I'm not new to fishing, but I'm honestly very mediocre at fly fishing. We're doing the annual family Roaring River State Park in Missouri fishing trip for rainbow trout in October. I want to tag out, or at least have enough for dinner. Any suggestions for types of flies and how you'd have them act in the water? Thanks in advance!
Posted by Alpacamybag14
9 Comments
Do they stock fish there? Do you have any local fly shop you can talk to?
Bottom of that last break water. Far side where it’s darker. That’s where I would start. To be fair I tend to use spinner reels. Mostly here because I want to be better at fly fishing
Cracklebacks, zebra midges, scuds, Elk Hair Caddis and trico/PMD spinners. Midges under an indicator with pretty much always produce. Just remember to mend and get a clean drift.
Work your spot from the outside in. If you’re not seeing bug activity into October, try some nymphs or streamers.
I’ve fished stocked streams in MO like RR a dozen or so times. I’ve caught them on everything from squirmy wormys to hoppers. My tip is to try and be the first one in the water. I can’t remember if RR has a start time, but some of them have sun up to sun down time limit. Wooly buggers (white or black) work great too. I’ve caught them just dead drifting a wooly bugger in the current while twitching it every couple of minutes. I truly think the key is being up early though. The fish will probably see a lot of lures/flies throughout the day so if you can be the first one they see, your odds go way up. I hope this helps and good luck!
Roaring river trout love beetle flies for some reason. Also use pink eggs and red San Juan’s. I’ve caught a lot of fish on those flies there. Wooly buggers also always work. Black ones on cloudy days and olive or brown ones on brighter days
Dynamite
Deeper pools like in the right side – figure out where the fish sit. Usually deep in the middle or right to the side of a current rift so they can bounce in and out of the current for food.
I’d use a double nymph setup – something likes a hares ear as top fly, and some smaller midge on the bottom as a basic go-to. Have your indicator setup to where it “ticks” off the bottom every 5 seconds or so.
If top hits are occurring, use a dry dropper setup.
Better sneak on them and that slow clear water. Stay low and try not to be visible. Once you get into position try to stay still 10 minutes or so until they aren’t so spooky.