There’s more than trout to the annual opening day pilgrimage that’s expected to bring 2,300 fishermen to Roaring River State Park on Friday.
Bundled-up anglers will catch fish, all right. More important, they’ll catch up on friendships and what’s been happening with their families and fishing pals since last opening day, which is always March 1.
Family reunions revolve around the start of catch-and-keep trout fishing season at Roaring River.
Friends fish and laugh together. Some ’fess up they’ve played hooky from work.
They’ll line up side by side along the stream bank before daylight and wait for the opening siren to sound at 6:30 a.m. Then 2,000 hooks hit the water at once.
Catch and keep season runs through Oct. 31 at Roaring River State Park, 10 miles northeast of Seligman, Mo.
A chilly, but decent, forecast for Friday has the park staff planning on 2,300 fishermen, said Dusty Reid, park superintendent. That makes opening day one of the biggest gatherings of anglers all fishing at once in the same place.
To get ready for this fishing party, the Missouri Department of Conservation will stock 7,000 rainbow trout from the Roaring River hatchery into the spring-fed trout stream.
One hundred of those trout will be 3 pounds or bigger, Reid said.
The stream is divided into three zones for bait, lures or flies. All an angler needs to join the fun is a Missouri fishing license, if you’re 16 or older, and a $3 daily trout tag. Anglers under 16 only need a daily tag that costs $2 for youth.
The daily limit is four trout.
Fishermen can fend off the opening-morning chill with free hot coffee served by the Cassville Chamber of Commerce.
The brew is poured into a complimentary mug that anglers may keep. (The daily limit is one mug.)
New at the park this year is a selection of campsites that may be reserved, Reid said. Some large family campsites have been built that will accommodate up to 12 campers.
Trout fishing can be so good that some anglers catch their limits and are headed to a hearty campfire breakfast by 10 a.m. A hike along the Devil’s Kitchen Trail may be in order after the fish stories are told and dishes washed.
Devil’s Kitchen is a 1.5-mile trail that starts across the road from the trout hatchery. It’s a lovely walk through the woods and along a bluff pocked with crevices and small caves.
A tour of the trout hatchery might be in order.
Or, visit the park’s lodge and restaurant.
Roaring River State Park is one of the prettiest places to visit in the Ozarks. It’s situated deep in a valley, almost a canyon.
Roaring River spring comes to life near the hatchery and supplies cold,clean water to the stream that flows through the heart of the park.
It’s a fine destination any time of year, whether it’s fishing, hiking or both that rev your engine.
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FLIP PUTTHOFF IS OUTDOORS EDITOR FOR NWA MEDIA. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER AT TWITTER.COM/NWAFLIP.
Outdoor, Pages 7 on 02/28/2013