Steve Smith

Jeremy brings out a good point to watch hackle size as it causes missed strikes by sitting too high on the water's surface. He is absolutely right. However, over hackling [both in turns and hackle length] often gets the trout’s attention when they turn their nose up at a standard sized Crackleback wrap. Yes, they do often miss the hook, but I trade that off for more rises. I’ve not a clue as to what trout think they see, but I know slightly over wrapping often out fishes the standard tie. I wrap my oversized Crackleback using a completely herl wrapped body, and Badger hackle. Try it sometime by adding more wraps of hackle, and slightly larger than the hook gap. The badger hackle and herl body gives the fly a very dark center and gold edges out on the hackle tips.

The 8th or 9th would be okay with me.

I’m all for it, and I’ll bring a couple of local guys with me. I’ll plan on bringing some mesquite smoked bologna, grill, and a cold brew of course.

I had read somewhere last year [i think] that MDC was planning to pilot a special catch and release daily tag at Bennett to emphasize C&R in the parks. They were also supposed to pilot a catch and release area in all parks. I was just wondering if any of the regulars at Bennett noted this or did it fall through the cracks? Roaring River has had a trophy C&R zone for some time now, and I would certainly like to see an annual C&R tag for the parks. If one wanted to keep some fish, a daily tag could be purchased.

Thanks Jeremy; that’s very close to the basic pattern exactly except for materials used in the construction of your example. I took the fly apart and can replicate it now. The hook is a standard TMC barbless dry fly hook in a size 14 [i want to try some on a scud hook]. The fly is not weighted except for a small brass bead head. I bought a pack of white rubber skirting material in a sheet at Bass Pro that is used to make skirts for jigs and spinner baits. I separated one strand [the strands are round, not flat rubber] from the sheet, and tied on the back bend of the hook as in your example. Then I wrapped the rubber strand forward to the bead and back in layers until the body has the same taper as your example. The strand of rubber gives the body a distinct segmented look. I wish I could take a picture and share it, but my cheapo camera won’t get the job done. The problem is the pattern is probably borderline at best under the MDC definition of a “fly” in Missouri’s trout parks.

Phil; I think it would be a great idea. I really like the comments the Board members have made in independent post that would be well worth putting in one spot for MDC and DNR to review.

Steve; we had about the same report. We spent the day fishing the upper end so we could stay close to the trucks. I think the cold front Sunday really slowed fishing or else the fisherman were just too darn cold to fish. It was one of those days where the trout would swarm a fly, but not bite. We caught several 15 inch fish and smaller, and had one nice female rainbow just for a few seconds. I saw one nice fish caught on a spinning rod, but didn’t see the lure or the fish to determine how big. I just know it made a heck of a hullabaloo being landed. Surprisingly, folks throwing small spinners were drawing a bite most of the day too. Best flys in our group were San Juan worms fished deep in tan or red, white R&R cadis under an indicator, and dark hackled Cracklebacks stripped across the surface. Just as a reminder, I talked to a couple of folks who were ticketed for not having a trout stamp with their fishing license. Seven bucks for a stamp is cheap compliance to the fine if you’re caught without it.

Yes and sorry phil. The old lodge near the hatchery where tags and tackle are sold. We fished the hatchery end about an hour, but the chocolate milk water slowed the bite. Size 10 crackerbacks with badger hackle worked great until the sun got up. Moved to the head of the trophy section [fish cleaning station], and stayed there the rest of the day. We switched to a tan San Juan worm that worked really well in the riffles. One of our buddies did well on an apricot egg pattern with split shot. The better fish stayed deep. We had three fish in the five pound range, and one big girl in the ten pound or better class still has one of our San Juans. Look me up next time. I drive a creme Ford Explorer with licenses plates "OGRAT 1". Can't miss us. If the grill is out, stop by. We always have plenty. Went through three pounds of smoked baloney. Great stuff.

My fishing buddies and I wade fish a lot of rivers and streams all summer. I’d like to get into floating a canoe, but the ole back can’t handle that any more so we just wade. My favorite is the Sugar and Little Sugar respectively for smallies in that order in Jane and Powell Missouri. Both were great this spring, but the summer drought shut down any reasonable fishing latter this year. A fellow that grew up on the Sugar said it was so low this year you could walk across it without getting your feet wet. You do have to be a little careful on the lower end of Sugar Creek with some irate landowners too. However, the waters in the Powell area are no problem. In Arkansas, the Mulberry River is my favorite. Fishing for smallmouth is not the greatest, but what a beautiful waterway. They have changed the legal length on smallies, so the smallie fishing should improve too. The other problem with the Mulberry is the big slick round boulders and rapids so swift you can’t safely cross them. Felt boots and a wading stick are highly recommended. What I would love to do is learn how to successfully fish smallies with a fly rod. I’ve done good with some crawdad patterns, but mostly catch suckers. Best luck has been with natural shad 4” Razor worms. If I could only fish one river, it would definitey be Big Sugar with the Mulberry close behind.

I’m planning to take vacation tomorrow and hit Roaring River most of the day. If any of you folks are around, look me up at lunch time in the parking lot across from the old lodge. Smoked garlic Baloney sandwiches and a cold brew are on the menu. Steve Smith

I would think that Roaring River and other trout parks would be a little different in that trout are the only game fish in the river. Relaxing the rule would make sense on tail waters with the variety of species to be caught from smallies to walleyes. However, I never really thought about it as I rarely keep trout during the keep season. The folks with multiple staged stringers are having a tougher time getting away now with the extra agents patrolling the park. I hope that continues.

Brian; fishing is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 8AM to 4PM. No daily tag needed during C&R season. You do need a fishing license and a trout stamp to fish. There are maps posted throughout the park indicating the fishing areas. Right now from the Hatchery below the construction tapes to the low water bridge at the end of the park. C&R is fly only season with single hook Rooster Tails and jigs allowed. Fish the hatchery end for trophy trout, and the lower end to escape the crowds. Due to construction, the hatchery end will be pretty silted until Sunday. The lower end much less colored. Tim at Tim's fly shop at the park entrance can give you the best advice as to patterns. Last weekend, size 10 - 12 dark hackled cracklebacks fished dry then stripped back worked well in the early hours. Tan, white, or red san juan worms were hot and cold all day depending on the hole. The big fish discussed was caught by Bob Garrison, Cassville, on a green wooley worm with white hackle. I'll be around this weekend off and on. I drive a creme Ford Explorer with a rod rack, and my vest has a "Flysmith" patch on the back. Grab me and I'll get you into some patterns. RRV; thanks for nudging the rainbow back. If we get together again, I sure like to trade you out of some of those burlap scuds.

RRV; that big fish in your quote [i was feeling pretty proud of my days catch until a guy in the next hole hooked a male rainbow that was every bit of 13lbs and might push 14lbs] was probably my buddy’s fish. He was the catcher and I was the lander. Biggest rainbow I have ever witnessed caught out of Roaring River to date on a wooly. The fish was so exhausted; I just snapped the tippet not wanting the fish to struggle any longer. That big boy had been around for a long time, and exhibited the battle scars to prove it. A very nice fish. Phil; Tim’s web site is the best I know of for the latest on the river. Hatches don’t really seem to matter on Roaring River. I’ve caught good fish on dry flys when I couldn’t keep the ice out of my guides.

Walleye would be a very common catch in any trout water. Walleye are cold water fish, and Rainbow trout are probably the walleye's favorite meal. In my annual trip to Lake of the Woods in Canada, we sometimes use rainbow trout minnows as bait when the walleye won't hit leeches. Since they are almost a buck a piece, we don't use them often, but they alway guarantee a bite. I also fish for them in Roaring River and Beaver tailwaters every winter when they make their spawning run using trapped horny head suckers as bait. I did see an unusual site a few weeks ago on Beaver tailwaters, when a huge walleye swam by my feet. It's not unusual to see walleye, but it is to see a single fish. Walleye normally run in packs like wolves.

I have to try anything new, so I bought the bottom half with the seating tool thinking that was the whole kit. Then I found out you have to buy the SA leader too with the other half of the connector. Since I am a furled leader fan, that certainly didn't work for me. I also appreciate Brian's comment on threading the tip. That is part of the reason I wanted to try it. However if the connector "acts" like float, I might be tempted to buy the other half for a trial. In any case, I heard or read that the connector will hold 10 pounds. Logically, the tippet would snap before the connector, but I'd want to use some glue just in case.

That's it Steve. Except this one was on a 14 -16 barbless dry fly hook. The fly pattern seemed best when the trout scattered out of their feeding lane in the current. Thanks for the help Steve, and thanks to the gentleman who shared the pattern. Definitely one for my fly box.

Any more reports on the fish at Bridgeport on the James?

Crane fly would probably be very close. It's looks like a zebra midge tie with a white rubber body. Thread fly or grub would be the best I could describe it. I'll tie one up and send a picture. Very effective

No barbless restrictions yet. I am tying on the TMC barbless hooks for the C&R season, even though I smash barbs anyway. You just give the fish a little slack, and nine times out of ten, the hook will back out on its own. Ditto on the agents. We have had an excellent agent for years, but it is a lot of river for one guy to patrol. The regulations are pretty vague on releasing fish. MDC had a article on C&R fising stating that the fish can not be taken out of the water. However, the park regs state "release immediately unharmed". I'd be all for barbless and a stronger ruling on release in the water. Too many fish held out too long, and I dispisethe jerk on the bank... then kick release method.

I have a question on a fly that I’m trying to ID. I was fishing Roaring River and having good luck with Cracklebacks when the trout went cold on them. A regular at the river was doing well, so I asked him what he was using. He handed me what looked like a thread worm pattern wet fly. It was a size 14 – 16 barb less dry fly hook with a brass bead head. The body was wrapped with a white rubber band material. I’m not sure if the rubber band body would be legal during C&R, but could easily be replaced with yarn or chenille. The kind gentleman told me the name of the pattern, but I have forgotten. Fished under a foam indicator, the pattern was a winner.

A stamp is all that is needed to fish the parks during C&R. I did real good Saturday and Sunday on a pale dun hackled crackleback. Sometimes on top, and sometimes stripping back. White San Juan worms were a close second, but the crackleback was best. I caught so many trout I felt quilty. A friend had a seven - eight pound rainbow on a big wooley bugger.

Roaring River is only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting at 8 am and ending at 4 pm. You can fish from the taped off construction area at the hatchery down to the low water bridge below the old dam. The bait area below the low water bridge is closed for the season until March 1st. There are maps posted throughout the park showing legal areas to fish, along with the fishing regulations for the C&R season. It would pay to read the map and regulations as a lot of tickets are being written. The C&R season is fly only everywhere in the legal fishing area of the park. Fish have to be released immediately unharmed. Although clearly posted, people continue to fish their plastic baits, stick baits, spoons, and even power bait. Folks who hold a fish out of the water to surgically remove their bait or take pictures will most likely be toe to toe with an agent. Obviously too, you’ll need a fishing license and a trout stamp to fish the no creel season. MDC has added agents too, and that’s a good thing. Expect to have your fly checked, along with your license and trout stamp. It would be worth the trip to the park if you get a chance. Due to construction in the hatchery, almost all the fish were released in the river, and nearly every hole has trophies.

I fished yesterday morning after they shut down two generators. It was a miserable day, but a fellow has to fish when he can. There were a half dozen folks fishing the #3 outlet, standing ankle deep and for the most part fishing at their feet. One fellow caught a nice brown [assuming it was a brown as I was fishing the rebar hole], but far from anything legal. He dragged the fish up on the bank and held it there until a young lady came with what I think was a camera. I went to the truck to warm up, so I don’t know if the fish was kept or released. Either way, the fish was dead for sure. To be honest, I never thought anything over folks fishing the outlet until Phil brought the subject up. I have never fished any of the outlets because I don’t like the crowds. As far as a fishing report, I did well on a furnace hackle Crackleback, but the water was darn near white capping with the wind, and impossible to detect a take.

The same issue in our trout parks during catch and release season. MDC rules clearly states that a fish can not be taken out of the water for pictures or anything else. I don't know how many fish I've seen that are dragged up on the bank and kicked back in the water. Or, hauled three blocks to get a camera out of the truck.

I just got back from a couple of hours on Roaring River this morning for the opener. My boss thought I should show up at work some time today... Imagine that? There is very little flow and the water is murky all the way through the “fly only” zone. The construction continues at the hatchery, which is restricting flow and silting the river. However, the river is absolutely loaded with stockers around 8 to 12 inches, and scattered among the stockers are a few nice breeders. In my thirty years of fishing Roaring River, I have never seen so many fish released at any time during catch and keep or catch and release. I am assuming they released every fish in the hatchery so they can finish the construction or at least it looks that way. As far as patterns, the stockers are fresh from the hatchery and will hit absolutely anything that dimples the water, at least for a day or two. In fact, this weekend would be an idea time to bring a youngster or new fisher. The larger fish are pretty selective and spook easily as can be expected since they haven’t see many humans for a few weeks. The better fish were hitting peach egg patterns, San Juan worms in white or tan, and badger hackled Cracklebacks with peacock herl bodies. That is if they can get to the fly before a stocker sucks it in. In any case, I didn’t see anything much over stocker size caught, but I was only in the park a few hours.