Bennett Spring hatchery manager looks forward to Opening Day

Bennett Spring Hatchery Manager Ben Havens says that there will plenty of fish for the opening day of trout season at the state park. Opening Day is March 1 at 6:30 a.m., as per the Missouri State Parks website. “We’ll start the season like we always do, with the firing of the pistol at the nature center, and once we get that started, then we’ll be off and running,” Havens said. Havens reported that progress was steady on the ongoing hatchery construction, with crews working during the off season between bouts of weather. The Missouri Department of Conservation’s website notes that the project is slated for completion in the summer of 2025. Havens later said that the opening day’s honorary starter, is John Walther, a Jefferson City native with a long history with the park. Walther will be the subject of a separate article. Like last year, Havens said that the park will bring in trout from the state’s coldwater hatchery system as the park’s own hatchery awaits the completion of its renovations. The park will stock fish two to three times per week. Havens expected a busier opening day due to it being on a Saturday. If weather permits, Havens believed there would be around two thousand anglers in attendance. “We’re going to have a lot of nice fish this season, it’s looking like. You know, good size and plenty of numbers, so I think that this season will be great, and we’ll get opening day started and move forward” Havens said.