Tim's Roaring River Fishing Report

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Tim Homesley has been fishing Roaring River State Park for over 30 years, and has fished an average of 300 days per year for the last 23 years.

In addition to his own outstanding experience on the local streams and lakes, Tim also has access to the experience of the three guides he runs out of his shop.

You can always get the up-to-the-minute fishing information you need by stopping by Tim's Fly Shop!

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, griffith's 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 a lot 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.

- Updated 6/30/08

5 1/4 pound rainbow caught on a white thread jig by Trenton Wecker of Topeka KS. Trenton, 12, was fishing Roaring River with his grandfather when he caught this trophy on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.

For the latest water conditions from the USGS, log on to http://waterdata.usgs.gov:80/nwis/uv?07050152 .

Opening Day 2008 Photos