http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110225/LIFE06/110225009/1037/life06/Opening-day-huge-trout-anglers-area-towns If next Tuesday is on trout anglers' calendars as the start of the new fishing year, March 1 also is a big day in Cassville. The Barry County town is just down the road from Roaring River State Park, where a couple thousand trout anglers are expected to go after trout on the first day of Missouri's trout park fishing season. The day is so significant to Cassville that school will be out. "It's been a Cassville tradition for years for schools to be out on trout opening day," said Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce director Mindi Atherton. Trout anglers also will be ready for the 6 a.m. starting siren at Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon. The first day of trout season also will be observed at Montauk State Park near Licking and at Maramec Spring near St. James, a privately owned park with a trout hatchery managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The Missouri Department of Conservation estimates the weekday opener will attract around 8,400 anglers. That number compares to a turnout of around 14,000 on weekend opening days. Trout park workers have been busy stocking lunkers as well as smaller trout in the streams. Three fish go into the water for each angler, so most people catch fish during their outings. While people who show up Tuesday will find that trout park workers have also been busy with a variety of improvements including a new hatchery nearing completion at Bennett Spring, they'll also notice a new feature installed to protect the trout streams. Anyone going into the water is asked to use wader washing stations that are baths with a 5-percent salt solution. The baths are intended to help prevent an algae known as Didymosphenia geminata, or Didymo, into Missouri streams. The other popular name for the invasive species makes it pretty clear why Didymo isn't wanted in Missouri, Department of Conservation spokesman Joe Jerek said. The term "rock snot" says it all, he said. While the fight against Didymo is new, traditions will continue at the trout parks, including Roaring River. Along with no school in Cassville, opening day at Roaring River also will see the continuation of the chamber handing out free coffee to hundreds of anglers, chamber director Atherton said. "I can tell you we will be handing out 750, 12-ounce mugs," she said. The coffee is a welcoming gift to anglers whose arrival in Cassville will mark the start of the tourist season in the area, Atherton said. ================================================ Fishing reduces stress and gives you a break from our modern world where everything is going a million miles per hour 73 Check & Clear 6 LOC: 38-54-14.60N / 097-14-09.07W |
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