SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Olivia Bubeck, 9, of Schuylkill Haven, jumped for joy when a 14-inch rainbow trout took the bait on her fishing line.
"I caught a fish! I caught a fish! I caught a fish!" Bubeck said as she skipped along the path around Stoyer's Dam and through Bubeck Park. The park, according to her father, Michael, is named after her great-grandfather, Russell.
Bubeck was one of the hundreds of children who came out to the fifth annual Scott Shade Trout Rodeo at Stoyer's Dam on Saturday.
Run by the Schuylkill Haven Area Recreation Commission, it's a two-day event. It will continue today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
With sun and clear skies Saturday, the event attracted more people than usual, according to Terry Bensinger, a member of the commission.
At 12:30 p.m., there were 396 children participating. Bensinger said a total of 486 children participated Saturday.
"This is better than average. Last year, we only had about 400 children in the two days," Bensinger said.
Children 15 and under from the Schuylkill Haven Area School District were allowed to fish for free. Other children up to 15 had to pay $5.
S-A Trout Pond, Orwigsburg, stocked the dam with 1,400 fish Friday at a cost of "about $3,000," Bensinger said.
About noon Saturday, Blaine Brown, 11, caught two 14-inch rainbow trout. It doesn't always matter what kind of bait you use, Brown said. Sometimes what you need is patience.
"Let it sit," he said.
Other children who were catching fish about noon Saturday included Balin Honicker, 5, of Schuylkill Haven, who hooked a 14-inch white palomino trout. And his brother, Myles Honicker, 7, caught a 12-inch rainbow trout, according to their grandfather, Keith Honicker, Cressona.
Bensinger's daughter, Madison, 7, said she helped Bubeck cast her line.
"I had to teach her how to do it. I said to cast it in she had to press the button and then throw it. Then when you get a bite, reel it in," Madison Bensinger said.
When it came time to pose for a photo, Bubeck wasn't so keen on holding her prize.
"Eww," Bubeck said, as a friend, Ashley Farr, Auburn, tried to hand her the catch. It was hooked on a chain, quivering. "It's looking at me."