Photo Update #7

Tommy Eldridge reels in a catch while fly fishing on opening day. by Roger Nomer

Makayla Harvey, 7, displays a leaf she caught to her family, Brad, Michelle and Kory, 10. Since the kids were off from school in Cassville, the Harvey’s decided to enjoy opening day at Roaring River. by Roger Nomer

Zach Evans cleans his catch after fishing at Roaring River. by Roger Nomer

Donald Essary fishes along one of the bridges at Roaring River. by Roger Nomer

Some fishermen like to get as close to the river as they, without falling in, even if it means standing on their toes on an edge of a rock. by Roger Nomer

Gerry Mann fishes with his daughter Alexis, 7, during opening day at Roaring River. by Roger Nomer

Photo Update #6

After being on the river since 6:30 a.m., Alex Clymer takes a relaxed approach to fishing. by Roger Nomer

Fishermen cast off in front of the falls at Roaring River on Monday morning. by Roger Nomer

Fishing poles stand at the ready along the rocky bank of Roaring River. by Roger Nomer

Ryder Schell, 6, keeps a keen eye on his pole as he casts at Roaring River. by Roger Nomer

Photo Update #5

Marcus Mahaffey removes a hook from a fish he caught on opening day.

Any fisherman who had fallen into Roaring River might need a life preserver, but definitely would require a big cup of hot chocolate on this cold Monday. by Roger Nomer

Cory Cogley reels in a catch while fishing on opening day. by Roger Nomer

Cooped up too long

Why do it? Why camp out in freezing temperatures and then spend the morning  trying to tie hair-thin line with numb fingers?

Charles Weathers knows. He started working as a ranger for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in 1968. He came to Roaring River a year later, and lived in a house where the lodge is now. He and his wife, Chloe, were waiting for breakfast at the lodge this morning. Charles retired in 1989, but he still comes around even if he wasn’t fishing. He has seen as many as 3,500 people along the banks of Roaring River on an Opening Day before.

“I guess they have been cooped up all winter and it’s chance to get out,” he said of the crowd.

Roaring River Ritual

It’s a ritual as old as RoaringRiver itself. You’re working a spot – have been for 20 or 30 minutes – and some  guy walks up right next you  and first cast, BAM! He’s hauling in a fish that had been toying with you a minute ago.

This morning, Rick Bevenue and Mike Graves are those guys. Bevenue was wearing a lunker pin earned at Roaring River a few years ago. They’re Opening Day regulars. Bevenue is from the Liberal area; Graves from near El Dorado Springs.

“Opening Day, we’ve been coming 15 or 20 years,” said Graves.

Photo Update #4

A view from the bridge at Roaring River shows the crowded banks on opening day.

Cody Kozak strings up a catch while fishing at Roaring River. by Roger Nomer

Owen Hurt gets a bite on his line while fishing at Roaring River. by Roger Nomer

Sarah Beckwith caught this 5.22 pounder on her first cast on Monday. by Roger Nomer

It came with the marriage

Tony and Ruth Harris, and Tony’s grandfather, James Pippin, are wrapping it up. Between them, they have 10 rainbows, shimmering in their baskets. Tony, 27, grew up near here, fishing Roaring River as long as he can remember. It’s a family tradition. When he married Ruth several years ago, she had to join, too. No question.

“It came with the marriage,” she said.

The couple now live near Bolivar, but bypassed the much closer Bennett Springs State Park with its trout for Roaring River.

“I think it is more beautiful here,” Ruth said.

Photo Update #3

Fishermen find crowded conditions on a cold Monday morning at Roaring River. by Roger Nomer

Roaring River was a popular fishing spot for opening day. by Roger Nomer

Joking with Jeremy Ritchey, this photographer speculated that his unusual hat might bring him luck on opening day. Ritchey just laughed off my suggestion. by Roger Nomer

However, the very next minute, Ritchey hauled in this catch. Looks like I was right about the lucky hat! by Roger Nomer

Breakfast bet

Nine lunkers were caught by 8 a.m., the largest weighed eight pounds.

Coy Utter, Purdy, made it ten. He brought in a 3.34-pound rainbow.

“I just got lucky,” he said.

Lucky enough to get a free breakfast. That was the deal his buddies worked out this morning.

“We bet on the biggest fish this morning,” he said, as they loaded up to go to the lodge.

Landing Lunker

About this time, 14-year-old Logan Metsker should be hunkering down for reading class in Joplin. Instead, he was helping his father weigh a lunker that came in at 3.38 pounds. They have been coming to Roaring River “forever,” said the dad, Mitch.

Dad pulled in the handsome rainbow on a dark green wooly burger.

Logan’s morning wasn’t going so well.

“Horrible,” he said with a laugh, “I got hung up like 12 times.”

It was obvious, how ever, that even a bad day at Roaring River trumps  “Wuthering Heights” or “Catcher in the Rye.”

Holden Caulfield should have went fishing instead.