Roaring Fork River Report - March 20, 2017

UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT     
                 
FLOW: 161 cfs below Maroon Creek (Woody Creek Canyon) and dropping.

WATER CLARITY: There has been a bit of mud here and there with the warm-up. It's been a warm and wet winter, you'll be surprised with how good the river looks!

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Eggs, BWO nymphs, Caddis larva, Winter Stones, Golden Stonelfy nymphs, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: Winter is here a little while longer, but it's on the way out. The Roaring Fork is the best fishing river in the Valley as of today. Mid-day midge hatches are already common when it stays warm. There is a cool-down on the way here Friday, this may slow the fishing a bit.

HATCHES: Midges sz 22-24, and we should see some BWOs soon if it stays warm.

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES: Bills Midge Emerger 20-22, Bills Midge Adult 20-22, Flag Adams 18-20

NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Tungsten Bead Baetis 20, BTS Baetis 20-22, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 20, Biot Baetis 20-22, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Prince 18, Eggs 16-18, Tungsten Winter Stone

STREAMERS: Weir's Sculpin 6, Autumn Splendor 6, Zuddler 6, Slumpies 6-8

HINTS:  Don't pass up those warm and cloudy days, they're your best shot at plenty of fish.

MIDDLE ROARING FORK- BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE

FLOW: 363 cfs in Basalt

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear for the most part, there has been a bit of color here and there with the warming trend. The Crystal has been blowing out here and there, which will add color below Carbondale.

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWOs, Midges, Eggs, Winter Stones, Golden Stonefly nymphs, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: It's usually pretty good near Basalt below the confluence with the Fryingpan, which actually warms the water a bit on the Roaring Fork. The conditions are drastically improved over the last week.

Overnight temps dictate the fishing here in the winter, so keep an eye on those when you are planning a fishing day. Most fish will be stacked up together in deep, highly oxegenated water. Eggs trailed by Princes, BWO nymphs and midge larva should put a few in the bag for you. Keep moving, keep warm and stick to midday for the best hatch opportunities.

We've been getting into some decent midge hatches mid-day lately, and we are seeing BWO hatches from Carbondale downvalley to the Colorado. Also seeing a few sporadic caddis!

HATCHES: BWOs 18-20, Midges sz 22-24

APPROPIATE PATTERNS

NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Tung Split Case BWO 20-22, Princes 16-20, CJs Red 16-18, PTs 16-20, Tung Teasers 16-18 Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Tailwater Assassin 20-22, Imposter 20-22, Eggs 16-18, Cat Poop 10-12, Twenty Incher 14-16

DRIES: Bills Midge Adult 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24

STREAMERS: Peanuts, Gongas, Carlton Banks, Splendors, Bread n Butter Bugger 6

HINTS: If you find yourself struggling down here, move! Covering water is key on the upper Fork.