Pictured, from left, volunteers on the food line at the Waterloo VFW on Friday are Butch Sparwasser, Ann Stoeckel and Jerry Nungesser. (Sean McGowan photo)

With Lent came the start of the much-anticipated Friday fish fry season, and some use the occasion to sample the best local offerings with friends.

Marketicity’s “Cod Squad” plans to make a comeback at this year’s fish fry scene. Well, not exactly. But a few team members are expected to band together to sample some battered and fried seafood during the Lenten season.

Marketicity president Gary Most told the Republic-Times that the team is used to hitting up the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department fish fry, along with the Waterloo VFW, Waterloo Sportsman’s Club and The Corner Pub in Valmeyer. Most said about three or four people plan to go on this year’s adventure, but to where, they are not yet certain.

“It’s a matter of, ‘Do we hit our favorites or try some new ones?’” he said.

For Most, hitting his favorite would mean a drive to the Waterloo VFW.

“I love (the VFW’s) variety. It’s just a great atmosphere,” he said. “(The fish) is flaky. It’s got good batter. And you end up seeing a lot of people you know, so you can strike up some good conversations.”

In 2014 and in years preceding, the group had a tradition of touring different local fish fries but have not done so since the sudden passing of Marketicity founder Scott Rodemich.

“He was actually the one who started the whole thing,” Most said of the fish fry adventure.
Another group that turns fish fry season into an excursion is Janis Rau and friends. Rau estimated that the group of eight has made fish fry-going a tradition for at least the last 10 years, if not 15.

“Time flies when you’re having fun,” she laughed.

Rau and her husband, Gary, and friends Russ and Lori Walster, Ron and Cathy Rohlfing, and George Obernagel and Karla Bivins, will start in Waterloo and travel as far south as the county line. Ss. Peter & Paul Parish, St. Mary’s Parish in Valmeyer and Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo are among their different stops.

“Probably everybody’s favorite is St. Mary’s in Valmeyer because we like the fish and the chippers, and they have a bar. Not all of them have a bar,” she said, joking, “We act like we’re alcoholics.”

When the fish fries begin to wrap up, Rau’s group will pack into a limo, stop at the fish fry at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Renault, then do some bar-hopping between Renault, Prairie du Rocher and Modoc.

“I think our favorite part is just having fun together and telling stories,” she said. “None of us really drink that much.”

Area fish fries
Fish fry season starts and ends with the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, took place March 1 while Good Friday on April 14 marks the end of the season. April 16 is Easter Sunday.

Here are a few of the places that have drawn people like Rau and Most to want to sample fish from every corner of Monroe County:

The Waterloo VFW will expand its year-round Friday fish fry to cafeteria-style service, as well as carryouts from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 3:30 to 8 p.m. every Friday.
Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo will have a fish fry from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 17 at the school.

Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Renault hosts its Friday fish fry from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on March 10, 17 and 24.

The Waterloo Sportsman’s Club hosts its popular fish fries every Friday during Lent from 4 to 8:30 p.m.

St. John United Church of Christ in Valmeyer hosts a fish fry this Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.

The Valmeyer Knights of Columbus hosts fish fries at St. Mary Parish Hall on March 17, March 24, March 31 and April 7 from 4 to 8 p.m.