May 31, 2023

As of Sunday, the water is low and clear at 39 CFS, perfect for dry flies and sight-fishing with marabou jigs and worms.

We have really good quality water right now. Beetles, ants, small hoppers, caddis, blue wing olives, Griffiths gnats, and lt. cahills are all catching trout right now. Using 9’ 7X leaders will really be your best bet with the small dries.

I’m still getting by with 9’ 6X leaders when using nymphs, buggers, egg patterns and crackle backs. Sow bugs, scuds, pheasant tails, pink San Juan worms and hares ears all worked pretty good this past week.

Marabou jigs are really working good. The olive, black/ yellow, white and the tan have all been productive lately. For those fishing plastics, make sure and have some white, pink and natural fish oil salmon eggs. The yellow and the pink 1-inch grubs are also still working very well.

White worms and pink worms were working well all last week. The 30-minute wonders (spinners) are still good for 30 minutes or so in the morning, just like 4-pound line. Twopound line is recommended right now, and camo line is horrible in this water.

Stick with moss green lines and lines that are clear, blue, yellow or white. Braiding also does not work well when the water is this clear.

Good luck on the river this week!

Roaring River State Park trout-fishing tips are provided by Tim Homesley, owner of Tim’s Fly Shop, located at 23387 Hwy. 112.