MDC invites kids to free fishing day at Roaring River

CASSVILLE, Mo. – Fishing introduces kids to the outdoors, so it’s beneficial to get young people hooked on fishing. That will be the focus of Kids’ Fishing Day on Aug. 20 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Roaring River State Park. The event is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Missouri Department of Natural Resources and a number of businesses and local organizations.

Children age 15 and under will be able to pick up free trout tags at the hatchery office any time the day prior to the event (Aug. 19) or all day on the day of the event. A portion of the park’s fishing area will be reserved for the event. Volunteers will be available to assist the young anglers. Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Parents are welcome to assist kids, but only one pole may be used between helper and child. Adults are not allowed to fish by themselves. Free hotdogs, chips and soda will be available 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Outdoor education is also part of Kids’ Fishing Day. Throughout the day, seminars will be held on fish cleaning, fish cooking, Dutch oven cooking, taxidermy, watersheds, knot tying, fly tying and fly casting, how to fish Roaring River, stream biology and other subjects. A tour of the MDC hatchery at the park will show how trout are raised. A program on Missouri snakes will be given using live specimens. If kids attend three classes, they will be entered into a drawing for prizes. The drawing will be held at 5 p.m. Children must be present to win. Classes are also open to the whole family, but only children may enter the drawings.

Volunteers are needed to help at Roaring River’s Kids' Fishing Day. Individuals wishing to volunteer do not need to be experienced anglers. To volunteer or to get more information, call MDC’s Roaring River Hatchery at 417-847-2430 or e-mail Hatchery Manager Paul Spurgeon at paul.spurgeon@mdc.mo.gov.