Kids' Fishing Day scheduled for Roaring River State Park

Young angling enthusiasts will get to experience the fun of fishing at Kids' Fishing Fun Day Aug. 15 at Roaring River State Park near Cassville. On that day, anglers age 15 and under will fish for free for rainbow trout at a portion of the park specially stocked for the event.

Fishing Missouri Trout Parks

Young anglers age 15 and under will get to fish for free at Aug. 15 event.

CASSVILLE, Mo. – Fishing helps kids discover nature. Helping children get hooked on the thrill of fishing will be the focus of Kids’ Fishing Day on Aug. 15 at Roaring River State Park. This free event will be held 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Missouri Department of Natural Resources and a number of businesses and local organizations.

At Kids’ Fishing Day, children age 15 and under will be able to pick up free trout tags at the hatchery office any time the day prior to the event (Aug. 14) or all day on the day of the event. A portion of the park’s fishing area will be reserved for 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, but only one pole may be used between helper and child. Adults are not allowed to fish by themselves. Free hotdogs, chips and soda will be available 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Outdoor education is also part of Kids’ Fishing Day. Throughout the day, seminars will be held on fish cleaning, fish cooking, Dutch oven cooking, taxidermy, watersheds, knot tying, fly tying and fly casting, how to fish Roaring River, stream biology and other subjects. A tour of the MDC hatchery at the park 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 at Roaring River’s Kids Fishing Day. Individuals wishing to volunteer do not need to be experienced anglers. If you would like to help out with Kids' Fishing Day or you want to get more information, call Roaring River Hatchery at 417-847-2430 or e-mail Hatchery Manager Paul Spurgeon at paul.spurgeon@mdc.mo.gov

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