed from the pond. The rest of the fish are strictly catch and release.” The trout will be stocked at no cost to the city, and the Trout Derby event is free and open to anyone.
The pond will be stocked April 27, and no fishing at the park pond will be permitted that day or April 28, the day before the derby. The trout will be adults in the 10 to 13 inch range.
When thinking of trout fishing, one imagines the full regalia of high waders, a pocket covered vest and bucket hat, while the fisherman waves his long fishing pole in complex patterns trying to get the attention of trout in a fast moving stream. None of this is the case for the Trout Derby, Miller said. “Any person with even reasonable skills should have no problem catching the trout. There is no need to feel intimidated.”
The derby will be divided into four divisions: special needs which begins at 8 a.m., age 12 and under beginning at 8 a.m., age 13-17 at 8 a.m. and adults without participating children, starting at 10 a.m. Any person who plans to fish and is 16 years old or older must have a current fishing license to participate.
“We are working now to raise money,” Miller said. “We will be offering prizes for each division and we are seeking funds for that. We would be pleased to partner with local businesses and name the prize divisions for the sponsoring company. We would like to raise $1,000 per division.”
Division prizes will include fishing equipment, while a grand prize for the biggest fish for all divisions is planned as well, but yet to be determined. “When you catch a trout that day,” Miler said, “you’ll get a ticket to write down your name and phone number. At the end of the event, we will draw winners for each division.”
Last Stop Tackle Shop of Uhrichsville will be on hand with bait and fishing tackle available for purchase. “And as it stands now, Greg Kipps, from near Cleveland, will be bringing a mobile truck for processing fish,” said Miller. “He will clean the fish and get them ready for cooking at no extra cost.”
More information, full rules and registration links are at the New Philadelphia Trout Derby Facebook page. You may also call Miller at 330-243-1635 or Pace at 330-206-5172.