Jim Smith estimated he has heard the starting whistle or siren for 55 Opening Days at Bennett Spring State Park.
This year, when it is time for the opening day siren to sound, Smith, a Jefferson City resident, will be the whistle blower who triggers the launching of thousands of flies and lures into the stream.
He is happy he was selected.
“It’s something I’ve thought about for many, many years, so it’s really a big honor. There’s a bunch that goes down with me all the time for the last 30 or 40 years. They’ve been wondering when I was going to blow the whistle, so now they got their wish,” Smith said.
Smith has noticed a change in the reason anglers come to the park to fish.
For more on this story see Saturday's LCR.
