HOME

Fort Leonard Wood youth get a head start on fishing trout on post

By Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs OfficeMarch 1, 2023

Saturday Stone Mill Spring was surrounded by 152 Fort Leonard Wood youth trying to catch a rainbow trout. The derby is organized each year by the Directorate of Public Works’ Natural Resources Branch and the Outdoor Adventure Center, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Saturday Stone Mill Spring was surrounded by 152 Fort Leonard Wood youth trying to catch a rainbow trout. The derby is organized each year by the Directorate of Public Works’ Natural Resources Branch and the Outdoor Adventure Center, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation. (Photo Credit: Photo by Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL
Some of the 152 participants in Saturday’s Youth Trout Fishing Derby show off their catches of the day. The Fort Leonard Wood Youth Trout Fishing Derby is an annual event organized by the Directorate of Public Works’ Natural Resources Branch and the Outdoor Adventure Center, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Some of the 152 participants in Saturday’s Youth Trout Fishing Derby show off their catches of the day. The Fort Leonard Wood Youth Trout Fishing Derby is an annual event organized by the Directorate of Public Works’ Natural Resources Branch and the Outdoor Adventure Center, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation. (Photo Credit: Photo by Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL
Proudly showing off her trout, 6-year-old Elliana DuBois posed for a photo Saturday at Fort Leonard Wood’s Youth Trout Fishing Derby at Stone Mill Spring.
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Proudly showing off her trout, 6-year-old Elliana DuBois posed for a photo Saturday at Fort Leonard Wood’s Youth Trout Fishing Derby at Stone Mill Spring. (Photo Credit: Photo by Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL
It’s time for a hotdog break for 3-year-old Ian and 4-year-old Emerson Smith at Saturday’s Youth Trout Fishing Derby at Stone Mill Spring. The derby was organized by the Directorate of Public Works’ Natural Resources Branch and the Outdoor Adventure Center, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – It’s time for a hotdog break for 3-year-old Ian and 4-year-old Emerson Smith at Saturday’s Youth Trout Fishing Derby at Stone Mill Spring. The derby was organized by the Directorate of Public Works’ Natural Resources Branch and the Outdoor Adventure Center, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation. (Photo Credit: Photo by Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Open season to fish trout at Stone Mill Spring here is from the last Sunday in February through Oct. 31, but the annual Youth Trout Fishing Derby gives anglers ages 15 and younger first dibs on catching the freshwater fish.

According to John Brant, a fisheries biologist with the Natural Resources Branch, 152 anglers showed up to fish at the event on Saturday, and it was the first time fishing for 25 of them.

One of the children making her inaugural fishing debut was 4-year-old Rowen Knight. She caught two fish at the derby.

“I am so proud of myself,” Rowen said with a smile.

The derby is organized each year by the Directorate of Public Works’ Natural Resources Branch and the Outdoor Adventure Center, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation. Brant said, the MDC added 500 rainbow trout to the spring prior to the event.

Twelve-year-old Josslyn Moore had caught her limit of four fish before noon. She said her favorite thing about fishing comes after catching them.

“I really just like eating them,” she said.

Moore had some advice for novice anglers.

“Use bright color bait to catch the fish’s attention,” she said. “Don’t cast too far or you could get your line tangled with someone else’s line, and definitely be careful with the hook — it is sharp.”

Staff Sgt. Michael Smith, a drill sergeant with the 3rd Chemical Brigade, was there helping his children, 3-year-old Ian and 4-year-old Emerson.

“They haven’t caught anything, but we are enjoying the nice day. It is nice to have some quality time with them,” Smith said.

Brant said helping people connect with the area’s natural resources and environment is important.

“I want to encourage people to explore the world. When we first showed up here this morning, there was a bald eagle sitting here and a river otter in the spring. It is harder sometimes to see animals like this with a large group,” Brant said. “These events are great opportunities to get people excited about exploring Fort Leonard Wood and the regional area.”

Brant said he is thankful for the volunteers who worked to help make the derby a success, including individuals from the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, who grilled at the event, and the Better Opportunities for Single Service members, or BOSS, who helped make sure families made it to the spring safely and back to their vehicles parked near the Piney Valley Golf Course.

Brant said there will be more opportunities to participate in events like this in the future, including the Youth Catfish Derby being planned for early June.

RELATED STORIES