Is the access at the BR at Rochelle's free or pay?

Also, anyone been fishing there lately?
I am thinking about going but am curious how good the fishing has been.

Should I go there or should I put in somewhere else?
I am just planning on going a ways then paddling back.

My son and I did the same thing back in May. Yes, you pay $5.00 I believe, they have a little box there for you to put your money in, if they are not there. We paddled approximately 2 miles up river and then came back, it was just a morning outing.

May was obviously before all the rain and fishing was minimal. Sounds like since the Brazos got a good flushing, the fishing has been a lot better. I would be really curious to see a report from you! Been reports too of folks fishing up by the PK Dam or around the bridge and having really good results.

FishyB

Thanks FishyB. It is good to know that I will need some cash to access that place. I could just see me getting there and looking in my wallet only to find that my wife swiped my cash. If I do any good I will post up a report. I still need to post a report from my trip last weekend.

I haven't been down there in a few years, and I might be thinking of some other bridge, but can't you drive down either right along the bridge on the same side as Rochelles or the other side of the road and it's public access. It's been a while so my memory is kind of foggy, there's liable to be no trespassing signs everywhere except for the Rochelles entrance.

My apologies, should have been more clear regarding the fishing reports and bridge. I was referencing the Hwy 16 bridge and towards the PK Dam, apparently there has been good fishing. Might call out to Rochelle's and have a chat with them about any fishing close to their location. Mrs. Rochelle is super nice and more than willing to chat.

BTW: J Barlow, been meaning to come to your shop with my son. Looks like you have everything!! Where did you fish last weekend? We did a trip up to Lower Mountain Fork and floated 10 miles with the fly rods. There is a post with the report and a video floating around on this sub-forum.

FishyB

I did a wade fishing trip to the Little River, Glover River and the Kaimichi River also hitting up Honobia Creek along the way. I caught alot of fish but there was very little water in the Little and the Glover. It was alot of work though. Those rivers do not lend themselves to wading. The bottoms are rock not gravel or sand so they are very hard to wade.

This part of the Brazos has become my favorite spot. I grew up in NE Oklahoma and fished the Illinois towards the Ok/Ar border. Since I've moved to Texas years ago I've been hoping there was a clear, gravel bottomed river here in north Texas.

I've been putting in on the Hwy 16 bridge and floating down about a mile and paddling back. It's been great. I've been having good luck on small swim baits. The flow now is only about 170 cfps. That's not too good. Seems the closer to 500 cfps the better the bite and size.

Love the Brazos!

Thanks for the info. I was up at the Illinois a few weeks back. It was great fishing...no size to them but alot of fish. I am planning on heading back up in the next few weeks. I am also planning on trying to go about every 4 to 6 weeks.

At Rochelle's has an honor box if the office is closed it is $5 a vehicle and $1 per kayak or canoe. You will notice several signs that say towing $25. I wondered about those signs and then found out what they were about. The lesson I learned is you do not back down to the river even though it is all river rock and looks like you will not get stuck. I did get stuck and they are willing and ready to pull you up to firmer ground for $25. One of the Rochelle grandchildren pulled me out. He said one of the first lessons his grandfather taught him was never back down to the water he said you pull parallel to the river and you will never get stuck. Now I always pull parallel to the river.
Have a good trip and let us know how the fishing is.