Roaring Fork River Report 6-17-21
Posted on 17 June 2021
June 17, 2021
UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT
FLOW: 271 cfs below Maroon Creek
WATER CLARITY: Discolored and high
OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, BWOs
THE LOW DOWN: The upper Fork above Basalt has taken a turn into full run off. High flows and off-colored water can make fishing a little bit tough. Blue winged olives are now hatching all the way up to Aspen on the Roaring Fork.
Try to find water that is flowing slowly along the edges of the river. With these high flows, the fish tend to congregate in these areas.
Small flies like RS2s and Pheasant Tails have been productive behind larger flies such as stones and worms. Stripping a streamer can be fun, too. There is a slight chance that you'll see some late afternoon baetis and midge action on calm and cloudy days also.
HATCHES: BWOs 18-20, Midges 20-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, CDC Comparadun BWO 20-22, Brook's Sprout 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: Spanflex Stone 8-10, San Juan Worm 10, 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: 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: 1360 cfs in Basalt, the runoff is here and flows will fluctuate
WATER CONDITIONS: Fast but clean
OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, BWOs, Midges
THE LOW DOWN: Basalt down to Carbondale has been fishing pretty well on days when there is decent water visibility. Like the upper fork, lead with a heavy point fly and follow it with a baetis if you are nymphing.
Local spots like behind Crown Mountain Park and Catherine's Store are good for the wading angler.
HATCHES: BWOs 18Keep an-22, Caddis 14-18, Midges 20-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: Copper Back Golden 8-12, San Juan Worm 10, 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: Lawson's EZ Caddis 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 14-16, Chuck's Varient Caddis 16, Perfect baetis 20-22, CDC Comparadun BWO 18-22, Hackle Dun Baetis 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 deep water where you can and keep an eye out for risers too
LOWER ROARING FORK- CARBONDALE TO GLENWOOD
FLOW: 3420 in Glenwood Springs, we are seeing fluctuations
WATER CONDITIONS: Fast, but clean
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Pale Morning Duns, BWOs, Caddis, Golden Stoneflies, Midges
THE LOW DOWN: Fishing during high and dirty water can be tough this time of year. Try to find slow water and work the edges near the banks. Heavy flies and lots of split shot are a must.
The best fishing tends to be from noon until 5 PM. Don't overlook the twilight hour when the female caddis come back to the water. In other words, you can work all day and still get some great fishing right before dark!
The nymphing game can be strong in the morning leading with large bugs such as Cat Poop Stone Flies or Prince Nymphs. Follow these with a smaller baetis pattern.
The streamer game is still happening, and give smaller patterns a try if you're not getting any chases on larger flies.
HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 18-20, Caddis 14-18, Golden Stoneflies 6-10, Midges 18-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
NYMPHS: Poxyback Golden Stone 8-12, 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, Rogue Foam Golden Stone 6-8, Chubby Chernobyl 8-12, 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: Generally, warm and cloudy tend to be good blue winged days where hot and sunny tend to be good caddis days.
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
0 comments