Fishing Season: March 1 through October 31; Winter catch and release,weekends, Nov through Feb

Roaring River State Park - MO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

55

River Run Outfitters's Tip of the Week

Park is now open Friday through Monday for catch and release season only.

Directions open in app

Map of Roaring River State Park

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

River Run Outfitters

5-Day Outlook as of 1/14/25

Had a heavy snow fall go through last Friday. Just now melting out and expect this week to be very nice Thursday and Friday. Cold snap coming through again over the weekend. Best nymphs right now would be scuds, pheasant tails, hare's ears, Copper John's, and burlaps. Mainly 16 and smaller.

Techniques & Tips as of 1/14/25

Olive woolly buggers in the morning, but olive green and sometimes white can be pretty good too. Nymphing is always good, pheasant tails, gold ribbed hares ears, scuds, burlaps, copper johns, and zebra midges have all been good, #18's and smaller, not fishing many flies bigger than a #16.

Local Species Available March 1 through October 31; Winter catch and release,weekends, Nov through Feb

  • Fish Icon

    Rainbow

River Run Outfitters's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Cracklebacks green 12-16
Wooly Buggers olive, black 14-10
Adams N/A 20

Cracklebacks

Image Not Found

Item #

Buy Now

River Run Outfitters's Recommended Gear

Description: About Roaring River State Park

By the early 1900s, Roaring River had been discovered as an ideal place for fishing retreats. In 1928, Thomas Sayman, a St. Louis businessman, bought 2,400 acres surrounding the river and, within a month, donated the land to the state. Many of the park's existing facilities were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, including some of the buildings that make up Camp Smokey, the park's organized group camp. Today, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources administers the park. Roaring River Spring originates in a deep canyon like gorge beneath a high cliff. A trickling flow of water falls from the bluff into a deep blue pool below, and an average of 20 million gallons of water gush from the spring daily. Young and old alike enjoy feeding and watching the fish in the spring pool. Roaring River, stocked regularly by the park's hatchery, which is managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation, is known for its premier trout fishing. Fishing licenses and tags are available in the park store, which also sells fishing equipment, tackle, camping supplies and groceries. A daily tag is required and the stream is zoned in areas for legal fishing fishing tackle, i.e. flies, lures, and bait.

Nearest Airport:

Springfield Branson Regional, Springfield, MO

Hatches:

Blue winged olive, mayflies, caddis, tricos.

Best Time to Fish:

7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Best Stretch:

Any place in the park since the fishery is stocked daily in the spring, summer, and fall season. Winter season is catch and release only with artificial lures and fflies.

Best Access:

Most points along Roaring River are bank accessible. Handicapped areas are available in several places. A short section between the fish cleaning station and the bridge on Hwy F is designated for catch and release and wading. Wading is not allowed in some sections.