Roaring River tops Missouri State Parks with 2,558 trout tags on Opening Day

March 4, 2020
Charlea Estes-Jones
Roaring River State Park took top honors on Opening Day of trout season with the largest number of tags issued. Over 2,500 anglers were on Roaring River’s banks, and one even caught a nine pound lunker Sunday, March 1.
According to hatchery manager Paul Spurgeon, Opening Day was wildly successful this year. He said, “The weather obviously had a lot to do with our tag count. But there was an excitement in the air this year that could be felt. People were so enthusiastic and having a good time. It felt like an old fashioned opener from years ago. It was so nice to see that. It’s going to be a great season.”
This year, Roaring River anglers purchased 2,558 tags, 2,065 adult tags and 493 children’s tags. Montauk issued 2,457 tags, and Bennett Spring issued 2,378 tags.
Opening Day kicked off this year with the gun fired by Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick. Spurgeon issued the following statement about Fitzpatrick’s selection:
“Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick was raised in Shell Knob and graduated from Cassville High School in 2006. He attended the University of Missouri, graduating in 2010. Scott is the owner of MariCorp and is its CEO. Scott was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2012 and served through 2018 representing Barry, Lawrence, and Stone Counties. In addition to serving as Chairman of the Budget Committee, he also served on the Joint Committee on Legislative Research and Public Assistance. He currently lives in Cassville. Scott assumed office as State Treasurer with a swearing-in ceremony on January 14, 2019.
“Scott cares deeply for Roaring River State Park and has always shown a keen interest in promoting the park and fought hard as a legislator to make sure it’s voice is always heard. The Missouri Department of Conservation and Roaring River State Park deeply appreciate the dedication Scott has shown now and in the future.”
A new twist to the honor of firing the opening gun was added by Roaring River State Park staff. The new people’s bench was unveiled. Each year, a plaque will be mounted on the bench near the gazebo with the name of the person who opened trout season by shooting the ceremonial gun.
Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park natural resources manager, explained the decision to put in the bench. “We are kicking off this year with a new dedication bench for the people of Barry County and whoever happens to be the Grand Marshall for Roaring River opening.
“With the new CCC stone renovation complete, we have new sidewalks going to the starting gun gazebo. We were actually able to put a memorial bench in, and we’ve called it the People’s Bench. Whoever gets to fire the gun, we will recognize that person on that bench [with a plaque] for the entire year, and then we’ll mail that plaque to them at the end of the year. It won’t be a single person’s bench forever, it’ll be a changing of the guard each year.”
With Opening Day behind everyone, people will get to enjoy catch-and-keep rainbow trout season until October 31 of this year. For information about when the park is open to fishing, call the Park Store at (417) 847-4971.
Charlea Estes-Jones
Roaring River State Park took top honors on Opening Day of trout season with the largest number of tags issued. Over 2,500 anglers were on Roaring River’s banks, and one even caught a nine pound lunker Sunday, March 1.
According to hatchery manager Paul Spurgeon, Opening Day was wildly successful this year. He said, “The weather obviously had a lot to do with our tag count. But there was an excitement in the air this year that could be felt. People were so enthusiastic and having a good time. It felt like an old fashioned opener from years ago. It was so nice to see that. It’s going to be a great season.”
This year, Roaring River anglers purchased 2,558 tags, 2,065 adult tags and 493 children’s tags. Montauk issued 2,457 tags, and Bennett Spring issued 2,378 tags.
Opening Day kicked off this year with the gun fired by Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick. Spurgeon issued the following statement about Fitzpatrick’s selection:
“Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick was raised in Shell Knob and graduated from Cassville High School in 2006. He attended the University of Missouri, graduating in 2010. Scott is the owner of MariCorp and is its CEO. Scott was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2012 and served through 2018 representing Barry, Lawrence, and Stone Counties. In addition to serving as Chairman of the Budget Committee, he also served on the Joint Committee on Legislative Research and Public Assistance. He currently lives in Cassville. Scott assumed office as State Treasurer with a swearing-in ceremony on January 14, 2019.
“Scott cares deeply for Roaring River State Park and has always shown a keen interest in promoting the park and fought hard as a legislator to make sure it’s voice is always heard. The Missouri Department of Conservation and Roaring River State Park deeply appreciate the dedication Scott has shown now and in the future.”
A new twist to the honor of firing the opening gun was added by Roaring River State Park staff. The new people’s bench was unveiled. Each year, a plaque will be mounted on the bench near the gazebo with the name of the person who opened trout season by shooting the ceremonial gun.
Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park natural resources manager, explained the decision to put in the bench. “We are kicking off this year with a new dedication bench for the people of Barry County and whoever happens to be the Grand Marshall for Roaring River opening.
“With the new CCC stone renovation complete, we have new sidewalks going to the starting gun gazebo. We were actually able to put a memorial bench in, and we’ve called it the People’s Bench. Whoever gets to fire the gun, we will recognize that person on that bench [with a plaque] for the entire year, and then we’ll mail that plaque to them at the end of the year. It won’t be a single person’s bench forever, it’ll be a changing of the guard each year.”
With Opening Day behind everyone, people will get to enjoy catch-and-keep rainbow trout season until October 31 of this year. For information about when the park is open to fishing, call the Park Store at (417) 847-4971.