FARMINGTON — Cheers erupted every time a rainbow or brown trout was caught Tuesday during the fourth annual Fishing Derby for Adults with Developmental Disabilities. 

There were plenty of “ahs” when the wiggling trout slipped from the line and returned to the murky waters of Rollo Pond on the campus of the University of Maine at Farmington.

Once again the Farmington Recreation Department stocked the pond for the annual July 4 holiday fishing derbies and fishing instruction program.

A mixture of 245 rainbow and brown trout were put into the waters of the small pond this week, said Matt Foster, assistant director of the Recreation Department.

“The browns fight a little harder, but the rainbows dance on the water,” he said of the mix this year. Usually it’s only rainbow trout.

Nearly 30 adults, some with caseworkers from local support agencies, such as WorkFirst and LEAP, and others on their own lined the banking along the pond for one hour Tuesday.

Their goal was to catch two trout, which organizers put on ice for them to take home, and to perhaps win a trophy.

There is a trophy for first fish, biggest fish, catching the limit of two fish and the biggest meal, Steve Shible, recreation department director, told participants.

Brian Foster, 24, of Madison returned for a third year and after four tries caught his first fish. He planned to take it home and have it pan-fried for supper, he said.

Karen Russell of Farmington wanted to take her first fish home to show her family. She quickly went back to catch another one.

The department, with help from sponsor Coca-Cola Bottling of Farmington, offers the annual fishing derby July 3 free of charge.

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