Smith: The world’s largest indoor trout pond is a magnet for young and old every year at the Sports Show – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Abby Heritsch, 6, of Oconomowoc holds a brook trout she caught Wednesday while fishing with her family at the trout pond at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show.(Photo: Paul A. Smith)

WEST ALLIS The clock struck noon Wednesday, the doors opened, the rush was on.

As the initial crowd ofpatrons swelled intothe 2020 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show, it signaled not only the start of the 80th annual event but the beginning of new opportunities.

A new fishing season, even.

"Trout pond, that's where we're headed," said Rod MacDonald, 77, of Menomonee Falls. "It's our tradition."

MacDonald was first in line to buy tickets Wednesday at the indoor fishing hole. At his side were hisgrandson Han MacDonald, 14, and granddaughter Abi MacDonald, 11, both of Menomonee Falls.

Most of Wisconsin has acatch-and-release troutseason that runs from January to early May.

But inthe temperature-controlled environs ofthe Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center, Sports Show attendees are treated to a five-day catch-keep-eatseason in theworld's biggest indoor trout pond.

Loyal groups of Sports Show attendees make beelines each year to two attractions after the opening bell: the Department of Natural Resources booth to buy fishing and hunting licenses, and the trout pond.

"I think this is more fun," MacDonald said, picking up a rod at the water's edge.

The trout pond hasbeen a feature of the Sports Show since its inception, according to the late show promoterand historian Bob Gautsche of Hayward.

A decade ago Gautsche told me a precious story from the early days of the show when a seal, trained to perform in another attraction,got out of its cage and waddled over for a sashimi dinner at the fish-filled pool.

The smell of fresh trout was too much for it to resist.

The anglers who return year-after-year feel a similar pull.

By 12:05, a line of several dozen people formed behind the MacDonald clan.

They included 11 members of the Heritsch family spanning three generations and ranging in age from 2 to 64.

"He makes us get (to the Sports Show)20minutes early," said Bobbi Heritsch Schmeling, 32, of Brookfield, referring to her father, P.J. Heritsch, 64, of New Berlin.

Some anglers use solunar tables and moon phase charts to guide their fishing times.

Sports Show anglers do just fine with awrist watch and acalendar.

"Well, if I've learned one thing, it's good fishing when the show opens," Hertisch said. "We bring the whole family and have a ball."

Bobbi Schmeling of Brookfield attempts to hold a brook trout caught by her daughter Allie at the trout pond at the Sports Show.(Photo: Paul A. Smith)

Heritsch is keeping to a tradition that runs deep. He has been fishing at the Sports Show trout pond for 60 years.

"His father brought him when he was little, so we started our kids now our grandkids as soon as they can walk," said Patricia Heritsch.

The Sports Show trout pond is no ordinary waterhole.

At 75 by 15 feet and filled with 7,500 gallons of Wisconsin's finest groundwater, there is no bigger indoor trout pond on the planet, according to Jim Hill of W.N.C. Mountain Trout Fishing, owner and operator of the attraction.

In fact, the liner is so big and heavy Hill leaves it in Milwaukee year-round.

He does trout ponds at about 25 shows a year, from Maine to Texas; most use a "puddle" about 16 feet long.

"None of the other shows justify this," Hill said, nodding at the oval indoor lake.

The pond is surrounded by a wooden rail fence; duck decoys floated on the water. Several pumps keep the water flowing.

The primary attraction was finning in the current.

Earlier Wednesday morning, ahatchery truck from Silver Moon Springs Trout Farm in Elton delivered 1,000 pounds of trout to their new and temporary home in West Allis.

Hill said the Sports Show trout pond has another distinction: it's the only site where anglers have fallen in.

One was a teenage boy who leaned too far forward as he tried to coax a distant fish. He got wet to his knees.

The other was to a 50ish man whose ample physique might have caused a loss of balance and definitely resulted in a full-body splash down. "He floated half the pool before we got a hold of him," Hill said. "Someone hooked his wallet."

At about 12:10, anglers ringed the pond and Hill gave the green light.

The 2020 Sports Show trout season was on.

P.J. Heritsch of New Berlin helps hold a brook trout caught by his granddaughter Annabelle Schmeling, 3, of Brookfield, at the trout pond at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show.(Photo: Paul A. Smith)

Within seconds, a half-dozen rods vibrated to the force of lively trout. The Uncle Josh pork rind baits were too much for the fish to resist.

"I got one, I got one!" said Annabelle Schmeling, 3, of Brookfield, as her grandfather P.J. Heritsch helped lift the line.

Got one she did. A beautiful 12-inch brook trout was soon taken off her hook and dispatched and Annabelle was on her way to try for a two-fish limit.

The rest of the Hertisch group did plenty of catching, too.

Their fish were bagged by trout pond staff and stored in a freezer on-site. The free service allows successful anglers to walk the show without fish in tow.

As the showgoes on andthe bite changes, the crew will tie on different baits, Hill said. More fish will be added to the pond, too.

For the Hertisch family, the traditional opening day Sports Show visittransitions into an evening dinner at P.J. and Pat's home in New Berlin.

"Fresh trout on the table and family all around," P.J. Heritsch said. "It's a heck of a day."

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Smith: The world's largest indoor trout pond is a magnet for young and old every year at the Sports Show - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel