Nearly 2,500 anglers wet lines on Opening Day

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

After firing the gun to open catch-and-keep trout season on Sunday, Larry Quinalty reflected on the experience as more than 2,000 anglers cast their first lines of the year, surmising making memories — like shooting the gun — was the most important thing Roaring River State Park has to offer.

“It was fantastic,” he said. “I told [Hatchery Manager] Brad [Farwell] when we got to 10 seconds, we should count down together. I’ve been here in the area for 50 years, and the atmosphere is wonderful. It makes me appreciate being alive because I can enjoy this and see people happy and making memories. I believe in making memories— that’s what carries us through.”

While it did not approach the record of nearly 3,000 tags sold, Sunday’s opening in mild conditions drew a significant number of anglers from near and far. By 7 a.m., 2,006 tags had been sold. By noon, the total grew to 2,280, including 1,824 adult tags and 456 children’s tags. 

Once again, Roaring River reigned supreme among the state’s three trout parks. By noon, Montauk State Park had sold 1,856 adult tags and 317 children’s tags for a total of 2,173, and Bennett Spring State Park had sold 1,601 adult tags and 197 children’s tags for a total of 1,798.

Final numbers for all parks at 4 p.m. included: Roaring River, 2,482 total (1,967 adult and 515 children’s); Montauk, 2,251 (1,915 adult and 336 children’s); and Bennett Spring, 1,919 (1,691 adult and 228 children’s). Farwell said the final total at Roaring River was 2,499 for the day.

The tradition-steeped Opening Day experience was one Quinalty said brought friends together, new and old.

“One woman I hadn’t seen in a long time came up and hugged me and we took a picture, and I had not seen Rosario Keele in a long time. I met some people from Jefferson City who’d heard my name but not been hen I was here. My kids, a daughter and two sons, were also just as excited as I was. All three of them were in scouts.”

Despite kicking off the season, Quinalty said he did not plan to fish on Sunday. Instead, he went to the Roaring River Restaurant for breakfast, then went to church.”

Quinalty, who used to work at the Nature Center, said when it comes to memories at the park, his favorite revolves around youth.

“When I was asked to give tours for school groups for the first time, I took the group on Deer Leap Trail where they could sit but look out and see everything, and get a feel for how much there is here to enjoy,” he said. “The group of third-graders were hyped up like crazy, and I stood there and noticed when I spoke they all listened. I had them all close their eyes and not open them until I was done talking. They didn’t make a sound. I got the nicest thank you notes from the teachers, and from then on when school groups came, they always requested the ‘guy who can make the kids listen.’

Young anglers were sprinkled throughout the park on Sunday, making memories with family and friends as they fished together. Jake Henderson, of Purdy, had his 6-year-old son, Corbin Henderson, with him on the banks on net duty.

“We come down quite a bit, and this is Corbin and I’s second year together on Opening Day,” he said. “I like to spend time with him here. I used to come with my dad all the time, and it means a lot to me, being an outdoorsman, to pass this on to the next generation. Patience is the best lesson.”

Corbin Henderson said he enjoys the park because of the fish, though they can be a bit tricky to catch, even with the net.

Just down the bank, Jeff Holtcamp, of Billings, was the first to reel in a trout in the pool across from the gazebo where Quinalty fired the gun, taking less than 30 seconds to do so. 

“I’ve been coming here 50 years with family and friends,” he said. “My dad and son-in-law are here with me, and my dad and I have been coming since the early 1970s. We come down several times a year to fish and camp. It’s just a tradition. And you may not know people around you, but everyone helps on another all morning. We met some people from Indiana who came down for their son’s senior trip because his grandpa did that — that’s a story in itself.”

A traveler from further away, Kevin Willey, of Wills Point, Texas — who had netted a couple trout within the first half hour —said he grew up in Joplin and came to Roaring River frequently with his parents.

“I always come to Opening Day and try to make it up here a couple times a year,” he said. “I love being here with the crowd.”

Troy Feagan, of Carthage, was fishing alongside his 20-year-old daughter, Sage Feagan.

“We try to come every Opening Day, but I don’t know why because it’s really crowded,” he said. “But, I enjoy being around everybody. There’s a lot of excitement on Opening Day.”

Sage Feagan said she’s been part of the Opening Day festivities since she was 7 or 8.

“My favorite part of the park is the trails,” she said. “My favorite is Deer Leap because it’s the shortest and not too hard to hike. I also enjoy being in the outdoors and with my dad. 

“It’s something to do together because I don’t get to see her as much anymore,” Troy Feagan said. “I especially enjoy it when it’s nice weather, like today. We’ve been here when it snowed.”

While some families have decades of Roaring River memories, others are just getting started. Tyler and Keisha Kuhler, of Sarcoxie, are relative newcomes to the Opening Day scene with their two children, 7-year-old Ensley Kuhler and 10-year-old Easton Kuhler.

“Ensley caught her first trout this year, and it’s her first time on opening morning, and Easton limited out in 29 minutes,” Tyler Kuhler said. “My family brought me down here years ago, and I brought it back last year. It’s kind of stuck. We get to watch the kids fish, be excited, wake up early and feel the anticipation — it’s a whole experience.

“I hope they make memories of spending time with family, and I want them to come back with their kids as they get older. It’s a new tradition.”