DAY TRIP by Vicki Wood, newsroom@lakesunonline.com
Roaring River State Park
Roaring River State Park is located at 12716 Farm Road 2339, www.roaringriverstatepark.org
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bout eight miles south of Cassville is a state park that is world-renowned for trophy trout fishing. Roaring River State Park sits on 4200 acres in Barry County, and is administered by the Missouri State Park system. In 1928, Thomas Sayman, a St. Louis businessman, bought 2,400 acres surrounding the river and, within a month, donated the land to the state. Many of the park’s existing facilities were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, including some of the buildings that make up Camp Smokey, the park’s organized group camp. With easy access to the Roaring River, anglers of any age or physical ability can fish here. An average of 20 million gallons of water rush from the spring daily, spilling into a clear blue spring pool below the cliff in the Roaring River Spring. Roaring River is stocked regularly by the park’s hatchery, managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The park store sells everything one needs to fish for trout, including licenses, daily trout tags, tackle, bait, and camping supplies. It’s located in the Emory Melton Inn, near the park entrance. Waders can be rented at park stores if you choose to take a stroll in the stream for your fishing enjoyment. Baiting trout varies greatly, the favorite for our family has always been a can of corn. A very small treble hook helps hold corn kernels on, loading one kernel on each treble tip. Salmon eggs, another favorite trout bait, is secured on the hook the same way. Crappie rod and reels work well for the usual size trout caught at the park. Lunkers occasionally swimming by would require a bigger pole. *There are some rules that one needs to follow when fishing in a trout park: • Trout fishing is permitted in accordance with the state wildlife code and posted restrictions daily from March 1 through Oct. 31, and during the winter catchand-release season from the second Friday in November to the second Monday in February on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday only. • Each angler shall display a daily trout tag purchased on the area and bearing his or her signature. • Each angler shall have a state fishing permit except those 15 years and younger or Missouri residents 65 years and older. 12 VACATION NEWS
Photo provided by the roaring river facebook page
• Each angler shall keep their trout separate at all times and identified with their name and address. • Daily limit is four, all brown trout must be equal to or greater than 15”. There is no length limit on rainbow trout. Possession limit is 8 trout. • Only a single pole or rod may be used. Gigging, snaring or snagging is not permitted. • No person shall continue to fish for any species in these trout waters after having four trout in possession. • The use of game fish or parts thereof for bait is prohibited; chumming is not permitted. • No trout may be possessed in the catch-and-release area. *source-https://mostateparks.com/park/roaring-riverstate-park WHERE TO STAY
At the Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center, hosts Jim and Carmen Rogers help make your visit more enjoyable. They run the store, inn, and restaurant, as well as the lodge rooms, cabins, and campground. The inn offers guest rooms, some with kitchenettes, and others with a view of the river below. The park also offers single cabins, duplex and fourplex units. Rooms and cabins are available March through October. Reservations are required. Visitors are far from off grid here as Wifi is available in the lobby and meeting rooms of the inn, and an onsite restaurant makes feeding the family easy. It’s a welcome comfort after a long day of fishing or hiking.
March 5-18, 2021
