C & R Report

[Roaring River Veteran]

Slipped down to the river for a couple of hours between family gatherings.

I have been fishing Roaring River All of my life and fly fishing Roaring River for the last 20 or 21 years I forget exactly. In that time I have only seen one C & R Season as good, and that was back in the early 90's. I fished for two hours today and I am tired from catching so many fish. The real story are the big fish in the river. My second fish of the day was a 26" female. I would guess her in the 11 lb range. I moved up one hole, and caught a 25" female that I would guess in the 10 lb range. I must confess though that this fish was hooked on the outside of the mouth so technically was a foul hooked fish. I released her and caught a couple more small fish and then caught the same 25" fish a second time on the same fly. The second time was a legal hook. 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. All fish were released unharmed and the warden even took pictures with my camera for me. If they don't turn out we can blame the state.

I was fishing an old favorite of mine, The Burlap, size 16 and 14. on a 6x tippet and a 5 wt rod. My wife had the digital camera at family things so you will have to wait until I get the film developed to see pictures, But you can go catch your own. The river is packed with big fish.

good luck and good fishing

[MOBass]

Slipped down to the river for a couple of hours between family gatherings.

I have been fishing Roaring River All of my life and fly fishing Roaring River for the last 20 or 21 years I forget exactly. In that time I have only seen one C & R Season as good, and that was back in the early 90's. I fished for two hours today and I am tired from catching so many fish. The real story are the big fish in the river. My second fish of the day was a 26" female. I would guess her in the 11 lb range. I moved up one hole, and caught a 25" female that I would guess in the 10 lb range. I must confess though that this fish was hooked on the outside of the mouth so technically was a foul hooked fish. I released her and caught a couple more small fish and then caught the same 25" fish a second time on the same fly. The second time was a legal hook. 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. All fish were released unharmed and the warden even took pictures with my camera for me. If they don't turn out we can blame the state.

I was fishing an old favorite of mine, The Burlap, size 16 and 14. on a 6x tippet and a 5 wt rod. My wife had the digital camera at family things so you will have to wait until I get the film developed to see pictures, But you can go catch your own. The river is packed with big fish.

good luck and good fishing

I am still new to this fly fishing thing. What does a Burlap look like? I have scuds, a few drys, glo balls, san juan worms, and some wooly buggers.

[Phil Lilley]

Tim- what's the best roaring river website for information?

[Leonard]

Im not Tim....

But I have the website listed in my favorites...

http://www.missouritrout.com/timsflyshop/report.html

I just hope it works

[Phil Lilley]

I wanted more info on the park- rules, areas to fish, what to expect river-wise, conditions, hatches, flows, # of fish stocked... that kind of thing.

[Roaring River Veteran]

A burlap is a scud pattern tied out of a burlap bag. simply take the strands out of the bag and use them as body material. I like to also use a few wraps of lead wire around the shank for weight. I have used them for years in several states and a couple of different countries. But they really seem to work best here in the ozarks.

[MOBass]

A burlap is a scud pattern tied out of a burlap bag. simply take the strands out of the bag and use them as body material. I like to also use a few wraps of lead wire around the shank for weight. I have used them for years in several states and a couple of different countries. But they really seem to work best here in the ozarks.

Thank you for the info. I actually have a few of these that I have taken out of trout at Taney. I am always amazed out how much jewelry some of these fish wear. I have even removed drift rigs from fish that are mostly rusted out and the line covered in moss.

I was going to make the drive over tomorrow and get in on some of the C & R but the weather window is iffy and it is about a 2 hour haul for me so I'll pass for now. Hope the big one don't get too sore mouthed.

[Steve Smith]

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.

[Roaring River Veteran]

Steve,

give your friend congrats from me. That was a fine fish. I went up the that hole after you all left to have a look around and the big boy was sitting just off of the bank in prime snagging position, I was able to reach his tail and give him a nudge to get him going. I don't think he realized he had been let go. when I left he was cruising and ready to go again.

congrats again

[Brian K. Shaffer]

What are the hours and times again that one can fish ?

How much is it again ?

I plan on hitting R/R this weekend if all works out ;-0

best fishes - Brian