Roaring Fork River Report 12-21-22

December 21, 2022

UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT   

FLOW: 14 CFS

WATER CLARITY: Clean and low, significant ice

OVERALL RATING: 1 out of 10 due to significant ice build up and lack of accessibility

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  Midges, Sculpins

THE LOWDOWN:  Low and clear flows will persist through the winter. There isn't a ton of dry fly activity any more, but if you see rising fish they'll probably be keyed in on small midges.

We fish the upper Fork like the Fryingpan, meaning small flies, tippets, weights and indicators.

HATCHES: Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  
DRIES:  HOH Hanging 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: 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, Carlton Banks sz 4, Cousin It Sculpin sz 6, Grease Monkey sz 4, Beldar Lemon Drop sz 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: 176 CFS in Basalt

WATER CONDITIONS: Low and clear

OVERALL RATING:  6 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Sculpins

THE LOWDOWN: The middle Fork has a decent midge hatch mid-day, but most of the time we are nymphing and throwing small streamers. There's not a lot of public access mid-river, but local favorites are Catherine Store, behind Crown Mountain Park, and the section along Two Rivers Road here in Basalt.

HATCHES: Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: 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: Bill's Midge Emerger 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Hatching Midge 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22

STREAMERS: Tungsten Double Mint sz 4-8, Hansen's Meal Ticket sz 4, Baby Gonga Black sz 8, Home Invader sz 2

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

LOWER ROARING FORK- CARBONDALE TO GLENWOOD  

FLOW: 482 CFS in Glenwood Springs 

WATER CONDITIONS: Low and clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: The lower Fork is settling in to "winter" mode as the flows drop quickly. There is still a decent midge hatch in the slicks and tailouts, especially on cloudy afternoons.

Streamers are getting plenty of looks, it seems like small and white or small and rust colors are what they want.

HATCHES: Midges 18-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 
NYMPHS: 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: 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

STREAMERS: Double Dirty Hippy sz 2, Beldar Lemon Drop sz 2, Grease Monkey sz 4, Galloup's Dungeon sz 2

HINTS: Generally, cloudy days tend to produce the best mayfly action

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