Kids’ Fishing Day reels in over 900 anglers
August 20, 2014
Charlea Mills
Saturday marked another successful Kid’s Fishing Day for Roaring River State Park. This year, the kids tags numbers were up from the previous fall kids fishing event.
According to Paul Spurgeon, Roaring River State Park hatchery manager, the park handed out 970 tags. Last year, there were only 888 tags handed out. Spurgeon said, “Our fall events are never as busy as the spring Kids’ Fishing Day, but we were pleasantly surprised with the turnout.” He continued, “We though that with some of the schools starting a week early, it might affect the attendance, but it was pretty steady all day, even though it rained a little bit.”
The day proved to be successful for young fishermen as well, with many catching their limit in under an hour. This year’s weight winners were Landon Hardy, with a trout weighing in at 4.88 pounds for the boys’ overall winner and Bonnie Robbins with a three-pound trout for the girls.
Events throughout the day drew crowds to learn about wildlife, nature preservation, camping and more. Many took part in fly fishing instruction, fish cleaning, archery and air rifle shooting. Others enjoyed cooking demonstrations and the stream exhibit.
This year’s event was sponsored by Cabella’s, Jim Rogers Concessions, David Waugh, Walmart, Les Jacobs Ford, Lucky Lady Trout Bait, Roaring River Alliance, Paradise Valley and the Cassville YMCA. Those sponsors provided food and the funds to run the event so that kids can fish for the day for free and participate in competitions as well as learn to fish. Spurgeon said the hatchery had 113 volunteers to keep things running throughout the day.
For more photos of Kids’ Fishing Day events, see page 1B.
Charlea Mills
Saturday marked another successful Kid’s Fishing Day for Roaring River State Park. This year, the kids tags numbers were up from the previous fall kids fishing event.
According to Paul Spurgeon, Roaring River State Park hatchery manager, the park handed out 970 tags. Last year, there were only 888 tags handed out. Spurgeon said, “Our fall events are never as busy as the spring Kids’ Fishing Day, but we were pleasantly surprised with the turnout.” He continued, “We though that with some of the schools starting a week early, it might affect the attendance, but it was pretty steady all day, even though it rained a little bit.”
The day proved to be successful for young fishermen as well, with many catching their limit in under an hour. This year’s weight winners were Landon Hardy, with a trout weighing in at 4.88 pounds for the boys’ overall winner and Bonnie Robbins with a three-pound trout for the girls.
Events throughout the day drew crowds to learn about wildlife, nature preservation, camping and more. Many took part in fly fishing instruction, fish cleaning, archery and air rifle shooting. Others enjoyed cooking demonstrations and the stream exhibit.
This year’s event was sponsored by Cabella’s, Jim Rogers Concessions, David Waugh, Walmart, Les Jacobs Ford, Lucky Lady Trout Bait, Roaring River Alliance, Paradise Valley and the Cassville YMCA. Those sponsors provided food and the funds to run the event so that kids can fish for the day for free and participate in competitions as well as learn to fish. Spurgeon said the hatchery had 113 volunteers to keep things running throughout the day.
For more photos of Kids’ Fishing Day events, see page 1B.