Roaring Fork River Report 3-20-21

March 20, 2021 

UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT     
                  
FLOW: 75 cfs below Maroon Creek

WATER CLARITY: Clear and low, ice is beginning to melt

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  Midges

THE LOW DOWN: The upper Fork above Basalt has remained low and clear.  Ice has been hit or miss depending on the night time temperature.

In a nutshell we are fishing the upper river with some "sneaky factor"- as in small flies and fine tippets. Except for a bit in the afternoon, the dry fly action has slowed down significantly and the nymphing has gotten very good as long as you are fishing small bugs. 

Small flies like RS2s and Pheasant Tails have been productive, and stripping a streamer can be fun, too. You'll see some late afternoon midge action on calm and cloudy days also.

*Ice is building significantly in this section, be aware of ice dams breaking loose. Fish with someone, and always be looking upstream. 

HATCHES: Midges 20-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  
DRIES: 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

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:  155 cfs in Basalt

WATER CONDITIONS: Low and Clear

OVERALL RATING:  6 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges

THE LOW DOWN: Basalt down to Carbondale has been fishing pretty well, and essentially we are fishing it like we are the upper- with small BWO nymphs and some midge dry fly action in the late afternoon. 

Local spots like behind Crown Mountain Park and Catherine's Store are good for the wading angler. Keep an eye on the overnight temperatures as we ease into wintertime, when it's less than 20 degrees at night the "slushy factor" will be present the next morning until things warm up.

HATCHES: Midges 20-24

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 

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

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

LOWER ROARING FORK- CARBONDALE TO GLENWOOD 

FLOW: 310 in Glenwood Springs

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear and low

OVERALL RATING:  8 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, BWOs, Caddis

THE LOW DOWN: Spawning Closures are in effect at 3 Mile and 4 Mile Creeks on the lower Roaring Fork from March 15 to May 31st.

The first waves of baetis (BWOs) and caddis are starting to hatch on the warmer days. We are seeing some strong hatches these days as we warm up!

Like the upper and middle river we are essentially fishing the lower river with light tippets and smaller flies- tiny and shiny BWO nymphs or midges on finer tippet than you might expect. 

The streamer game is still happening, and give smaller patterns a try if you're not getting any chases on larger flies.

Keep an eye on overnight temperatures, nights colder than 20 degrees will increase the amount of floating ice the next morning. 

HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 18-20, Caddis 16-18, Midges 18-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 
NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Freestone Emerger 22, RS2s 20-22, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Thread Body Baetis 18-20, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Imposters 20-22, Prince Nymph 16-20, TC Poxy Biot Baetis 22, Jerome Baetis 20-22, RIP Midge 22

DRIES: Perfect Baetis 20, CDC Comparadun BWO 18-20, No Hackle BWO 20,  Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, Lawson's EZ Caddis 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 14-18, 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

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