"filling Me In Softly": Sung To The Tune Of "killing Me Softly"

[lpinga]

Most of you are too young to remember the old wild and raucous stream that used to run with abandon from the spring to the river.

And you probably won't remember the old wood dam that was replaced with the "new" concrete dam.

For many years the span between the old dam and the new offered one of the deepest, widest and best "holes" in the stream.

Fishermen standing on the old dam would have to use a spinning rod to reach the new dam. Those of us preferring fly rods could stand on the dam and enjoy hours of fishing with hardly any contact with other fly lines, etc.

But over the years that "hole" and many others (e.g., the old Sycamore hole) have slowly filled in with silt and rock.

Fishermen are now able to practically wade from the fly area to the 'new' dam!!

The stream may never regain some of the velocity it once had, but one would hope the DNR will eventually see it in their plans to dredge some of the old holes in order to restore some of the great features that used to define the stream.

We'll keep fighting the moss if you'll just dredge some of the old fishing grounds. (e.g., the Bluff hole being another example)

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't remember the wooden dam, but I do remember there was a deep hole above the new one. I do remember a lot of holes and runs that are gone now. The spring boiled at one time so there is probably some loss there. I can remember my cousin who was about 13 at the time, falling about a hundred yards above the dam and he rolled several times before he could get his feet under him. That would have been '59 or '60. The hole under the Rock bridge was deep and dark as late as the 80's and held a lot of lukers. The big fish would come out from under the bridge at twilight and head for the fish cleaning areas.

I wish they would shut it down until they do a major dredging, even if it went into he summer season.

[timsfly]

Maybe the MDC will do some dredging, they have been dredging here at Roaring River most of the winter, they have taken hundreds of truck loads of gravel out this year

[Wayne SW/MO]

I hope so Tim. I also hope RR doesn't get Rogerized.

RR was the source my first, trout, I was with a group of scouts and we camped there, '54 I think. I do remember it came on a grab bag black, yellow and orange streamer.

[timsfly]

Well they dig here a lot, dry hollow is dumping gravel into Roaring River all the time, every flood refills the area beside the fish cleaning station, and carries lots of gravel down below, I'm glad they dig it out, it is different everytime they do it, so sometimes better sometimes not so much, but always different, not like its a wild trout stream, it has to

used by many, many, many people in a years time, so it has to worked on a lot to make it useable.

If it wasn't man maintained it would only be a few short years and the fly area would only be a few feet deep it entire length, and wouldn't hold trout very well.

I do wish they would look at opening up more of zone 3, they could do bank work and habitat work down there for years and really extend the use of the water in

the park.

[Wayne SW/MO]

My first trip to RR, zone 3 was a lake with paddle boats for rent. I still remmebr that the short stretch of stream between F and the lake was heavily wooded on the banks and thick with water snakes.

[ruthead]

Really enjoy hearing the old stories. Would anybody have any pic of the way it used to look, ie; the wood dam etc? It would be cool to see.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Actually I believe I have some taken at Bennett, circa early 60's, but unfortunately they are on 35mm slides.

[ruthead]

At least u got 'em on something.

[Flysmallie]

Actually I believe I have some taken at Bennett, circa early 60's, but unfortunately they are on 35mm slides.

We should get those converted.