The Borough of Wyomissing is excited to announce the return of one of the community’s longest-running traditions — the Annual Wyomissing Trout Fishing Rodeo — taking place on Saturday, May 9th, 2026, at the Stone House Lawn and along Wyomissing Creek.
For more than five decades, generations of Wyomissing families have gathered along the creek each spring with fishing poles in hand, hoping to land the day’s biggest catch. From first cast and tangled lines to proud photos holding up freshly caught trout, the Fishing Rodeo has become a rite of passage for countless local children.
This year, the Borough will stock Wyomissing Creek with more than 1,300 trout in preparation for the event, setting the stage for another exciting morning of fishing, friendly competition, and outdoor fun.
The Trout Fishing Rodeo traces its roots back to the 1950s and the founding of the “8 to 80 Wyomissing Fishing Club,” before officially becoming the organized community event residents know today in 1973. The late Joseph A. Miller, one of the club’s founding members, helped build the event into a tradition that has continued to connect families to the outdoors and to one another for generations.
In honor of his contributions, the “Joseph A. Miller Participation Prizes” will once again be awarded during the closing ceremony. Every registered child participating in the rodeo will also receive Reading Fightin Phils tickets courtesy of the Eric J. Miller family.
“There’s something special about watching the creek come alive that morning,” said Randy McKinley, Director of Recreation for the Borough of Wyomissing. “You’ll see moms and dads helping bait hooks, grandparents sharing their favorite fishing spots, and kids absolutely losing their minds when they reel one in. It’s one of those traditions people remember years later.”
Festivities begin on Friday evening, May 8th, when the team from TCO Fly Shop hosts a free youth fly-fishing clinic and demonstration at The Wall beginning at 6:00 PM. The clinic offers children an opportunity to learn the basics of fly fishing and sharpen their skills before the big event.
On Saturday morning, registration opens at 8:30 AM on the Stone House Lawn, with fishing beginning promptly at 9:00 AM. The Awards Ceremony will take place at 11:30 AM. The event is open to children ages 15 and under, and participants are encouraged to bring their own bait and fishing equipment.
The Annual Wyomissing Trout Fishing Rodeo is organized by the Wyomissing Trout Fishing Rodeo Committee in partnership with the Borough of Wyomissing Parks & Recreation Department.
