The fourth annual Trout Derby took place on Saturday at Cal Young Park.

The event was hosted by Abilene Parks and Recreation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Participants over the age of 17 had to provide a Texas fishing license before they could cast their fishing lines out into the creek. After doing so, they fished for the freshwater trout that Lytle Creek had been filled with prior to the event.

Hot dogs, chips and water were provided at lunchtime free of charge to participants.

Laura Holbrook, athletics and recreation coordinator at Abilene Parks and Recreation, said they partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to get the fish for the event.

“They have a neighborhood fishing program that they stock, and we purchase the fish for them to be able to stock in the waterways,” Holbrook said.

Natalie Goldstrohm, fisheries biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said they had stations where kids could learn the basics of fishing.

“We have three different education stations,” Goldstrohm said.  “The first one is to teach how to cast and also rules and regulations, so a lot of kids that come out to our events they never cast before, so this is an opportunity to teach them how the rod and reel works.”

Texas Parks and Wildlife had other stations at the event for kids who have more fishing experience.

“The third station is what goes in your tackle box, so things like hard plastic lures versus baits and kind of teach them the basics of what they are going to put on the end of their hook,” Goldstrohm said.

Goldstrohm said Texas Parks and Wildlife selected the freshwater trout for the event as a result of the current season conditions.

“Freshwater trout are an amazing cold weather species,” Goldstrohm said. “We only stock the rainbow trout during the cold months so this is the only time of the year we can go and fish for them.”

Goldstrohm said this event helps families create their own family fishing memories.

“We want them to make sure they can do it properly so they can take their families out,” Goldstrohm said.