By Jim Low - Each of Missouri's four trout parks set aside one day especially for kids.

Jefferson City, MO - infoZine - Four events in May offer children age 15 and younger a chance to learn about trout fishing, enjoy beautiful spring weather and spend quality time with family and friends.

Each year the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and The James Foundation organize Kids Fishing Day events in cooperation with local sponsors. The DNR owns and operates Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Salem and Roaring River State Park near Cassville. The James Foundation owns and operates Maramec Spring Park near St. James. The Conservation Department operates trout hatcheries at each facility, supplying the raw material for fun and lasting memories.

Montauk State Park

Montauk's Kids Fishing Day runs from 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. May 3. Kids can pick up free trout tags at the hatchery office from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 2 or on the day of the event. A section of the spring branch from the CCC Spillway to the Social Hole will be reserved for the youth anglers and stocked with trout all day. Volunteers will be on hand to help young anglers. Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment.

Parents are welcome to help, but only one pole may be used between an adult helper and a child. Adults may not fish by themselves in the area set aside for Kids Fishing Day.

Local sponsors will provide hamburgers, hotdogs and soft drinks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for participating children. Activities offered throughout the day will include a stream table exhibit, door-prize drawings and trout-fishing seminars, such as fly tying and fly casting..

Volunteers are needed to help with this event. Individuals wishing to volunteer do not need to be experienced anglers. If you would like to volunteer or donate to Kids Fishing Day, or for more information, call 573/548-2585 or e-mail

Roaring River State Park

Kids Fishing Day runs from 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. May 17 and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 16 at Roaring River. Youth participants can pick up free trout tags at the hatchery office any time the day before each event or on the day of the events. They also will receive stringers, fish posters, fishing activity coloring books and other educational material.

The area from the first low-water bridge upstream to the hatchery will be reserved for youths. This area will also be stocked through out the day. Volunteers will be available to help young anglers. Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. However, some equipment will be available for kids to borrow. Parents are welcome to help kids, but only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. Adults are not allowed to fish by themselves. Free hotdogs, chips and soda will be available 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Seminars on fish cleaning, fish cooking, archery, knife sharpening, knot tying, fly tying and fly casting, jig tying, how to fish Roaring River and other subjects will be offered throughout the day. The Conservation Department's mobile shooting range will be on hand, too, or participants can take hatchery tours to see how trout are raised. Other activities will include a live snake program, a make-your-own trout fishing T-shirt station and critter-stamp headband making. The nationally known "Fishin' Magicians" will also present two programs.

Kids who attend two classes will receive prizes. Those who attend fly casting classes will be entered in a drawing for complete fly-fishing outfits. Those who attend an archery class will be entered in a drawing for a bow. In addition, trophies will be awarded to boys and girls with the biggest fish and the biggest stringer. There will also be a drawing for free taxidermy mounts among youngsters who catch trout weighing over 3 pounds.

Volunteers at Roaring River Kids Fishing Day events need not be experienced anglers. To volunteer, call 417/847-2430 or email

Maramec Spring Park

May 17 is Kids Fishing Day at Maramec Spring Park. The park will open at 5:30 a.m. with fishing starting at 6:30 a.m. and continuing until 8:15 p.m. Kids fish free, and there will be no parking fee for cars with kids 15 and younger.

The entire upper half of the spring branch will be reserved for their exclusive use. Rainbow trout will be stocked throughout the day to help ensure fishing success. Volunteers will be on hand all day to help kids with fishing. Kids are expected to bring their own fishing equipment.

The Maramec Spring Trout Fishermen's Association will sponsor fishing contests from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. A casting contest will be held at 11 a.m., with 11 trophies to be awarded. Free hotdogs and soda will be provided. Prizes galore will be given away all day long, including bicycles, 50 fishing rod-and-reel sets, other fishing equipment, savings bonds and numerous attendance prizes.

There will be exhibits, contests and activities from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the area around the registration tent. These include making fish-print T-shirts, critter stamping, a stream table, aquarium fish display, taxidermy, photographs, aquatic entomology and games. Fly fishing demonstrations and classes will be held on the stream.

Kids who want to fish must pick up a free fishing tag at the Millfield Shelter adjacent to the fishing area. Included with the free tag is a "goody bag" containing a variety of free items. These will be available the day before Kid's Day and all day Saturday. The first 1,500 kids to arrive will receive a special "Kid's Fishing Sports Bottle."

For more information call 573/265-7801 or email , or visit www.mdc.mo.gov/2921.

Bennett Spring Park

Bennett Spring will host Kids Fishing Day from 6:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m. May 3. Lunch will be provided for the kids from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Educational programs will be held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., including fly tying, fish cleaning and cooking, a shooting trailer, the World Bird Sanctuary and a nature center touch tank. For more information, call 417/532-4418.