Pleasant weather draws enthusiastic anglers
Above, Michaela Tate, of Cassville, teaches her nephew, 15-month-old Beau Binson, of Stark City, how to reel in a prospective catch on opening day Monday at Roaring State Park.
March 2, 2021
Sheila Harris
While total tag sales were down a bit from last year, Roaring River State Park proved its popularity by once again being the top seller of trout tags in Missouri’s state parks.
“Mondays’ turnouts are usually smaller than other days, since most people are beginning their work week,” said Corporal Steve Jabben, of the Park Rangers.
Even so, a total of 1,956 tags that were sold, according to park store data. Of those tags, 1,571 were for adults, and 385 were for children.
Montauk State Park was second based on number of tags sold, with 1,793; and Bennett Spring was third, with 1,709.
Roaring River Park Superintendent, Joel Topham, believes that COVID-19 has been driving residents to Missouri’s state parks, not only for the opening day of catch-and-keep trout season, but throughout the past year.
“We’re lucky to have state parks where admission is free,” he said.
“Last year, we saw an increase in attendance on every level. We had a lot of people who were new to Roaring River, but also brand new to camping,” he continued. “Since I believe COVID is here to stay, I think the uptick in outdoor activities will continue to grow. People are going to seek that mental health break that comes with being outdoors.”
Topham said that by Friday, all 186 camp sites in the park had been reserved.
Roaring River Hatchery Manager, Paul Spurgeon, said hatchery employees stocked the river with 6,000 fish, a week prior to opening day. Of those, 100 were lunkers.
“We stock at 32 points along the river (above and below each dam),” Spurgeon said, “using a ratio of 2.25 times the anticipated number of tags we’ll sell, to determine the number of fish we’ll put in the river for opening day,” he added. “The anticipated tag sales are based on historical data, plus the weather forecast and current trends.”
This year’s opening shot was fired by Jewel Farwell, the wife of Marvin Farwell, a retired Missouri Department of Conservation employee.
“Marvin Farwell was chosen to fire the opening shot, but he’s suffering with COVID-19, so his wife performed the honors in his place,” Spurgeon said.
Farwell, the Resource Assistant and 33-year employee of the hatchery, retired in 2010, after stocking over five million trout in the river over the duration of his career.
“He worked in all kinds of weather - from snow and ice, to 100 degree temperatures - to make sure the stream was stocked with trout every night,” Spurgeon said. “After his retirement, people came to the office asking about him.”
According to Spurgeon, Farwell loved to see kids fishing.
“Marvin volunteered for many years after his retirement by helping with Kids’ Fishing Days and teaching a class on ‘How to Fish Roaring River,” Spurgeon said. “He was a hardworking, dedicated employee who always wanted to see the park succeed and provide families with a place to enjoy trout fishing.”
Spurgeon said he will gladly accept nominations for the honor of firing next year’s shot to signal the opening of trout season. Nominees should have some type of affiliation with the park - as a volunteer, an avid fisherman or woman, or as a passionate park attendee.
In order to be considered, submissions should contain the nominee’s name, plus a paragraph or two describing their connection to the park.
Emailed submissions may be sent to [email protected].
Sheila Harris
While total tag sales were down a bit from last year, Roaring River State Park proved its popularity by once again being the top seller of trout tags in Missouri’s state parks.
“Mondays’ turnouts are usually smaller than other days, since most people are beginning their work week,” said Corporal Steve Jabben, of the Park Rangers.
Even so, a total of 1,956 tags that were sold, according to park store data. Of those tags, 1,571 were for adults, and 385 were for children.
Montauk State Park was second based on number of tags sold, with 1,793; and Bennett Spring was third, with 1,709.
Roaring River Park Superintendent, Joel Topham, believes that COVID-19 has been driving residents to Missouri’s state parks, not only for the opening day of catch-and-keep trout season, but throughout the past year.
“We’re lucky to have state parks where admission is free,” he said.
“Last year, we saw an increase in attendance on every level. We had a lot of people who were new to Roaring River, but also brand new to camping,” he continued. “Since I believe COVID is here to stay, I think the uptick in outdoor activities will continue to grow. People are going to seek that mental health break that comes with being outdoors.”
Topham said that by Friday, all 186 camp sites in the park had been reserved.
Roaring River Hatchery Manager, Paul Spurgeon, said hatchery employees stocked the river with 6,000 fish, a week prior to opening day. Of those, 100 were lunkers.
“We stock at 32 points along the river (above and below each dam),” Spurgeon said, “using a ratio of 2.25 times the anticipated number of tags we’ll sell, to determine the number of fish we’ll put in the river for opening day,” he added. “The anticipated tag sales are based on historical data, plus the weather forecast and current trends.”
This year’s opening shot was fired by Jewel Farwell, the wife of Marvin Farwell, a retired Missouri Department of Conservation employee.
“Marvin Farwell was chosen to fire the opening shot, but he’s suffering with COVID-19, so his wife performed the honors in his place,” Spurgeon said.
Farwell, the Resource Assistant and 33-year employee of the hatchery, retired in 2010, after stocking over five million trout in the river over the duration of his career.
“He worked in all kinds of weather - from snow and ice, to 100 degree temperatures - to make sure the stream was stocked with trout every night,” Spurgeon said. “After his retirement, people came to the office asking about him.”
According to Spurgeon, Farwell loved to see kids fishing.
“Marvin volunteered for many years after his retirement by helping with Kids’ Fishing Days and teaching a class on ‘How to Fish Roaring River,” Spurgeon said. “He was a hardworking, dedicated employee who always wanted to see the park succeed and provide families with a place to enjoy trout fishing.”
Spurgeon said he will gladly accept nominations for the honor of firing next year’s shot to signal the opening of trout season. Nominees should have some type of affiliation with the park - as a volunteer, an avid fisherman or woman, or as a passionate park attendee.
In order to be considered, submissions should contain the nominee’s name, plus a paragraph or two describing their connection to the park.
Emailed submissions may be sent to [email protected].
