Roaring River
White Ribbon Area Fishing Reports This page was updated 7/23/06
This report was submitted by Leroy Johnson of St. Louis on 7/22/06
Date of Trip: 7/15/06 Times fished: Morning Air Temperature: Balmy Weather: Sunny Water Level: Below Average Water quality: Gin clear What worked: 3" Plastic Trout Worms
Parked at a gravel parking lot on the side of the highway opposite of the river, downstream from the park. This was kind of a
spur of the moment trip, so I hadn't really done any research on access points. I attempted to go straight down the hill, through the
woods, but I ended up on top of a 10' bluff, so I went back up and walked down the highway to a gravel road. I was disappointed
at first, because there were signs that said "danger, sewage treament", but I was sure the path led down to the river and it did.
The hole at the end of the path was full of rainbows, I tried some flies (pheasant tail, zug bug, mohair leech, clouser minnow),
but no takers. I then tried the trout worm, got some hits, but no hookups. I even tried crawfish tail, same story. I switched back
to flies and caught a whole bunch of chub minnows. I finally got fed up with them and cut a square inch piece of meat off of one
and threw it out on a #6 hook (still on flyrod). Ihad a lot of fish hit it but i wasn't able to hook up. I headed upstream with a
plastic worm tied on and finally hooked into a rainbow in a riffle, landed it and it was about 13-14", released it and moved
upstream. Hooked, landed and released another rainbow, about the same size. The last fish of the day was a smaller rainbow
(about 10") in a pool close to the park. I didnt see another person until I was within visual distance of the park. My dad fished
in the park and also caught 3 fish (on rooster tail) including a little 3" one (i wonder how that got in there?).
Roaring River's White Ribbon Area is totally underrated and largely ignored by Missouri's trout
fishermen. Not only does it have a great resident trout population, but it also holds a good number
of browns, including a good amount of legitimate trophy-sized fish. Most visitors will stay in the
park. Those that venture away generally move toward Taneycomo or Crane Creek. Almost every fisherman
you'll meet there will live within 30 miles, meaning it takes a true local to find the true honey holes!
Thanks a ton, Leroy, for our very first Roaring River White Ribbon Area fishing report. After 4 years
online, it's about darn time!!
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