Six-year-old Waylon Zachmann was having fun at City Park but instead of feeding the ducks and turtles Saturday morning, the excited boy was catching rainbow trout at Copperas Cove’s annual Fishing in the Park.
Dozens of area families took advantage of the mild temperatures and clear blue skies to line the banks of the duck pond and try their luck at catching a few fish. Excited shouts and words of encouragement — “Come, reel him in; let him in!” — heard all around, including from the Zachmann family: Gina Zachmann, also known as Grammy; Kurt Zachmann, better known as PaPa; Waylon’s father, Joseph Zachmann; and, of course, Waylon.
As he watched his line carefully for a bite, Waylon said he was having fun, and was glad to see the City Park pond rebound from last year’s drought conditions that left lakes, ponds, streams, and river in the area flowing to dangerously low levels.
“There was no water and now there is water everywhere,” he said.
Grammy said that although they visit the park regularly, this was their first time attending Fishing in the Park.
“I think it’s wonderful,” he said. “We feed the ducks down there, and we usually go to the turtle pond and feed the turtles and stuff. Waylon loves to fish and he loves the outdoors. He loves to go and feed the turtles (and) the ducks — and try to catch the ducks.”
Most of all the fish caught over the weekend were rainbow trout stocked by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as part of a program that TPWD sees releasing up to 40 million fish into about 100 public lakes, ponds, and salt water bays every year. According to TPWD, many of these fish come from the state’s three saltwater and five freshwater hatcheries.
One of the program’s goals is to provide “catchable-size fish for educational activities and community fishing ponds.”
Across the pond from the Zachmanns, Killeen resident Jessica A. Baez, who recently moved to Central Texas, was trying to keep a tight grip on a slippery rainbow she had cast onto the beach.
“I’ve never fished for trout before, so I wanted to try it,” Baez said, finally securing the trembling fish and posing for a photo. “I love it.”
Fishing in the Park is a free event with a limit of five fish per person. Those 18 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license. Parents helping a child fish must also have a license, unless the child is old enough to fish alone without assistance.
Meanwhile, Cove fourth-grader Liam Vipperman was fishing with his grandfather, Rick Vazquez, his mother, Victoria Vazquez, and cousin Cristiano Blomquist. Liam said he was happy.
“Pretty good,” said the 9-year-old from Copperas Cove. “I like it. I caught a lot of fish.”
Mom said it was her first time at Fishing in the Park, and she was enjoying watching the kids.
“I love it,” he said. “My son was here a while ago with his grandfather. It’s fun (and) the kids are having fun.”
Five-year-old Justin Candelario and his brother Oliver, 3, fill a cooler while their grandfather, Martin Centunzi, helps and also tries his luck, while mother, Janille Candelario, helped corral the youngsters and older brother Jeremiah Edge, fishing nearby.
“I love it,” said Martin, a longtime fisherman also known as Pappa. “I come out here every year with the grandchildren. As the older ones get older and don’t want to do it anymore, I bring out the younger ones.”
