June 30th Fishing Report, Roaring River State Park

[timsfly]

Well the rains came and went last week, and the river rose a few inches and got muddy, it is a bit off colored now, sight fishing can be done but only in a few areas. The river is getting better everyday, I went down this morning, about 7:30 and caught 5 on a copper john in about an hour of fishing, missed several also.

Yesterday evening I landed 7 on a black beetle, and missed a few other than those. The caddis hatches are still going strong as are the tricos in the mornings, and you can catch fish most all day long on adams, elk hair caddis, beetles, stimualators, griffiths gnats(slower waters), renegades and we are still catching a few on hoppers.

If you prefer nymphs, then you are in luck, copper johns, pheasant tail nymphs, sow bugs, prince nymphs and brassies are all producing right now, I fish most of these in a #14 or a #16 right now. Zebra midges trailed behind any of the previous flies mentioned are working well, as are micro eggs.

Egg patterns, woolybuggers, woolyworms, and san juan worms have all taken some nice fish this week.

If you are fishing lures, then a spoon is a good choice, the little cleo, kastmaster, colorado, and the phobe spoons are all good, I prefer gold over silver.

Small crankbaits like wee craws, rapalas, crickhoppers, and about any small minnow patter 3" or smaller work pretty good in the murky water we have right now.

Roostertails are still a good early morning choice, green, black, skunk, and white are what I suggest you use right now.

Fishing with the crankbaits and spoons, 3 or 4 lb line is ok, but when fishing the smaller lighter lures, 2lb is still best, don't go any heavier than 3lb right now, and stay away from blue, clear/blue or braided lines, they don't work so well here at the park, your best choices are maxima, p-line, or vanish.

Marabou jigs are still catching alot of fish, black/yellow, olive, white, tan, and brown have all been good colors.

If you are fishing salmon eggs, white, brown, flo. yellow and the orange are working the best.

If you are fishing the plastic worms, then the cheese yellow, orange, orange/white, or the pink have all been working very well all week.

Nightcrawlers in zone 3 have been effective, as has the rainbow powerbait paste, some good fish being caught on corn also.

good luck see ya on the river.

[Flysmallie]

Dang Tim, it sounds like they will hit just about anything.

I gotta get down there and get in on some of that beetle action. Is it better early or late in the day?

Hey Dano, wanna go beetle fishing? I'll let you stand in your favorite spot all day.

[timsfly]

The late aftenoon is my favorite time to beetle fish, but they wil take them about anytime right now.

[Steve Smith]

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.

[Danoinark]

Dang Tim, it sounds like they will hit just about anything.

I gotta get down there and get in on some of that beetle action. Is it better early or late in the day?

Hey Dano, wanna go beetle fishing? I'll let you stand in your favorite spot all day.

Ronnie, the same thing has been getting in my way as Steve...dang work.

But I have got to find a day to get up there for the action. Wonder if I can reserve that spot...

[Flysmallie]

I hear you guys on the work part. Between that and the floods I haven't been any where in awhile, except a little crappie fishing on Stockton. I was supposed to float the James a couple of weeks ago, it flooded. And I was supposed to float Flat Creek Saturday, it flooded. And of course I've been three times as busy this year.

Dano, I'll see what I ca do about reserving you a spot. Maybe we can fence that part of the river off for you!

[Steve Smith]

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.