Crystal River Report August 25, 2024

WATER CONDITIONS: Off-color

OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  Golden Stoneflies, Caddis, Hoppers and Terrestrials, Craneflies, Pale Morning Duns, PMD Rusty Spinners, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: Flows have doubled in Carbondale over the last week thanks to consistent rain. We're happy to have the water (and we're sure the fish are, too) but it has made fishing the Crystal a gamble. Between swinging flows and unpredictable clarity, your best bet is to head as far upstream as you can and target some brookies instead of sticking to the hatchery stretch down here. 

Outside of these stormy bouts, the Crystal is usually clear and low this time of year. It's almost always the first to blow out, but it's quick to recover too, making the Crystal a fun alternative to the major rivers of the valley when you're seeking out a different experience. 

No need to overthink the Crystal -- attractor patterns fished dry-dropper style are effective and deeper pits are best fished with your traditional nymph rig. We say it all the time --skip the blah water and focus on the zones where fish have cover, food and lots of oxygen.

The higher you go, the more cutthroat and brook trout you will encounter, and fewer people. This river is ideal for those seeking a bit of solitude. In-stream work in Carbondale can make the lower mile a bit off-color.

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Golden Stoneflies 4-8, Green Drakes 10-12, Pale Morning Duns 14-18, PMD Rusty Spinners 14-18, Craneflies 10-16, Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 18-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
NYMPHS: Tungsten Twenty-Incher 10-16, Cat Poop Stone 4-10, Tungsten PMD Redemption 16-18, San Juan Worm, Copper John Chartreuse16-20, Jigged CDC Pheasant Tail 18, Tungsten Split Case PMD Nymph 16-18, Tung Pheasant Tail 16-20, FKA Prince Nymph 14-18, Jerome Baetis 18-20, JuJu Baetis 18-22 

DRIES: Stimulator 12-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Improved Sofa Pillow 4-8, Reed's Rogue Golden Stonefly 8-10, PMD Comparadun 14-18, Henry's Fork Golden Stone 10-14, Parachute Adams 12-20, Yellow Humpy 14-18, Stimulator 12-18, Irresistible Adams 12-16, Chubby Chernobyl 8-12, Craven's Baby Boy Hopper 12, Foam Chernobyl Ant 8-10, H and L Variant 10-16, Royal Wulff 10-16 

STREAMERS: Sculpzilla, Double Gonga, Swim Coach, Autumn Splendor, Meal Ticket, Slump Buster

HINTS: Skipping the blah water and focusing on where the fish are is key!

Flows: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=09081600&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060

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