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Families hooked by fun at annual youth fishing rodeo

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by Lisa Schauer

Trout were biting at Tonoloway Lake & Picnic Area on Saturday morning, May 6 for the annual youth fishing rodeo hosted by the Tonoloway Rod and Gun Club, with support from public and business donations.

Brooke McCusker, six, of Hancock proudly displays her catch of trout during the annual youth fishing rodeo held at Tonoloway Lake & Picnic Area.
photos by Lisa Schauer

“It’s just good times and family fun, something nice the club does for the community,” said Josh McCusker of Hancock, helping his son Parker, age nine, unhook a 12-inch rainbow trout from his line. Parker had casted from the bank near a cascading fish weir.

McCusker came to the youth fishing rodeo as a boy with his father, who came with his father, as long as he could remember. He says his kids wouldn’t miss it. Now his daughter Brooke, age six, proudly shows off three large fish she’d already caught by noon in the stocked lake.

About 80 boys and girls ages four to 15 participated in the annual youth fishing rodeo, with each receiving a ticket good for door prize drawings, hot dogs, drinks and snacks. Prizes were awarded in two different age groups.

Youth fishing rodeo winners: front row, ages four to nine winners, left to right, first place Emma Reed, second place Ava Landers, and third place Robert Shoemaker. Back row ages 10-15 winners, left to right, first place Brayan Boyer, second place Colby Burke, and third place Bryson Riggle- man. Far right is bike winner Noah Swadley.
photo by Leroy Mann

Young anglers lined the banks of the four-acre lake, stocked with trout supplied by Maryland’s DNR fisheries for the event. Many caught their limit per Maryland law, with close to 100 total fish caught during the three-hour event.

Tonoloway Rod and Gun Club hosted the annual youth fishing rodeo on Saturday, May 6 at Tonoloway Lake & Picnic Area, where close to 100 fish were caught.
Josh McCusker, son Parker McCusker, nine, and daughter Brooke McCusker, six, all of Hancock pose with a 12-inch rainbow trout caught by Parker at the annual youth fishing rodeo.