Kid's Fishing Days In State Parks

[Steve Smith]

Kids Fishing Days at Missouri's four trout parks give children age 15 and younger special opportunities to enjoy unstructured time outdoors with friends and family. For information about these and other youth fishing events, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/4164.

(Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo)

1. Kids Fishing Day set for May (w/pic)

Each of Missouri's four trout parks sponsors a special event to give youngsters a taste of fishing fun.

JEFFERSON CITY-Some youngsters would love to fish, but neither they nor their parents know how. Others know how, but have trouble making time for unstructured outdoor fun. Missouri's four trout parks have both these groups in mind in offering Kids Fishing Days in May.

BENNETT SPRING STATE PARK

On May 5 the Missouri Department of Conservation's Bennett Spring Trout Hatchery will host the annual Kids Fishing Event at Bennett Spring State Park (SP) near Lebanon. The event is open to children 15 years and younger. Free fishing tags will be available from 4 to 8 p.m. May 4 at the hatchery shop building and beginning at 5:30 a.m. May 5 near the special children's fishing zone. Conservation Department workers will stock the zone to ensure success, and volunteers will be on hand to help children with lures and fishing tips.

A variety of activities for education and fun will begin at 9 a.m. and run through 2 p.m. The Conservation Department's Mobile Aquarium will be on hand to showcase some of the many species of fish found in Missouri.

Prize drawings throughout the day will give kids a chance to win prizes ranging from T-shirts to float trips on the Niangua River. A lunch of hot dogs, chips and drinks will be provided for children 15 years and younger.

For more information, call (417) 532-4418 or e-mail Julie Caffey at Julie.Caffey@mdc.mo.gov or Mike Mitchell at Michael.Mitchell@mdc.mo.gov.

MONTAUK SP

Young anglers will have opportunities to catch fish and learn about fishing during Kids Fishing Day from 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. May 5 at Montauk SP east of Licking. Event sponsors include the Missouri departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wal-Mart, and Hooked on Fishing International.

Children age 15 and under can pick up free trout tags at the hatchery office from 2 to 8 p.m. May 4 or all day May 5. The spring branch from the CCC Spillway to the Social Hole will be reserved for the youth anglers. Volunteers will be on hand to help kids.

Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Parents are welcome to help youngsters, but only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. Adults are not allowed to fish by themselves.

Event sponsors will provide hamburgers, hotdogs and soft drinks for participating children from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Youngsters also can attend seminars on trout fishing, fly tying, fly casting, and other topics and win attendance prizes throughout the day.

Event sponsors need volunteers to help. Fishing experience is not necessary. If you would like to help, call (573) 548-2585 or e-mail Tom.Whelan@mdc.mo.gov.

ROARING RIVER SP

Young anglers will get to catch fish and learn about fishing during Kids Fishing Day May 19 at Roaring River SP south of Cassville. The event runs from 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Children age 15 and younger will be able to pick up free trout tags at the hatchery office any time on May 18 or on the day of the event. With their free tags, youths also will receive fish stringers, posters, coloring books and educational material. A portion of the park will be reserved for youths.

Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment.

Volunteers will be on hand to help out. Adults are welcome to help youngsters, 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 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Throughout the day, there will be seminars on fish cleaning, fish cooking, knife sharpening, knot, fly and jig tying, fly casting, how to fish at Roaring River, and other subjects.

The Conservation Department's mobile shooting range will be on hand.

A hatchery tour will show how trout are raised. Other activities will include a live snake program, T-shirt stenciling and critter-stamping head bands.

Youngsters who attend at least two classes will receive prizes. Those who attend fly casting classes will be entered in a drawing for one of several complete flyfishing outfits. Prizes also will go to boys and girls who catch the biggest fish and the biggest stringers of fish. A free taxidermy mount will be given to the boy and girl with the biggest fish of the day.

Volunteers are needed to help with this event. Fishing experience is not needed. To volunteer, or for more information, call (417) 847-2430 or email Jerry.Dean@mdc.mo.gov.

Sponsors of Roaring River's Kids Fishing Day include the Missouri departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Jim Rogers Concession, Mid-West Flies, Lewis and Clark Outfitters, Mark Jones Taxidermy, Russ Pendergraft Taxidermy, Les Jacobs Ford, MAKO Fly Fishing Club, Wal-Mart, Able 2 Products, Luck-e-Strike, Freedom Bank, Commerce Bank, Security Bank, Tim's Fly Shop, and many other local merchants.

MARAMEC SPRING PARK

May 19 is the date for Kids Fishing Day sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Maramec Spring Trout Fishermen's Association (MSTFA) and The James Foundation at Maramec Spring Park south of St. James. Kids fish free, and there will be no parking fee on this day for cars with kids 15 and younger inside.

The James Foundation sets aside the entire upper half of the spring branch for young anglers, and the Conservation Department stocks rainbow trout throughout the day to help ensure fishing success. MSTFA members and Conservation Department staff will help young anglers. Kids need to bring their own fishing poles.

The MSTFA will sponsor fishing contests from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

The winners of a casting contest at 11 a.m. will receive trophies.

Throughout the day, youngsters can get free hotdogs and soft drinks and win attendance prizes, including bicycles, fishing rod and reel sets and savings bonds.

There will be exhibits, contests, games and activities, such as making fish-print T-shirts, critter stamping and taxidermy displays, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Flyfishing demonstrations and classes will be held on the stream.

Youths who want to fish must pick up free fishing tags at the Millfield Shelter next to the fishing area. Included with tags are "goody bags" containing a variety of free items. These will be available the day before Kid's Day and all day Saturday. The first 1,500 children to arrive will receive special Kids Fishing sports bottles.

The park will open at 5:30 a.m. with fishing starting at 6:30 a.m. and continuing until 8:15 p.m. For further information, call (573) 265-7801 or email Paul.Spurgeon@mdc.mo.gov

The James Foundation, located on Highway 8 approximately 6 miles east of St. James, owns and operates Maramec Spring Park.

[WebFreeman]

That's really neat. My daughter has a dance recital that day, so we'll have to wait until 2008.

Here a question for all the dads and grandpas--how young did you start your kids fly fishing?

[Rusty]

August 18 will be another day to attend.

[WebFreeman]

Right before school starts. Somebody's thinking. Thanks Rusty

[Steve Smith]

All three of my grandchildren have been fishing – fishing since they could walk. My granddaughter wanted to learn flyfishing two years ago at the age of ten, and became really good at it. She doesn’t fish much with me now… more interested in boys, IPODS, and computers now. My two grandsons [ages 8 & 11] love to bait fish, but have shown no interest in fly fishing. All three enjoy Kid’s Day at Roaring River. They have a number of programs on fishing and non-fishing subjects. The boys enjoy the wildlife programs on snakes, fish, and bugs, while my granddaughter enjoys fly tying and crafts. I don’t know how the other parks do, but RR has the upper end taped off for the kids, and they stock fresh fish in the pool every hour. Fresh out of the hatchery, those fish will strike anything that hits the water. MDC and local merchants really do it up right for the kids. Here’s a shot of my granddaughter at last year’s event: