Fishing Report 8/7-8/8

[vanven]

Thursday 8/7

Fished the catch and release area from about 11am until 6pm. Started with a black and yellow foam beetle. Tossing it against the bank and the far side of the pools near the Dry Hollow dam. Had a ton of looks but not enough takes. I talked to another fisherman that lived near the park. He said most of the beetles on his property become a lot less active during the heat of the day, generally after 10am. This was enough to convince me to try another patterm. As I switched flies it started to thunder a bit and sprinkle. The thunder in Roaring River sounds different than any place I have ever heard it. I am sure it has to do with the steep valley, but it always sounds so clear like it is right next to you. It started to sprinkle and then rain and then pour. With no lightning I retreated to the shelter of a big dense tree and continued to fish. All the surface disturbance ended my dry fly fishing and I went to a hairs ear nymph. I picked up a few fish through the rain. At least it was a warm rain. The water began to cloud just a bit and I noticed a lot more small debris in the water. Leaves and small stuff washed off the shoreline and all the stuff in the water got me thinking that stuff like worms might be washing in as well. I decided to switch to one of the shammy worms that Tim had talked me into buying. I will admit that I had zero expectation of anything so ugly catching fish. SHAMWOW! I had takes on the first 6 drifts and the action continued for the next couple hours. I actually ended the day with very pruney hands and well over 30 fish. The best fish was a 19 inch rainbow that actually made me use my drag and made a couple very impressive and acrobatic runs. It was a very good day.

Friday 8/8

Got to the park and started fishing about 8am. I started up at the start of zone 2 with the beetle again. Lots of looks and only a couple takes. Tried the shammy worm with very little luck. Finally picked up a few under the bridge on a couple different midge patterns. It was basically switch flies, catch one fish, then they would wise up until I swapped again. There were a lot of kids in the water all the way through zone 2. I have no clue how they can stand to be in there for hours on end. It is cold! Headed back to Kansas City around noon with a grand total of 5 fish caught on the day.

Overall it was a good couple days of fishing. I would still really like to try and fish zone three and on down below the park on my next trip when I am likely to have a bit more time. I love fishing zone 2 but there are some big stretches of it that are just plain unproductive for me. Maybe this winter during catch and release I can get some time to explore a bit more.

-Jerod

[Dawgsquat]

Nice report. Thanks.

[Poke 'Em]

That was my experience last weekend as well - that fish would look at the beetle but not take it. Even with 7X tippet.

So mid-afternoon, we finally tried a brown beetle, and that was the ticket. The look to take ratio went from about 10:1 to probably 2:1.