What:
Opening Day for catchand- keep trout fishing season
When: Saturday, starting at 6:30 a.m.
More: Gov. Mike Kehoe to fire the gun
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An eagerly-awaited harbinger of Spring arrives Saturday — the opening of catch-andkeep trout season at Roaring River State Park.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe will be on hand to shoot the Opening Day gun at 6:30 a.m., a time-honored, ceremonial tradition, usually performed under less-than-optimal temperatures.
Roaring River Hatchery Manager Brad Farwell said he expects the attendance to be higher for Opening Day this year, because March 1 falls on a Saturday.
“We’re planning for 2,000 to 2,500 fishermen,” he said.
Last year, 2,081 trout tags were sold on Opening Day, which fell on a Friday.
The largest amount sold in the past twenty years was recorded on March 1, 2008, when almost 3,000 tags were sold – on a Saturday.
Farwell said he and his team will stock 6,500 trout, plus 100 lunkers, the week leading up to the opener.
“We usually plan for three trout per fisherman expected,” he said.
In order to throw in a line, an angler need a fishing license and trout tag, which can be purchased in the Park Store, located across from the junction of 112 and F Highways.
Farwell said the recent winter weather has not affected the trout hatchery.
“It’s been business as usual. We’re looking good,” he said.
He’s hoping for perfect weather and a big crowd on March 1.
Concessionaire David Waugh said the Park Store will be open for tag sales from 9 a.m. on Friday, through 7 p.m. Saturday, with no overnight closure. Roaring River State Park Superintendent Mike Busekrus encouraged anglers to purchase their tags on Friday to avoid long lines on Opening Day.
Busekrus said all campgrounds will be open beginning Feb. 25.
“We are booked for opening weekend, but visitors may call to check for last-minute cancellations,” he said. In observance of another long-standing tradition, the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce will give away mugs of hot coffee (coffee courtesy of Sunshine Coffee House, mugs courtesy of Chamber members) to Opening Day anglers, beginning at 5 a.m., under the Les Jacobs Ford tent, across the road and a bit south of the historic CCC Lodge.
New Chamber contests, with prizes, are also being planned for this year’s Opening Day, said Chamber director, Morgan Williams.
“Arvest Bank is sponsoring a prize for ‘The First Catch of The Day’ by an adult and a youth angler (age 15 or younger),” Williams said. “And, Mercy Hospital Cassville is the sponsor of a prize for ‘The Largest Lunker’ caught by an adult and a youth.”
To qualify, lunkers must be caught between 6:30 a.m. and noon and presented at the Lunker Station set up at the historic CCC Lodge.
In another fun addition to this year’s Opening Day line-up, the Cassville Branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library will host a photo booth at the Lunker Station.
“Stop by for a photo to commemorate the day,” Williams said.
For an overnight stay, or to warm toes, the Emory Melton Inn will open its doors at 9 a.m. on Friday and be open 24 hours thereafter.
If it’s food and drink people are looking for, the restaurant in the Inn will open from noon to 7 p.m. on Friday. Normal restaurant hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., until Daylight Savings Time resumes, and will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the remainder of March.
In a welcome addition for fans of team sports, the Emory Melton Inn now houses the Sports on The Fly Lounge, where fishermen can watch their favorite team on TV, after they catch their daily limit of trout.
Forecasts on Monday called for a partly cloudy Saturday, with a high of 60 degrees and low of 35 degrees.
“Plan to dress for the weather and arrive early for good parking,” said Mike Busekrus, who’s looking forward to welcoming anglers for Roaring River’s 97th Opening Day.
