March 15, 2023
The water is in great shape, and the river was running 144CFS as of Sunday morning, which is not too bad since we’ve had quite a bit of rain.
The river is not muddy but it is not clear. It has that green murky look to it, but it makes for good fishing.
We have had some pretty good fishing this week on elk hair Caddis and blue wing olives Griffith gnats, and we caught quite a few fish caught on Beetles already. I know it’s early, but they’re hitting them right now. Stimulators also called a few fish the last few days.
The best fishing is probably in the upper end right now just because the water is a little clearer.
The C&R area is full of nice trout right now, several pushing 8 pounds, and lots of nice 3and 4-pound trout. Big buggers, sculpins, bigger streamers are doing well in the lower sections (zone 2 and zone 3). San. Juan worms are really good right now, pink, yellow and white have been really good this past week.
Mega worms are also doing well in the same colors. Mop flies in orange, chartreuse, and cream have been very good also.
Traditional nymphs and good right now. Pheasant tails, sow bugs, copper johns, prince nymphs and black zebra midges are working well. As for leaders, use 6X leaders for nymphs, 5X for buggers and 4X for bigger streamers, but dry fly fishing is still better with 7X, and 9’ leaders are best right now.
As usual, 2- or 4-pound line is recommended right now, and 2-pound is always better.
White spinners were good all week, and the fluorescent Orange spinners did very well also. Gold spoons were very effective this past week. They usually work great anytime the water is murky and higher than usual.
Plastic baits were good as usual. The cheese crawler was really good this week. Pink was pretty good also.
Pink eggs, white eggs, and fluorescent yellow eggs were really good in the murky water. White worms, and the fluorescent orange worms were good this week. Marabou jigs, are still working; black/yellow, white, brown and the olive were the best colors this week.
Good luck on the river this next week.
Roaring River State Park trout-fishing tips are provided by Tim Homesley, owner of Tim’s Fly Shop, located at 23387 Hwy. 112.
