Kids Fishing Day

The Back to School Kids' Fishing Day will be held at Roaring River State Park August 16, 2008. Kids' Fishing Days are probably the best thing that we do at Roaring River. This is an extraordinary event where a lot of volunteers (around 80), from near and far away, as well as staff from several different state agencies and staff working with Jim Rogers and Dave Waugh's come together and work very hard to make the day wonderful for kids and their families. Best of all everything is free.

Fishing is great with 5,000 trout stocked in the stream. Some of them are lunkers. Volunteers work with the kids to help them learn to trout fish. Over 30 interesting classes are held covering everything from live snakes, to fly tying, to archery, to fish cooking, to making a tee shirt, to many other subjects. Small prizes (nature books, lure boxes, and toys), larger prizes (bicycles, fly rods and reels, bows, remote control airplanes and other items), and a free tag on the kids next fishing trip to the park are various rewards for kids participating in classes. There are also many sponsors who give generously to make the event happen.

In 2002 we started having two KFD's each season. Our highest participation for a fall event was in 2005 with 1,214 kids. Last year there were 1,070. The spring event usually has more kids. The record was in May of 2007 with 1,763.

You are probably thinking that it will be too crowded -- please don't let that hold you back. The necessary free tag can be picked up at the hatchery the day before (Friday Aug. 15). Adults can pick up the tags for the kids. If you pick it up on the day of the event, at the information tent, service is fast and lines are never long.

Kids' Fishing Day lasts a long time (13 hours) from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. There is a lot of fishing area with more than half of Zone 1 reserved. Fish are stocked at least 4 times during the day so fishing stays good. Parents and adults can help kids fish as long as there is only one pole between the helper and the child participates in reeling the fish in. The park staff and volunteers will do their best to help make it a great day. If you have questions please call 417-847-2430.