Roaring River

Four leaders and five scouts traveled early to Roaring River State Park to set up all of the troop tents. They traveled to a diner in Cassville where they were fed great food and a heartwarming story of the owner's son in the 101st Airborne stationed in Iraq. The scouts received his e-mail address so they could write. When the rest of the Troop arrived after 10 pm their tents awaited their tired bodies. 36 scouts and 18 leaders attended the campout.

Connor caught the first trout of the trip

Connor and Andy show off two of their fish. This lunker was the biggest catch of the day.

David caught his trout and was soon followed by his dad catching one

The wake-up alarm came at 5 am (39 degrees) and Scouts and Scouters were fishing shortly after 6 am. Adequate numbers of fish were caught to feed all wanting trout for supper. Lance Staves was the high producer among leaders and Connor, David, Brett, Jake & Zach had the high catch totals for scouts.

1st & 2nd years trying not to hook each other

Grubmaster Yameen skunked again!

We don't see a tree behind Mr. Goertz. Neither did he until his line failed to go forward during his cast.

Health & Safety was quiet with no hooks finding flesh during the trip. Anthony, one of our newest scouts, had a tooth fall out on the drive down with Mr. Schultz. No wonder it took Charlie 12 hours to get to Roaring River (OK, 12 might be exaggerating). We figured it would be Bill Dunfee's teeth that fell out first.

Andy staying warm while fishing the falls	George challenges the 1st years to cook at a 45 degree angle	Chris and Anthony can taste their supper already
Hard at work, as usual	Leaders chat adjacent to their hodge podge of tents	Another great breakfast is in the works

Connor, Andy & Charlie teamed up to catch a 3 pound lunker of a trout. They named him Jimmy and his meat fed several scouts.

Just after unwrapping himself from his line, Anthony finds his rhythm.

Max cookin' up sumthin good

Sean & Steven check out their eggs

Anthony, minus 1 tooth, wrapped himself up in his fly fishing line but extricated himself and became quite adept by the end of the day. The man fishing next to him didn't complain much when Anthony hooked his hat.

Nick oversees some 2nd year cooks

Chef David

George, Andy, Zach & Andy

Mr. Goertz took no practice to look like a fully equipped expert... right up to the point he got his fly caught in the tree 20 feet behind him and 20 feet above him. (I'll have to re-write that sentence.)

The first years are an energetic and enthusiastic group. They search out all forms of plant and animal life. When they said they had found a rattlesnake on the trail, the leaders smiled with knowing skepticism... until they walked down the trail and the snake raised it's rattle and said "That's far enough pardners!" It was, in fact, a very small rattlesnake with what seemed to be a very LARGE rattle. The trail was made off limits, much to the chagrin of all of the scouts.

Boys find a baby rattler on the trail

The rattler

Scouters Dunfee, Yameen and Fish kept their record for least trout caught by leaders over several years time by being skunked again.

Supper consisted of sauteed fried trout with wild green onions. The onions were provided by Andy, David, Spencer and Nick. Four varieties of cobbler were served from Dutch Ovens along with other goodies provided by grubmaster Yameen.

Evening Camp Fire

Mr. Fuston brought 30 cords of wood (or so it seemed) which created two very large evening campfires. Friday was a clear night with a beautiful starlit sky. Skits were plentiful and lame. Two US flags were retired by fire in a solemn ceremony where prayers were said for those involved in the war.

The Park Ranger came during our campfire and took Mr. Davenport away. We're sure he did something aweful though he swears they just came to collect for the night's camping fees.

After Mr. Davenport's arrest (or at least his disappearance) the sky started to darken and scouts hit the sack. Not long after the thunder, lightening and rain hit. The rain muffled the sound of snoring leaders and it was a restful night. The rain slackened enough for most of the gear to be packed away. After church services at a shelter house we returned safely fron another successful camp.

Many Dutch Ovens were cooking adjacent to the camp fire

First years take a break after a day of fishing

Directions
1. Travel South on Hway 291 to I-470. Take I-470 to 50 Hiway East to the Hiway 291 South Exit.
2. Take Hiway 291 South to Hiway 71 South
3. Travel Sough on Hiway 71 to I-44 (115 miles)
4. Take the ramp for I-44 East and travel 8 miles to exit #26 (Sarcoxie).
5. Follow the signs for Hiway 37 South (You turn right after the Ford Dealer).
6. Travel South for 42 miles, through Monett, to Cassville.
7. At the second stoplight in Cassville, turn left on to Hiways 76/86. (Good place to gas up)
8. About 1 mile later, turn right onto Hiway 112 South.
9. Travel nine miles to the park entrance. (The last five are the worst.
10. After crossing the bridge, turn left onto Hiway F and travel 1.5 miles to the stables, on your left. That is where the Troop will be camping.

We will leave from the church Friday, April 4 at 5:30 pm. It will be approximately a 4.5 hour drive to Roaring River State Park. We'll set up camp in the scout camp area which is on the south end of the park by the stables and is reached after driving through most of the park. We'll set up camp and hit the sack to prepare for the early morning wake-up call. Fishing starts at 6:30 am. Scouts can fish through the day and eat the sack lunch they have brought. Supper will be Patrol cooking. Breakfast will need to be light and quick since we will hit the road early. We'll return to the Church at 2 pm.

Besides the obvious poles and bait, scouts and scouters will need some other items.
Money: trout tag costs are $3 per day for leaders and scouts 15 and over. They are $2 for younger scouts.
Most areas, waders are not required, so don't bring them.
Those over 15 will need a fishing license.
Other costs:
$4 for each scout not riding in a vehicle with their parent/guardian
$2 for camping fee at State Park

Artificial lures, flies and any soft plastic bait representing a worm, grub or egg may be used in Zone 1. Zone 2 is reserved for flies only, and the upper half is designated catch-and-release fishing only. Zone 2 is the only area that allows wading. You may use Flies, artificial lures, soft plastic baits, natural and scented baits in Zone 3. Zone 3 is approximately 1.5 miles long and is stocked twice each week.