More than 1,800 people had purchased a tag by noon to fish on Opening Day at Roaring River State Park. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Scott Hettinger, founder of Charlie 22 Outdoors, smiles as he prepares to shoot the opening Day gun on March 1. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
The Opening Day gunshot sent a fountain of sparks back in the direction of Barbara and Scott Hettinger at 6:30 a.m. on March 1. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Barbara and Scott Hettinger share a smile after having fired the Opening Day gun at Roaring River State Park on March 1. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park/Historic Site manager, talks with Scott Hettinger, center, founder of Charlie 22 Outdoors, and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, after Hettinger fired the Opening Day gun on March 1. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Scott Hettinger, left, founder of Charlie 22 Outdoors, shares a moment with Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park/Historic Site manager, after Hettinger fired the gun for Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Scott Hettinger, left, founder of Charlie 22 Outdoors, shares a moment with Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park/Historic Site manager, after Hettinger fired the gun for Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Brian Jasumback, of Wentworth, lugs a 7.15-pound lunker back to his stringer on Opening Day. As of 9 a.m., it was the largest fish caught and weighed. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Craig Greer, of Joplin, holds up his 3.1-pound lunker caught on Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Kerri Clark, right, of Joplin, helps her granddaughter Paisley Haney, also of Joplin, set her line to continue fishing on Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
David Dishman, of Republic, scoops out a trout that drew oohs and ahhs from nearby anglers. The catch, which was released, was reeled in by his brother, Lee Dishman. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Lee Dishman, of Springfield, returns a significant-sized trout back to Roaring River after reeling it in on Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
No more than 10 second after the gun was fired, Opening Day veteran and 2022 gun firer Roie Hudson, of Cassville, reeled in his first trout of the 2023 season, electing to release the fish for another to try at. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Cole Harken, right, and Jay Harkin, of Conway, Ark., who have 240,000 subscribers on their YouTube Channel, fished at Roaring River for the first time on Opening Day on March 1. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Landon Yount, 9, of Springfield, eyes his hook as he casts into Roaring River on Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Scott Hettinger, left, founder of Charlie 22 Outdoors, speaks with Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who made an appearance at Opening Day festivities on March 1. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Morgan Williams, left, Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce Director, and volunteers Laura Holycross, center, and Jennifer McBroom, both representing Barry Electric Cooperative, laugh after being splashed by a 3.1-pound trout being weighed on Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com Wyatt Housh, 15, of Diamond, walks to the weigh station with his Opening Day catch. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
David Williams, of rural Cassville, unhooks a nice-sized trout on Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Eric Shoenberger, of Aurora, pulls in a trout on Opening Day at Roaring River State Park. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
John Obergoenner, of Cape Fair, grips a thrashing trout as he prepares to unhook it and add it to his line on Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
More than 1,800 people had purchased a tag by noon to fish on Opening Day at Roaring River State Park. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Fishing near the falls was as elbow-to-elbow as ever on Opening Day, but that did not slow the catches in the flowing stream. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Alfred Ames, of Cave Springs, Ark., hiked the bank of Roaring River to find a perfect sitting spot as he fished on Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
More than 1,800 people had purchased a tag by noon to fish on Opening Day at Roaring River State Park. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Cody Rose, of Cassville, helps free the line of Stella Rose, 7 as the pair fished together on Opening Day. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
