Roaring Fork River Report 10-16-19

October 16, 2019

UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT     
                  
FLOW: 144 cfs below Maroon Creek

WATER CLARITY: Clear

OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  BWO adults and nymphs, midges, golden stonefly nymphs, caddis, PMDs, sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: The upper Fork is looking great. 

BWOs, caddis, PMDs, and midges are the main food source, but leading with a stonefly or prince nymph could get fish looking. When fishing the upper Fork, focus on the deeper pools and pits. Hatches have dwindled down to primarily baetis, but keep a few PMDs, caddis and midges handy on your adventures out there.

The river is low and clear, so get stealthy out there and utilize your smaller flies and tippets. 

HATCHES: BWOs 18-22, midges 20-24, caddis 16-18, PMDs 14-18

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES: Pearl and Elk 16-18, Peacock Caddis 16-18, Sparkledun PMD Pink or Yellow 14-18, AK's Melon Quill PMD 16-18, Sparkledun BWO 18-22, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, Sprout Midge 20-24, Skittering Z Lon Midge 20-22

NYMPHS: 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, Spanflex Stone 10-12, Tungsten Split Case PMD 16-18, PMD Halfback Emerger 14-18

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

HINTS: Skip the blah water and focus on the deeper open runs and pools.

MIDDLE ROARING FORK- BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE 

FLOW: 458 cfs in Basalt

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear

OVERALL RATING:  8 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Midges, BWO adults and nymphs, PMD adults and nymphs, worms, sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: The Fork is in perfect shape! Daytime hatches are consisting of BWOs, PMDs and some caddis. Caddis hatches are strongest on the sunny days, mayflies like BWOs prefer cloud cover. You may see a few oddball PMDs and midges as well.

Like the upper river, it's time to add stealth factor to your presentations and movements along the banks. Where you find one fish (usually deep) there should be a few more willing to eat.

If you are floating, keep the hoppers with deep droppers handy as well as your streamer rod with a sink tip line.

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-22, Midges 20-24, PMDs 14-18

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS

NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Prince Nymphs 18-20, Pheasant Tails 18-24, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Tailwater Assassin 20-22, Imposter 20-22, Lil Foamy 18-20, Neon Nightmare 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, 20 Incher 10-14

DRIES: Elk Hair Caddis 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18, Sparkledun PMD Pink 16-18, Melon Quill PMD 16-20, Collett's Parachute BWO 18-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 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 soft water where you can

LOWER ROARING FORK- CARBONDALE TO GLENWOOD 

FLOW: 649 cfs in Glenwood Springs

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear 

OVERALL RATING:  8 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, midge adults, BWO adults, emergers and nymphs, PMD adults, emergers and nymphs, rusty spinners, sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: FYI: Two Rivers boat ramp in Glenwood is closed for repairs until April, so plan accordingly.

Fall conditions are here, and you all know what that means! The streamer bite is getting hot, and we are fooling plenty of trout out there with small to big streamer patterns. We generally suggest trying small streamers first, larger double-articulated flies can cause damage to smaller fish taking a swing at them.

Like the upper and middle, most fish have abandoned the shallow riffles (for now) and are found in the deeper pits with more oxygenated water and cover.

Dry fly hatches are still pretty consistent, if you get into a decent baetis hatch, try attaching a small palsa indicator a few feet up from those tiny dries. Other dries to consider are caddis, PMDs and PMD spinners.

HATCHES:  Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-20, PMDs 14-18, Midges 18-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

NYMPHS: BH Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Halfback PMD Emerger 16-20, 20 Incher 10-14, Poxyback Drake Nymph 12, BLMs 18-20, Freestone Emerger 20, RS2s 20-22, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Thread Body Baetis 18-20, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Jerome PMD 16-18, Tungsten Bruised PMD 16-18, Imposters 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, San Juan Worm 10

DRIES: Melon Quill PMD 16-18, Hackle Stacker PMD 16-18, No Hackle PMD 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 14-18, Tan Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Perfect Baetis 20, Collett's Para BWO 18-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, CDC Comparadun 18-20, Hatching Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Morgans Midge 18-20, Sprout Midge 18-20, Skittering Zelon Midge 20-22, Griffiths Gnat 20, Egg Laying Golden Stone 6-8

HINTS: Watch out for some pretty good hatches, especially when warm and cloudy.

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

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