MDC invites kids to Roaring River's free fishing day

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News from the region
Southwest
Published Date
05/06/2019
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CASSVILLE, Mo. – Young anglers will have opportunities to catch fish, connect with nature, and have fun participating in the many activities offered to parents and children at Kids’ Fishing Day and Nature Festival, May 18 at Roaring River State Park. This event, which will be from 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m., is a joint effort of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and several local sponsors.

At Kids’ Fishing Day, an area of the park will be designated as a fishing area for youths age 15 and under. Children in that age range can pick up free trout tags at the hatchery office any time the day prior to the event on May 17 or all day on the day of the event. Volunteers will be available to assist the young anglers. Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Parents are welcome to assist kids, too, but only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. Adults are not allowed to fish by themselves. Free hotdogs, chips and soda will be available between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Education is also part of Kids’ Fishing Day. Throughout the day, seminars will be held on fish cleaning, fish cooking, Dutch oven cooking, Mexican cuisine, outdoor survival, target shooting, taxidermy, watersheds, knot tying, fly tying and fly casting, how to fish Roaring River, stream biology and other subjects. A hatchery tour will show how trout are raised. A program on Missouri snakes will be given using live specimens. If kids attend three classes, they will be entered into a drawing for prizes. The drawing will be held at 5 p.m. Children must be present to win. Classes are also open to the whole family, but only children may enter the drawings.

Volunteers are needed to help with this event. Individuals wishing to volunteer do not need to be experienced anglers. People wanting to help with Kids’ Fishing Day or looking for more information can call MDC’s Roaring River Hatchery at 417-847-2430 or e-mail paul.spurgeon@mdc.mo.gov