Roaring Fork River Report 3-23-22

March 23, 2022

UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT   

FLOW: 35 CFS

WATER CLARITY: Low and Clear, iced up in the shade

OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  Midges, Winter Stones, Sculpins

THE LOWDOWN: Conditions are much improved as we ease in to Spring. This March has brought us plenty of moisture and low temperatures, which is much needed after the last two bone-dry winters.

Midges and winter stoneflies are moving around and the fish are starting to get on them. Most of you know to fish the upper Fork like you would the Fryingpan, as in small flies and light tippets.

HATCHES: Midges 18-24, Winter Stones 16-18

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  
DRIES:  Mole Midge 20-22, 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: 187 CFS in Basalt

WATER CONDITIONS: Clean and clear

OVERALL RATING:  5 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Winter Stones, Sculpins

THE LOWDOWN: Changes are afoot, and the "middle" river is fishing better every day. The worm and stonefly bite has been excellent subsurface, and we are starting to find a few risers out there keyed in on midges. 

We've seen a couple of random caddisflies here and there, but they'll get going once the rivers start to rise and get off-color.

HATCHES: Midges 18-24, Winter Stones 16-18

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 

CLOSURES IN EFFECT AT 3 MILE AND 4 MILE CREEKS ON THE LOWER ROARING FORK RIVER.  PLEASE RESPECT SPAWNING TROUT. 

FLOW: 300 CFS in Glenwood Springs 

WATER CONDITIONS: Low and clear, very bony for those rowing boats

OVERALL RATING:  7 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWOs, Winter Stones, Midges

THE LOW DOWN: The first waves of baetis (BWOs) have begun! Baetis on the lower Fork tend to be gray and vary from size 18 down to 22. Midges are prolific, and the streamer bite has been pretty savage! Caddis are sproradic, but we won't see real numbers until the river starts to rise.

As mentioned above, you need to know the lines if you plan to row this section. It's as low as it gets and is quite challenging. Warmer temps are on the horizon, which will add volume to the river.

HATCHES: BWOs 18-22, Midges 18-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 
NYMPHS: Prince Nymph 16-20, Tung Torin's Soft Hackle 16-18, 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: Lawson's No Hackle BWO 20-22, Befus Para Emerger BWO 20-22, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, 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 dry fly 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