So taking advice from the couple we met at Beavers Bend State Park in March, we made reservations at Roaring River State Park in Missouri. The biggest question going into this trip was how long to stay? I have been camping a lot of times and for a lot of days. My wife and kids on the other hand, 4 days is the longest for them. My wife wanted to go for 8 days, 7 nights but I informed them that 7 days 6 nights would be plenty. So we made reservations, bought a trailer (cargo trailer) and loaded up to get going.

We headed out Wednesday morning and got their Wednesday night and set up the tent in the dark. We finished setting up camp Thursday morning and settled in quickly. I am not going to detail all 7 days of the trip, just highlights.

Thursday: Rain, and snakes. Snakes in a controlled environment. My oldest son loves them now.
Friday: Sunny, Fishing, Digging for critters in the river with a naturalist.
Saturday: Sunny, Fishing - Brandon got a Fish by himself, More rain and more snakes. Showers!
Sunday: Sunny, Hot, Food shopping and area exploring (Drove to Monnet)
Monday: Junior Park Naturalist program. Brandon got to help stock the trout!
Tuesday: Sunny, Going Home day.

So most everyday consisted of eating 3 awsome meals, Brandon riding his bike about 100 miles with his campground friends, haning out in the hammocks and relaxing. Oh and some fishing. I didn’t catch any fish but I only fished for a grand total of about 3-4 hours over the course of 7 days. Brandon caught a fish all on his own so that made me happy. Everybody had a great time all week, no serious injuries so I count that a success.

Tags: camping, family, fishing, vacation

As many of you who know me know, I am an Eagle Scout and avid camper with my family. I have also decided after how stressful the past few years have been that I would make more time to go fishing. I have not been fishing on a regular basis in over 9 years! Oh wait, coincidentally that is when I got a real job! So this winter I decided I wanted to try fly fishing. So I head on over to my local Bass Pro Shops store, talk to their fly fishing experts and a few hudred dollars later, I am a fly fisherman.

I live in western Oklahoma and if you don’t know there are a lot of Bass and catfish out here, but now trout. So for spring break last week we loaded up the family and went to Beavers Bend State park. It is one of the designated trout streams in the state that is stocked on a regular basis during trout season. We rolled in mid afternoon on the first friday of spring break, and WHEW! The park was packed, we snagged up the 2nd from last camp site in the whole state park.

So I go out and fish Saturday morning, afternoon, and evening and catch nothing. Okay, Sunday will be better, nope! Zero, zilch, nada. No fish on the fly rod for Ryan. But I can see lots of other fly fisherman pulling out trout all day long. So I rise extra early Monday and go down to a spot that I have seen other people pull trout out of the previous 2 days. After 45 min, and just about the time I am cursing my decision to buy into fly fishing BAM! I have a fish. All of those woes wash down the river as fast as the water is flowing. What a great feeling, just like I was a kid again.

Now my oldest son still had not caught anything for the week, so my new mission was to get him a fish on the line. We go out and the designated “bait” areas are packed with people so I end up back in the same spot with my fly rod and I hooked 4 more fish and let him reelthem in. Mission accomplished, for now.

Overall Beavers Bend State Park is a great place to camp! Beautiful scenery, great people, good fishing and lots of stuff to do and see. We also met a couple from Skiatook, who recommended Roaring River State Park in Missouri. We may have to check that out soon!

Tags: camping, family, fishing, Outdoors, vacation