How much bank fishing is available at Roaring River?

[Flyfisher for men]

I'm thinking about taking a fishing trip with a very spry 90 year old. Am I correct to think Roaring River would be easy for him to bank fish and give him plenty of water? He'll fish with spinning tackle or bait,  but does not use a fly rod. 

As far as mobility, he golfs several times a week and can step down into a creek bank with little hesitation, but I wouldn't want to see him trying to negotiate lots of rocks, rip-rap, steep slopes, etc.  I'm looking for grassy slopes or gravel. 

For comparison purposes, I'm very familiar with Bennett Spring, but pictures and a very old memory of Roaring River suggests it has more bank fishing than Bennet Spring. 

[tjm]

At a guess a  1 1/2-2  miles of it is bank fishing only, no wading and all of Zone 1 from the hatchery out flow to Dry Hollow is, and you can  park within 40-70' of the water. Probably 1/2 of Zone 2 (1/2 mile +?) is bank fishing but a longer walk from the car,  perhaps up to a couple hundred yards of pretty flat mowed ground. There is not much easy access in Zone 3. Three  ADA accesses, two in Z-1 and one in Z-2. All of the water in the developed part of the park is easy access in my  70+  opinion, even the C&R wading section of Z-2.

I don't think there is much comparison with BSSP, the way I recall BSSP from 20-30 years ago. 

Fly fishing in the park usually means spinning gear and Rooster Tails, so it's all open to him from that aspect.

[Flyfisher for men]

On 6/12/2021 at 5:37 PM, tjm said:

At a guess a  1 1/2-2  miles of it is bank fishing only, no wading and all of Zone 1 from the hatchery out flow to Dry Hollow is, and you can  park within 40-70' of the water. Probably 1/2 of Zone 2 (1/2 mile +?) is bank fishing but a longer walk from the car,  perhaps up to a couple hundred yards of pretty flat mowed ground. There is not much easy access in Zone 3. Three  ADA accesses, two in Z-1 and one in Z-2. All of the water in the developed part of the park is easy access in my  70+  opinion, even the C&R wading section of Z-2.

I don't think there is much comparison with BSSP, the way I recall BSSP from 20-30 years ago. 

Fly fishing in the park usually means spinning gear and Rooster Tails, so it's all open to him from that aspect.

Thanks for the reply, tjm.  He could probably manage all of the areas you describe.

There's some areas you could bank fish in all three zones of Bennett Spring but we'd be looking at less total water and the possibility that a wading fisher might be standing there. That doesn't sound likely in much of Roaring River. 

Roaring River is sounding better. My only knock is that they don't let you use actual live bait till zone three. We could manage it in all likelihood.

[2sheds]

Plenty of easy bank access at Roaring River SP. 

Be sure to stop by Tim's Fly Shop (1 mile north on H 112 on west side) and he will have great advice on where and what will be best for your dad.  You should also google his weekly RRSP fishing report so you come prepared for best success.  

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

If he is a golfer, I would suspect he should have no problems with mobility at Roaring River.   It is a beautiful park, lots of easy access.  

[Flyfisher for men]

Hey, thanks for the new replies. 

 

We'll be traveling together this week, and I'll bounce all of this off of him. 

 

 

[Nick Adams]

Yes, definitely places for him to fish, especially up near the hatchery. The first 5 or 6 holes at least, then there are some other handicap accessible spots throughout. Tim posts on Instagram often. rrtroutgod I believe. And it's mostly no wading anyway.