Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

Well... this isn't much of a report because this was my first trip to Roaring River since I was a kid- and that's been along time ago.

I stopped by and talked to Tim at his shop. He's has a very nice shop! I told him I thought I had the largest inventory of flies in the area but he has me beat. He said he built the shop just a year ago and he did a great job!

Headed to the stream- didn't get there till after 10 am. Kinda got lost on the way (not from Tim's shop but from Branson). Went to the head close to the construction and took some pics. Fishing looked slow. Water was very chalky from the chat they were using up towards the spring.

Drove down, looking at the different areas of the stream. I remember some of it- mostly the area up by the lodge. Anglers were hooking fish fairly often but nothing I saw was too big. Most were using egg flies- beaded or on a jig hook- under an indicator. Found out Tim doesn't like indicators... he fished without one when he can.

A bus with about 25 junior high kids at the bottom of zone 2 who were fishing for a class at school- that's what it sounded like. MDC fisheries guys were helping. They didn't dress for the cold wind so the girls were freezing and not fishing much and the boys were fishing but trying to do so with their hands in their pockets. Some anglers were peived because they were moving up and down the bank scaring fish... I think they were looking for an excuse why they weren't catching fish.

I saw a gentleman fighting a large rainbow in the last pool above the old dam at the bottom of zone 2. I photoed him while he was landing it and again got a pic of him holding it. I'd say 6-7 pounds at least. Caught it on a jig- he was Mark McDonald and happened to be a guest of our at the Landing.

Oh yea- I did fish- there in the last pool. I tried zebras from #20 to #16 in black, a scud #18 (crack) and a thread midge and caught 1-2 trout on each. Tried a crackleback which they would midge with their noses. Size- one about 13 inches and the others 9-10 inches. Did see some larger rainbows but didn't stay too long- had to get back.