Roaring Fork River Report June 23, 2021

June 23, 2021 

UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT     
                  
FLOW: 540 cfs below Maroon Creek

WATER CLARITY: Dropping and Clearing

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  Yellow Sallies, Caddis, PMDs, Midges, BWOs

THE LOW DOWN: The upper Fork above Basalt has been dropping fast, and clarity is much improved. Blue winged olives, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, and PMDs are all now hatching all the way up to Aspen on the Roaring Fork.

Fish the softer seams adjacent to quicker moving water.

Small flies like RS2s and Pheasant Tails have been productive behind larger flies such as stones and worms. Stripping a streamer can be fun, too. There is a slight chance that you'll see some late afternoon baetis and midge action on calm and cloudy days also.

HATCHES: Caddis 16-20, Golden Stonefly 8-10, PMDs 16-18, Yellow Sallies 14-16, BWOs 18-20, Midges 20-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  
DRIES: Elk Hair Caddis Tan 14-18, Missing Link Caddis 14-18, Rogue Foam Golden Stone 8-10, Cloud Nine Golden Stone 8-10, Lawson's No Hackle PMD 16-18, CDC Comparadun PMD 16-18, Hackle Stacker Cream 16-18, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, CDC Comparadun BWO 20-22, Garcia's Mini Hot 16, Yellow Humpy 14-16, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, Sprout Midge 20-24, Skittering Z Lon Midge 20-22

NYMPHS: Spanflex Stone 8-10, Guide's Choice Hares Ear 14-16, Copper John 16-18,  BLM 18-20, Tungsten Bead Baetis 20, BTS Baetis 20-22, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 20, Kingrey's Cap'n Hook 20-22, Bead Wing Midge 20-22, Rojo Midge 20-22

STREAMERS: Autumn Splendor 6, Zuddler 6, Slumpies 6-8 

HINTS: Fish the soft water where your flies have time to get down in front  of the fish.

MIDDLE ROARING FORK- BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE 

FLOW: 809 cfs in Basalt, the runoff has ended and flows are dropping quick

WATER CONDITIONS: Fast but clean

OVERALL RATING:  6 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Yellow Sallies, BWOs, Midges

THE LOW DOWN: Basalt down to Carbondale has been fishing well as the river drops and gets clear. Like the upper Fork, lead with a heavy point fly and follow it with a baetis if you are nymphing.

Local spots like behind Crown Mountain Park and Catherine's Store are good for the wading angler. 

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Yellow Sallies 14-16, BWOs 18, Midges 20-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: Copper Back Golden 8-12, Jigged CDC Pheasant Tail 14-16, BLMs 18-20, Prince Nymphs 18-20, Copper John 14-18, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Imposter 20-22, Lil Foamy 18-20, Neon Nightmare 20-22 

DRIES: Lawson's EZ Caddis 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 14-16, Chuck's Varient Caddis 16, A.K. Best's Melon Quill 18, Perfect baetis 20-22, CDC Comparadun BWO 18-22, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Bill's Midge Emerger 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Hatching Midge 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22

HINTS: Find some deep water where you can and keep an eye out for risers too

LOWER ROARING FORK- CARBONDALE TO GLENWOOD 

FLOW: 1460 cfs in Glenwood Springs 

WATER CONDITIONS: Dropping fast

OVERALL RATING:  8 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Green Drakes, Pale Morning Duns, BWOs, Caddis, Golden Stoneflies, Midges

THE LOW DOWN: The time has come for the renowned Green Drake hatch on the lower Fork. While we have been seeing Drakes hatch in the middle of the day, the twilight fishing has also been solid. Get you headlamps charged up, tie on a large Wulff pattern and hang on! 

The best fishing tends to be from noon until 5 PM. Don't overlook the twilight hour when the female caddis come back to the water. In other words, you can work all day and still get some great fishing right before dark!

The nymphing game can be strong in the morning leading with large bugs such as Cat Poop Stone Flies or Prince Nymphs. Follow these with a smaller baetis pattern. 

The streamer game is still happening, and give smaller patterns a try if you're not getting any chases on larger flies.

HATCHES: Green Drakes 10-12, Yellow Sallies 16-18, Caddis 14-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-20, Golden Stoneflies 6-10, Midges 18-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 
NYMPHS: Poxyback Golden Stone 8-12, Prince Nymph 16-20, Tung Torin's Soft Hackle 16-18, Copper John 14-16, BLMs 18-20, Freestone Emerger 22, RS2s 20-22, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Imposters 20-22, , TC Poxy Biot Baetis 22, Jerome Baetis 20-22, RIP Midge 22

DRIES: H&L Variant 10-12, Royal Wulff 10-12, Lawson's EZ Caddis 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 14-18, Perfect Baetis 20, CDC Comparadun BWO 18-20, No Hackle BWO 20,  Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, Rogue Foam Golden Stone 6-8, Chubby Chernobyl 8-12,   Hatching Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Morgans Midge 18-20, Sprout Midge 18-20, Griffiths Gnat 20

HINTS: Generally, warm and cloudy tend to be good blue winged days where hot and sunny tend to be good caddis days.

Upper Roaring Fork: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=09076300&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060

Middle Roaring Fork: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09081000

Lower Roaring Fork: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09085000