ROARING FORK RIVER REPORT 12-21-17

UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT     
                  
FLOW: 119 cfs below Maroon Creek (Woody Creek Canyon) 

WATER CLARITY: The Upper Fork is clear and perfect

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  Midges, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: Conditions are absolutely perfect on the upper Roaring Fork. Covering a lot of water is key, so do yourself a favor and put some distance between you and the parking areas.  Don't forget you can access Jaffee Park from the Airport Business Center as well as off of Smith Hill Way on Highway 82.  Please give spawning beds a wide berth.

HATCHES: Midges 22-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES: Bills Midge Emerger 20-22, Bills Midge Adult 20-22, Biot Wing Midge 20-22, Sprout Midge 22-24

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, Prince 18-20

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

HINTS:  Crowds are starting to thin out, plenty of sight fishing opportunities await you.

MIDDLE ROARING FORK- BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE 

FLOW: 281 cfs in Basalt 

WATER CONDITIONS: Clarity is perfect

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: This is the time of year that the Roaring Fork becomes more technical as the water drops steadily.

On the nymphing side of things, treat the Roaring Fork like you would the Fryingpan (light tippets, small flies, and sneak around).  Please give spawning beds a wide berth.

HATCHES: Midges sz 22-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS

NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Princes 16-20, 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

DRIES: Morgan's Midge 20-22, Sprout Midge 20-22

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

HINTS: Keep downsizing your presentations if you are in the struggle box, or focus on completely different water types.

LOWER  ROARING FORK- CARBONDALE TO GLENWOOD 

FLOW: 486 cfs in Glenwood Springs.  The Fork is in perfect shape and dropping daily into a comfortable winter flow.

WATER CONDITIONS: Clean and beautiful. Feel free to call us up with up-to-the-minute river conditions if you are floating. Crowds are a non-factor!

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  midges, sculpins

THE LOW DOWN We are now moving into that time of winter where flows are down and the water is clear, try sizing down those flies and focus on the "tiny and shiny" Please give spawning beds a wide berth.

HATCHES: Midges 20-22

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

NYMPHS: Tung PT 18-20, 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, Imposters 20-22

DRIES: Morgans Midge 18-20, Sprout Midge 18-20, Skittering Zelon Midge 20-22, Griffiths Gnat 22

STREAMERS: Carlton Banks, Meat Gazers, Sculpzillas, Peanuts, Gongas, Splendors

HINTS: Use some 5 or 6x if you're getting blanked.

Real Time Flows

Upper Roaring Fork: http://www.dwr.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=ROABMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

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

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

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