Roaring Fork

[Barbara]

This was the trip I was finally going to Greenbrier but hubby Jack got a "bug". This morning he was better and we went to Roaring Fork thinking it was not as far as Greenbrier in case he wanted to come back early. I fished while he checked out the neat sites there. With all the talk about stressing the fish I was extra careful, used barbless hook and released the fish as quick as possible.

I thought it was high enough there that I might catch a brookie but all I caught were rainbows, from 3" to 10". I saw one larger but could not get him to hit. After the first ten fish I quit counting. Every plunge pool had rainbow. Usually I caught one, occasionally two from a pool. Of course, sometimes I didn't catch any! Every fish was released and shot back into the water in apparent good health. One got off as I brought it in and flopped into a pool with no outlet to the stream. You guys would have laughed watching me try to catch him with my hands! Finally dug a little trench and drained out some water and then caught him in the shallows and put him in the stream. Even that one took off like a bat out of you know where.

I love that kind of fishing, rock hopping and stalking the trout. I know it is not the way to catch a big fish but it sure is FUN! I was amazed at how the trout would rise, see me or sometimes I think see the rod over the pool and just sink back down or shoot off and disappear. I learned a lot about stalking.

Now I have very sore leg muscles and something tells me tomorrow morning getting out of bed will be a challenge. But worth it....saw 1 deer, 2 turkeys, and miles of the most beautiful stream scenery. This is a wonderful place.

[Gerry Romer]

Congrats!! Now that's my kind of fishing. Yeah the muscles will feel it in the morning... your face muscles from all that grinnin'

Gerry

[Barbara]

Gerry,

You are right!! Sometimes I laughed out loud at one of those wild rainbow jumps and strikes. If anybody had been around, they would have thought....crazy woman alert!

[tennswede]

Barbara!

Did you check the water temp? I'm kind of curious for future trips I might take.

thanks

[nvr2L8]

Barb,

You're killing me! What a great time.

Keep on fishin.

[Barbara]

Hans,

I did not think to check the water temperature. I wish I had. I caught a fish on my second cast and that pretty much did it for my brain for the rest of the day. Sorry.

Barbara

[Gerry Romer]

That's what we call "Trout Fried"!

[ijsouth]

Great post...I've been intrigued by that stream - everything I've read about it says it's a hidden gem. I'm curious about the temps there, too...one thing is for certain - from what I've read, that stream has quite a gradient to it, so it doesn't lack for aeration.

[Rog 1]

My son considers this his stream and I must ask permission before I fish it....was wondering what part of the stream you were fishing and what the water levels were like.....if you were in the gorge at the lower end I can understand the aching muscles.....there are some places down there that you just cannot navigate without making like a mountain goat.

[PeteCz]

I guess I'm asking the same question as a few of the guys above...did you fish from the Trillium Gap Trail (near Grotto Falls @3500'), off the Grapeyard Ridge Trail @2400' or somewhere along the Roaring Fork Rd?

Glad to hear that had fun. Climbing and fishing off the beaten track allows you to fish some water that gets very little attention...