Opening day at Roaring River draws anglers

Mar. 1—CASSVILLE, Mo. — Cool, cloudy weather didn't dull the appeal of opening day of catch-and-keep trout season, which fell on a Friday for anglers at Roaring River State Park.

The 7-mile drive from Cassville to the park was filled with packed lodges, campgrounds and bait shops. The banks of the river were lined once again for the first day of the season — a 96-year tradition that has weathered wars, floods and a pandemic.

Many families took advantage of the start of the weekend to fish together at the river, including Madon Lehr, 5, fishing with his father.

"I've caught one, I've caught one," he called to his dad.

But it turned out he had just snagged his line on a rock. He cast again, disappointment on his face.

His father, Joey Lehr, said he's been coming to opening day for 15 years, while it was Madon's first year on the river. Lehr and his three children arrived at the park's store around 5:30 a.m. to pick up their tags. They live about 30 minutes from the park.

For him, opening day is almost looked at like a holiday now; Lehr took his kids out of school for the experience.

"It can be chaotic with all the people, but you just have to come with the right mindset," Lehr said. "You can't get frustrated if you get hung up on someone's line."

A little farther down the river, Mandi Oliver, from Monett, sat on the bank fishing. Her left leg was covered in a gray brace. Oliver said breaking her foot in December couldn't keep her away from opening day and experiencing the event with her family.

Oliver had a crowd with her, including her kids, her brother and her nieces and nephews. This was her first opening day.

"I love it, I love it," Oliver said. "I'm trying to take fishing up a little more often, so this has been fun. I caught the first one of our group today."

Reva Stover, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, prepared her fly fishing rod as her husband, Gerald, fished nearby. Stover said she met her husband on a lake riding in a canoe, and they've been married 33 years.

He taught her how to fly fish, and it's become a grand hobby for them to share. She said she's picked up the sport but isn't as proficient as he is.

"He absolutely loves coming here, and I love seeing him have so much fun," Stover said. "He has very good luck."

This is the couple's first opening day. The timing of the event never worked out before for them. She's a retired registered nurse, and her husband worked for Bedford Camera and Video, recently retiring after over 30 years.

"When he retired two months ago, he said, 'We're going to make opening day at Roaring River,' " Stover said. "He's passionate about this place. He watches the online camera from Roaring River every day."

Among other places, the couple has been to Wyoming to fish for trout, but they've had better success at Roaring River than any place else, she said.

"There's nothing like this place," Stover said. "It's better than anything we've found."

Toward the end of the morning, Lehr brought his excited kids to the official weigh-in station. Madon had caught four fish that morning, including one almost half as tall as he was. The flopping trout weighed 2.5 pounds.

"Good job! This is fun, isn't it?" Lehr said to his kids as they bounced away with their catches.