Roaring River trout season opening day

The view of the shoreline of Roaring River with the hatchery at rear shortly after the gunshot started fishing on March 1. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

The Gray family from Exeter strung their fishing tags to hang around their necks as they prepared for their first opening day morning. Pictured, from left, are: Mary, Robert, Andrew and Emily. Mom said this was the first year Emily was old enough to come, and she wanted to fish. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

Barrels with burning lumber lined the edges of Roaring River in the darkness as anglers assembled in the darkness to begin fishing, after securing coffee from the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce tent at rear. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

A couple paused by one of the burning barrels in the predawn darkness to warm before fishing began. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

Governor Jay Nixon talked to reporters, including Monett Times editor Kyle Troutman, at right, after firing the gun to start fishing at Roarign River. Nixon then proceeded to the river's edge to fish himself. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

Angela Seymore of Cassville and her daughter, Sharayah, at right, fished with family members, Fran and Quin Seymore, of Ottawa, Kan. on opening morning. Angela said her daughter has come to opening day since she was 18 months old, and her son, Charlie, has come since he was 2-and-a-half, old enough to hold the flashlight while she poured coffee for the Chamber.

Robert Parker, at right, of Rocky Comfort, bought his fishing tag shortly after 6 a.m. on March 1 in the concession store, readying him to find a spot on the shoreline when fishing began at 6:30 p.m. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

Darrin Jacobs, at left, and Clay Newman, volunteers with the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce, poured the last of the hot water for making coffee to warm the anglers prior to the start of fishing under the Chamber's greeting tent. This year the weigh station for lunkers was also located under the tent. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

The view of the river in the early morning gloom by the small falls just upstream from the bridge by the historic Civilian Conservation Corps lodge. The falls is directly below the observation post where Governor Jay Nixon fired the gun to start fishing. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

Jeff Tiefenquer from Desloge brought in the fourth lunker in the first 20 minutes of fishing at Roaring River. Weighing in at 6.9 pounds, Tiefenquer's lunker led the pack as the morning progressed, but was far below the 17-pounder he once caught at Bennett Springs, which held the park record for many years. He nonetheless won honors for snagging the biggest lunker at Roaring River on Opening Day. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

Anglers lined the banks about as densely as it got downstream from the Civilian Conservation Corps Lodge shortly after the gunshot to start fishing on March 1. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

Robert Randall of Washburn had modest success as he fished in the first half hour on March 1. Convinced success depended on the color of the bait, Randall was particularly impressed with the size of the crowd. It was his first appearance on Opening Day at the park. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

Fish were biting quickly as fishing began on March 1. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

Kyler Miles, of Rogers, Ark., celebrated his 14th birthday catching fish on Opening Day. Asked what he thought of the spectacle of the event, Miles said, "I like it." (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

A scenic view in the early morning light, fishing near the Roaring River falls. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

The little fellow at center left skipped and jumped as he and his dad walked back to their spot along Roaring River, displaying the enthusiasm that others felt but did not show in their adult sophistication, yet they felt it by showing up to fish at the first opportunity on Opening Day. (Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com)

The list of lunkers caught in the first two hours of fishing on Opening Day.