Roaring Fork RIver Report 7-21-20

July 21, 2020 

UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT     
                  
FLOW: 198 cfs below Maroon Creek

WATER CLARITY: Clear and low for this time of year

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  Green Drakes, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies 14-16, Midges, golden stonefly nymphs, green drake nymphs, sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: Dry fly action is picking up, and streamer fishing and nymphing has been quite productive. Small worms, stones and princes make  great lead flies and follow them up with RS2s or various midge larva. 

The green drakes are now hatching well on the upper river, the hatch happens at twilight and can be found in and around Jaffe Park this week.

HATCHES: Green Drakes 10-12, Midges 20-24, BWOs 18-22, Yellow Sallies 14-18, PMDs 14-18, Golden Stones 8-12, Caddis 14-18

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  
DRIES: TC Sparkledun Green Drake 12-14, H and L Variant 10-12, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Ethawing Caddis 16-18, Perfect PMD 16-18, Melon Quill 16-18, Chubby Chernobyl 10-12, Garcia's Mini Hot Yellow Sally 16, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 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: 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, Spanflex Stone 10-12, Tungsten Split Case PMD 16-18, PMD Halfback Emerger 14-18

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:  483 cfs in Basalt

WATER CONDITIONS: Low and clear

OVERALL RATING:  7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Green Drakes, Midges, Blue Winged Olives, golden stoneflies, Pale Morning Duns, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, sculpins

THE LOW DOWN:  Like the upper, we're seeing improved dry fly activity with the Green Drake hatch, but the nymphing has been terrific once you get your appropriate fly in the right kind of water. The fish are fat and seem to have fed well through summer so far, and where you find one fish there is bound to be more.

Covering water is a great idea versus standing in one spot all day.  If you are daunted by the Fork, swing in, get a map, and we'll show you our public access "secret" stashes we fish on our off-days.

HATCHES: Green Drakes 10-12, Blue Winged Olives 18-20, Caddis 14-18,  Pale Morning Duns 14-18, Yellow Sallies 14-16, 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, Cat Poop 8-12, 20 Incher 10-14

DRIES: Royal Wulff 10-12, BDE Green Drake 12, EC Caddis 16-18, Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Melon Quill 16-18, Sparkledun PMD 14-18, Hairy Sally 16, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 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: 770 in Glenwood Springs

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear and low

OVERALL RATING:  7 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWOs, Midges, golden stoneflies, PMDs, caddis, sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: In a nutshell, the lower river is fishing well, getting a bit technical, and is low and clear. A plethora of bugs are on the menu including pale morning duns, golden stones, yellow sallies, caddis and a few BWOs.

We are seeing tons of PMDs, Sallies and Caddis out there and the streamer bite has been pretty strong, too. The Green Drakes are now heaviest around Aspen.

HATCHES: Caddis 16-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-20, Golden Stones 8-12, PMDs 14-18, Yellow Sallies 14-16, Midges 18-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 
NYMPHS: 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, Cat Poop 8-12, San Juan Worm 10, Twenty Incher 10-14, Jerome PMD 16-18, Prince Nymph 8-14

DRIES: Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle Baetis 20-22, Melon Quill 16-18, Sparkledun PMD 14-18, Garcia's Mini Hot Sally 16, Ethawing Caddis 14-16, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, CDC Comparadun 18-20, 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