By Silas Gray

sports@joplinglobe.com

It was hard to believe that it had been three months since we last stood in the heart of Roaring River State Park surrounded by kids with fly rods.

However, it was August and time for the semi-annual Roaring River Kid’s Day.

Once in May and again in August, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Roaring River Inn and Convention Center join together to host this event. With fun events and classes and drawings for piles of donated prizes, as well as free hot dogs, chips and soda, it’s one big outdoor party just for kids.

During the event, the first five fishing holes downstream from the hatchery are reserved for kids 15 years and younger.

The DNR stocks these spots heavily with trout the night before and continues stocking throughout the day to ensure that there are plenty of fish for the kids.

The tightly packed groups of anglers eagerly part as the green John Deere tractor pulling the special stocking trailer approaches. The kids close in quickly as the tractor pulls away, and the lures begin to fly.

Among the free classes available to the youth are fly tying and fly casting. It’s these two that bring me and many of my fellow MAKO members back every May and August. MAKO Fly Fishers is a fly fishing organization (www.makoflyfishers.com) to which my wife, Karen, and I belong.

The weather leading up to that Saturday had been marvelous and cool, in contrast to the usual 90-degree days of August.

The forecast was for more of the same, and coincidentally my wife decided to come along to help with casting. Karen is good at teaching beginners to cast a fly rod. She keeps it simple and to the point.

We joined Steve and Waymeth Werries early at our designated spot to set up. Steve is the current president of MAKO Fly Fishers and an enthusiastic fly tyer.

Two picnic tables had been moved together to provide an area for fly tying, and an adjacent section of the river had been reserved for casting instruction. I’m always amused by the shocked looks we get from people who, after stepping over the bright yellow tape and bypassing the large warning signs, are hit with fly line. It’s good that we use yarn rather than hooks on the ends of all those flailing fly lines.

Each volunteer is required to sign in at the “big tent” where they are issued a red “Hooked on Fishing at Roaring River” cap, making them easily identifiable as someone who will help. Volunteers were everywhere, busily issuing rods and reels, making t-shirts and headbands, serving food, teaching classes on soil erosion, leading snake demonstrations and teaching archery.

Although we didn’t officially start tying for another hour, we were set up and many MAKO members were checked in and wearing their red hats. A few eager youngsters were crowding around, so we began tying flies. We’ve learned to bring our boldest and brightest tying materials.

With those spread out along the tables, the kids can pick their own colors. They come up with some wild combinations, but then you never know what the fish are going to bite.

I looked up from tying to see that a line was forming at our other table — a definite indication that it was time for casting lessons to begin. Karen and I and a few others picked up rods and headed that way.

Girls and boys representing all eligible ages came through. I recognized some kids from previous events, but for others it was their first time to ever hold a fly rod.

One young fellow, who was about eight, came quietly down the gravel bank when it was his turn. He was shy but finally did tell me his name and that he’d never used a fly rod before. He listened intently as I took him through each of the steps for a beginning cast.

He held the rod handle correctly with his thumb right on top. He kept his wrist firm, brought the rod up slightly past twelve o’clock as he’d been shown and made a perfect cast.

The little guy stared at me as I stared back at him with my mouth hanging open. The piece of red yarn tied to the end of the line had flown well over halfway across the river and landed perfectly.

Eventually we both recovered, and he was soon ready to try it again. I have no doubt that we’ll see that fellow again in the spring.

It was soon two in the afternoon and time for us to pack up our gear and let another group of volunteers take over casting and tying.

I sometimes hear a lot of moaning about today’s youth — how they’re unhealthy, addicted to TV and video games, and disconnected from their parents.

Seeing more than a thousand kids and their families enjoying a day of outdoor fun gives me hope that our next generation is going to be fine.