Traditions continue during start of catch-and-keep trout season at Montauk State Park

Oran Naramore hasn’t been fishing in three years, but he was the No. 1 permit-holder at Montauk State Park as he shot the starter pistol, signaling the beginning of catch-and-keep trout season in Missouri.

Cautious due to arthritis, the 89-year-old told the News-Leader that he may venture out on a calm bank and cast into the Current River if he’s feeling up to it later that day with his son, Sidney. Emotions overwhelmed the father-son duo at different times following the opening bell.

“It's hard to have words,” Naramore said, teary-eyed.

The senior Naramore started taking the younger to Montauk Hatchery in between baling hay on the 1955-established family farm.

“I didn't know much about it,” Naramore said when he first brought his son to Montauk. "I told him, 'Next time I come down here with you, young man, we're gonna fish.' Because of him, he taught me and I started fishing from that time on."

Catch-and-keep trout season is March 1 to Oct. 31

March 1 is opening day at Missouri's four trout parks: Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Licking, Roaring River State Park near Cassville, and Maramec Spring Park near St. James. The season ends Oct. 31 and catch-and-release commences. Missouri Department of Conservation stocks rainbow trout on a daily basis throughout the season at each park.

With an estimated 1,400 anglers wading into the waters, Montauk Hatchery Manager Tom Whelan said he couldn’t have asked for a better opening day, especially weather-wise.

“March 1 is the reminder that spring is not so far away," Whelan said.

Along with that reminder, opening day is a time for traditions to continue.

"Mr. Naramore's been fishing for 52 years, brought his kids, grandkids and his great-grandkids aren't old enough to fish yet, but they're down here with him," Whelan said. "We provide this recreation opportunity for folks and that's what it's all about. It's tradition."

The hatchery is "in the business of creating memories," Whelan quoted from a previous division chief.

"When you see this," Whelan said indicating several anglers in the Current River, "You see families and mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers, children and grandchildren getting started on fishing and you realize that maybe you play a small role in providing that opportunity."

Another father was continuing the family tradition of bringing his sons to opening day. Brice Gansner, of St. Genevieve, had two of his sons, 12-year-old Brady and 10-year-old Blayne, out of bed and heading to the water more than an hour ahead of the starting gunshot.

“I'm passing on tradition, like my dad used to do," Gansner said. "I started taking them right here (at Montauk)."

The boys had high hopes of catching a lunker sometime opening day, but they said they’re still happy with what they end up getting because it will mean a fried lunch.

Along with carrying on traditions, new ones form with friends

Dewayne Cloud was used to fishing near and around Bakersfield, California, before he and his wife moved to the Show Me State for his retirement. Wednesday was his first time going to opening day at Montauk.

“I never experienced something like this,” Cloud said.

Out west, Cloud said he would catch-and-release more often, but he was looking forward to friend David Stuck frying up a mess of trout when they were done for the day.

Opening day at Montauk started with a temperature of 45 degrees and partly cloudy skies at the siren, topping out later in the day in the low 60’s. There were 1,587 adults and 146 kids for a total of 1,733 tags sold, according to Whelan. A total of 21 lunkers (weighing three pounds or more) were caught with the largest weighing in at seven pounds, seven ounces caught by Micah Faulkner, of Salem.

Bennett Springs had 1,543 adult tags and 108 youth tags sold while Roaring River had 1,604 adult tags with 316 youth tags sold.

You can buy permits, find details about the trout parks, learn about trout waters and more on MDC's website https://mdc.mo.gov/.

Sara Karnes is an Outdoors Reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Follow along with her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @Sara_Karnes. Got a story to tell? Email her at skarnes@springfi.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Traditions continue during start of catch-and-keep trout season