SIDNEY - Young anglers stood shoulder-to-shoulder when approximately 350 kids lined the shores of the Sidney Pond on Saturday morning with the hope of catching fish.

The 12-pound female trout - worth a $300 gift certificate - deposited into the pond on Wednesday morning managed to evade being caught.

“Everyone saw her,” Cabela’s event coordinator Connie Carrillo said. “She kept taunting us.”

While the prize 12-pound trout may have gotten off the hook, there were still several prize worthy fish caught.

Carrillo said that about four fish with the $20 tags on them were caught during the event.

To make the day an all around success, the Sidney Elks Lodge generously provided free hot dogs and soda.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission donated the trout tank, and many other local businesses and organizations contributed as well.

“This was a community event,” Carrillo said.

While Cabela’s may stock the pond, it takes a village to successfully organize an event such as this.

“There were so many local merchants that provided cash and prizes,” Carrillo said.

Local businesses were not the only ones giving.

“Many volunteers gave up their Saturdays to help,” she said. “The kids were so appreciative.”

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