Steve Smith

That's a good deal Tim. I heard they were moving one of those pit toliets down to the ball field at the old dam. That's really needed in that part of the park.

I was wondering about that Tim. After the first flood, the fill under that log dam was really washed out to the point very little water was coming over the top. Wonder if they will use the "horseshoe" design there too?

I agree 100% with Murdoc. I don't think the fly fishers frown on spinning rods in the fly only zone as long as it's done legally. In my case, illegal baiters drive me crazy along with people who can't read signs clearly posted along the river like "no wading", "no fishing on this bank", etc. There are lots of people with flyrods that can be just a rude and overbearing.

Talking about floods, me and my buddy got this brillant idea to try Kerr Access on the James for some smallies Saturday morning. The Weather Channel indicated we would eventually be welcomed by clearing skies. About the time we hit the Galena city limits, the sky opened up. Figured it would be short lived so we kept on truckin'. Got to Kerr and the entrance roadway was as big a river as the James was with water pouring off every bluff in buckets. Looked like the Mulberry coming down the hill. Ended up back at Roaring River which was not such a bad deal afterall. I don't think I've seen that much rain in such a short time ever in my life. Man, there was water running everywhere.

Haven't been around lately as that thing called work has been getting in the way. It should be a great long weekend to fish, but not sure of how crowded it's going to be. Normally, the park is not too busy on the 4th, but with gas prices who knows. Last weekend, cracklebacks were real good too so I expect that will continue. Like Tim reported, just about any pattern will work right now in the right hole at the right place. The color and flow is perfect. The dry flys were best for me close to brush and along the foam seams. Don't forget the egg patterns under an indiicator deep.

Bump

73 - live in Cassville and so far light showers all day. No heavy rains. I think the big stuff went north. Water should be in good shape for the weekend.

Just picked up a tag at 4 PM yesterday, and the sun was shining - river looked clear and great. Fish were midging meaning dry fly time. By 4:30 it was hailing, followed by hard rain, followed by more hail. By 6:00 the river rose over a foot, and was pure chocolate colored. Called it a day

Went to Roaring River at lunch time, and the river is looking really good. The flow is still up, but the levels are where they were just before the last flood. You can see maybe a foot or so down like Tim wrote. The fall Gates are still open, but the Dry Hollow flow is clear and minimal. The log that dammed the hatchery pool is washed out under it, with very little flow over the top. It's a wonder that the force of the water didn't take that log completely out. One guy with a spinning rig caught a nice rainbow out of the north fall's foam at the hatchery pool. I'd guess it between eight and nine pounds. At least eight easily.

I really struggled Saturday, but Sunday was great. Cracklebacks and elk hair caddis were great in the slow moving pools. Olive woolies were even better, but enjoyed the dry fly fishing most

Went down to Roaring River at lunchtime, and the fishing is going to be tough this weekend. The gates on the falls at the hatchery look to be wide open and the walkways are covered. At the point where Dry Hollow runs in downstream is rolling and the worst of it. There is far more water coming down Dry Hollow than out of the hatchery. The handicap platform in the fly area is underwater, along with the old dam, which is completely submerged. It’s going to take dynamite to catch a fish for a few days. Good news is the reports are backing down the possibility of more rain this afternoon and tonight. That could change too.

John; I saw your truck, but never caught up with you down at the old dam. I did run into to Ronnie [Fly Smallie] though about the time I was ready to leave. I wasn’t having much luck on anything consistently. Egg patterns, brown or green beetles, fur bugs, cracklebacks, and woolies would work for a while, but just caught stockers. I decided to try midges, but was out of foam indicators, so I tied on a foam hopper for an indicator with a zebra dropper. I got the hopper in one of OA’s fly swaps. Go figure… the trout torn up the hopper until it was absolutely beyond repair. I agree with John on the game wardens... good to see them cracking down on people. Catch you next time John.

Zach; wish I'd ran into you. Had to leave early due to that thing called a job. It always gets in the way. Dano; hate to bring this up, but today would have been your kind of day. Midging heavy at noon near the hatchery.

I dropped down to the park at lunchtime, and the roads are all clear. There was not a soul fishing the park except for a bald eagle and a crane. I caught a quick fish or two again on a brown beetle, but had to get back to work. There is still time to fish if you can get here, but the roads Cassville south are all clear. We have a pair of bald eagles in the park this year that are just beautiful. The male must have a three foot wingspan or more. I hope they stay through the summer.

I got into Cassville with no problems this morning from Shell Knob, and the gravel trucks were heading down 112 Hwy, so I'd say they have treated Roaring River hill by now. Not as much ice here as the folks to the north. Roads are slick, but not unpassable, and it's now just very light rain. We fished RR alll weekend, and spoke with Leonard on Saturday. Dry fly fishing was great after the sun hit the river. San Juan worms filled in the gaps. Had a blast with brown beetles - at times several fish would try to take it at once. Tried James River Saturday for some suckers, but the James was up and too murky for fly rods.

The girls would need a trout stamp if they fish during the C&R season. Note that catch and release ends next Monday 2/11. Then catch and keep starts March 1st, and a daily tag is required, but a trout stamp is not required. Stamps are required by everyone only during the C&R season in Roaring River. The spin casters would be fine if you tie on a short section of two pound test so not to spook the fish. Pick up some egg patterns - peach and cheese colored to start. Get a bottle of Gink Floatant and some spit shot. Give the eggs a good dose of floatant and place a split shot about six to eight inches above the egg. The idea here is to sight fish the egg patterns, and you want the fly to float ABOVE the spit shot just off the bottom. Have the girls watch the eggs, and when they disappear, set the hook. Tim's fly shop can help with the flys. He probably has some other techniques just as effective.

If you haven’t been to Roaring River lately, some pretty cool changes have been made from the Hatchery to F Hwy Bridge. Or at least it looks good and makes sense to me. Along with the new pool [dam] at the beginning of the trophy area, much of the concrete slabs have been replaced with rock, and ledges have been formed like a horseshoe. Jim Hopkins, our Park Ranger said the horseshoe shaped falls are supposed to help keep the holes from filling in. They have also made the runs deeper and added big boulders to provide trout with shelter from the current. It is hard to tell yet how much depth they had added to the pools as the water still somewhat off-colored. All in all, the changes look more natural and have added some challenges to stream fishing. The bad news is no changes were made in the area from the F Hwy. Bridge to the old dam. At least I couldn’t note any, and doubt that it will be done this year. All of the heavy equipment seems to be gone now. Tim H.; if you are reading this; you know many of the Park Management and MDC people. The portable potty situation in Roaring River is inexcusable in the park this year. It’s not a problem for us old-man farts that can find a tree, but the female visitors should not have to tolerate the filth. Not only is there not enough units… they are full to overflowing with waste, and disgusting. With all the money we spend on tags, licenses, and taxes, it seems like the units could be occasionally flushed out. I should have snapped a picture, sent it to MDC, and asked them if they would want their wife, daughter, or granddaughter to use those toilets. Unacceptable for anyone for that matter in my opinion.

I second the Happy Hollow Resort that Ozark mentioned. Clean, with kitchenettes, and great folks running the place. Just talk to Brenda at happyhollow@tri-lakes.net. (417) 779-4360. Boat ramp, fairly new covered dock, etc.

Yeah! When you don't have a job you can get away with "being forced to fish"!!

Terry; your killing me man

Morgan; talk to Tim at Tim's Fly Shop near Roaring River. He's made a few trips to NZ, and can probably give you a bunch of tips.

I don't think you missed a thing Dano. Saturday and Sunday were just miserable. I would have been more comfortable fishing the afternoons, but my job keeps me fishing early morning, and you get what you get. We did well on cheese egg patterns mostly or anything bright. After the sun came up, dry fly fishing was great, but nothing to write home about. I went down today at lunch, and the park was deserted with just a few fishing. Water still has good color and flow, although reduced somewhat.

Talking about Wal-Marts, they generally run their Scientific Angler rods marked off this time of year. My wife picked up a SA 5/6 weight rod for $20 last year at a Wally Worlds. I think it was a return. It is not my Sage or even a TFO, but very functional. WW Griggs and Eagle Claw sell very functional fiberglass rods too. My kids bought me a WW Griggs rod, reel, and line outfit I use for smallies on the creek. The whole outfit was less than $60.00. Garage sales and flea markets are another source, but harder to find. There are very reasonable alternatives out there.

I will be around Saturday morning as far as I know. Most likely the upper end. If your around, look for a cream colored Explorer and say howdy

Congrats big John to you and mom.