The Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife will stock 2,785 trout in City Hall Pond for the free event.

Registration has begun for the city of Murphy’s eleventh Rainbow Trout Roundup youth fishing tournament.

The Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife will stock 2,785 trout in City Hall Pond for the free event to be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.

Sign up on the city website – murphytx.org — by Feb. 20.

About 100 young anglers took part in last year’s roundup, held annually since 2014 except for 2021, when it was cancelled because of the COVID-19 epidemic.

There will be three age groups for the young fisherfolk, with each group getting one hour to fish: 6 years old and under from 10-11 a.m., ages 7 to 12 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 13 to 17-year-olds from noon to 1 p.m.

The catch-and-keep limit is five trout per person. Bait will be provided free of charge and families may use available fishing poles available at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Parks & Recreation Department will award prizes in each division for the longest and shortest fish and the heaviest stringer of five trout.

An exemption to the state Parks and Wildlife licensing requirement will be in place at the 12-foot-deep City Hall Pond until 4 p.m.

After that, game wardens will be checking for fishing licenses.

This year’s event will include a new feature, a catfish fry in partnership with Kreole Kreationz, said Special Events Manager Ashley Hudson.

“Anglers and other participants can satisfy their hunger after a long day of fishing,” Hudson said, adding, “Rest assured, we won’t be frying your catch.”

The two-piece catfish plates will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with $12 tickets sold in advance on the Parks & Recreation site. The price at the event will be $15 per plate, “so take advantage of the pre-sale for a discount,” Hudson said.

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