Roaring River to host Kids Fishing Day

CASSVILLE, Mo. – Young people experiencing the fun of catching fish will be the focus of Kids’ Fishing Day, May 17, at Roaring River State Park. This event, which will be 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m., is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation, Department of Natural Resources, and a number of businesses and local organizations.

At Kids’ Fishing Day, children age 15 and under will be able to pick up free trout tags at the hatchery office any time on Friday, May 16, or all day on the day of the event. A portion of the park’s fishing area will be reserved for youths age 15 and under. Volunteers will be available to assist the youth. Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Parents are welcome to assist kids, but only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. Adults are not allowed to fish by themselves. Free hotdogs, chips and soda will be available between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

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, snakes of Missouri, and other subjects. A hatchery tour will show how trout are raised. If kids attend three classes, they will be entered into a drawing for prizes, which 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 with this event. Individuals wishing to volunteer do not need to be experienced anglers. If you would like to volunteer or you want to get more information, call Roaring River Hatchery at 417-847-2430 or e-mail paul.spurgeon@mdc.mo.gov.