Roaring Fork River Report August 23, 2026

ROARING FORK RIVER REPORT AUGUST 23, 2026

ALL CLOSURES ON THE ROARING FORK RIVER HAVE BEEN LIFTED!

UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT

FLOW: 25-50 CFS below Maroon Creek (Much more water is flowing below Basalt now)

WATER CLARITY: Clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Pale Morning Duns, Blue Winged Olives, Golden Stoneflies, Midges

THE LOWDOWN: 

We have two wader and boot cleaning stations here at Taylor Creek!  Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

With above-average flows on the Fryingpan right now the upper Roaring Fork can be a great alternative for smaller water and easier wading. Hatches are not usually as thick here as they are on the Pan, but mornings and evenings still offer up opportunities to fish BWO and Caddis patterns to rising fish. Sub-surface, think "tiny and shiny" nymphs fished in the deeper, cooler water. 

Small doses of high country rain and cloudier afternoons should keep water temperatures where we want them, but this water is low and slow, so keeping a thermometer handy is never a bad idea. 

HATCHES: Pale Morning Duns 14-18, Golden Stones 6-10, Caddis 16-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:

DRIES: Chubby Chernobyl 6-10, Cloud 9 Golden Stone 6-8, Stimulator 12-18, Elk Hair Caddis 12-18, Missing Link  Caddis 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Puterbaugh's Foam Caddis 16-18, High Captive Dun PMD 16-18, TC Sparkledun PMD 16-18. Melon Quill PMD 16-18, Harrop's CDC Biot Dun BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun BWO 18-22, Rat-faced McDougal 16-18, Barr's Vis-a-Dun BWO 20-22, Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Quill Midge 20, Solitude Hatching Midge Black 22, Bill Fitzsimmons Trailing Shuck Midge 22-26

NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stone 8-12, Prince Nymph 14-18, Griffin's Twenty Incher 12-14, Stott's Raisinette 20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph 18-20, Jigged Hot Orange Bead CDC Pheasant Tail 18-20, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior 20-22, BTS Baetis 20-22, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Beadwing Midge Emerger Grey 20-22, Pulsating Midge Emerger 20, Freestone Emerger Olive 22, Tailwater Tiny Midge Red 20-22

STREAMERS: Craven's Swim Coach, Barr's Slump Buster, Carlton Banks, Craven's Baby Gonga, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor

HINTS: Fish tend to be down in the fastest, most oxygenated water they can find right now.

MIDDLE ROARING FORK - BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE

ALL CLOSURES ON THE ROARING FORK RIVER HAVE BEEN LIFTED!

FLOW: 602 CFS at Basalt and rising, a welcome sight!

WATER CLARITY: Clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Pale Morning Duns, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stoneflies, Sculpins

THE LOWDOWN:

Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

We have two wader and boot cleaning stations here at Taylor Creek!  Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

We're all pumped to see an influx of cold, clear water coming from the Fryingpan into this stretch of the Fork. Even the fish have been happier, healthier and hungrier. As far as hatches go, expect to see a few BWOs and Midges at low light, and perhaps a few Caddis in the late afternoons, but most action has come on the nymph. Bigger water means more turbulence means we're back to leading with stonefly or worm patterns, usually followed by a "tiny shiny" like a Rainbow Warrior or a Sparklewing RS2. 

With perfect temperatures and decent flows, fish are bound to be found in every type of water right now, from high in the riffles to deep in the tail outs. Take some time to slide that bobber around and do some hunting. 

HATCHES: Pale Morning Duns 14-18, Caddis 16-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS

DRIES: Comparadun PMD 16-18, Film Critic PMD 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Puterbaugh's Foam Caddis 16-18, Harrop's CDC Biot Dun BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun BWO 18-22, Rat-faced McDougal 16-18, Barr's Vis-a-Dun BWO 20-22, Traditional Adams 20-22, Sprout Midge 20-22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Midge 22-24, McCannel's Massacre Midge 22-24, Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22-24, Collette's BWO 18-22, Purple Haze Parachute Adams 18-20

NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stone 8-12, Prince Nymph 14-18, Jigged Tungsten Red-Tie PT 18-20, Tungsten 2 Bead Nymph Olive 18, Jigged Iron Lotus 18, Jigged Hares Ear 16-18, Stott's Juggernaut 20, Stott's Raisinette 20, Barr's Emerger 18-22, Neon Nightmare 22-24, Bling Midge Charcoal/Tan 20-24

STREAMERS: Tungsten Double Mint, Tungsten Thin Mint, Craven's Baby Gonga, Carlton Banks, Circus Peanut, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor

HINTS: Shorter rigs than you're used to will help this time of year. With water this low, suspended rigs through the riffles will save you some money on flies. 

LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD

ALL CLOSURES ON THE ROARING FORK RIVER HAVE BEEN LIFTED!

FLOW: 720 CFS in Glenwood Springs and rising, a welcome sight!

WATER CLARITY: Clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Yellow Sallies, Craneflies, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stoneflies, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN

We have two wader and boot cleaning stations here at Taylor Creek!  Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Water from Ruedi Reservoir has returned the Fork to a healthy, fishable temperature into the afternoons, and all CPW closures have been lifted down to the confluence with the Colorado. Of course, daytime air temps are still reaching the 90s, so it's best to keep an eye on water temperatures for yourself regardless of closure status. 

Most of our fishing has been under the indicator, but no shortage of fish is being brought to the nets. Just like upriver, we have been leading with stonefly nymphs to small baetis/midge trailers, usually fished deep along the center line. That said, running something like a hopper-dropper up along the shelves isn't out of the question and can spark some exciting eats on the right day.

HATCHES: Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Craneflies, Caddis, Midges, Blue Winged Olives

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:

NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 8-12, Rust Murder She Wrote 18-20, Tim Heng's BLM 18-20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph Black 18-20, Stott's Raisinette 20, Stott's Mercury Bad Carl Grey 20, BMW Foam Top RS2 Black 20-22, Mercury Bead RS2 Grey 22, Pandemic BWO Emerger 20-22, Freestone Emerger Olive 22, Internal Wire Tube Midge Black/Red 20, Desert Storm Midge Fluor. Orange 22, TC Custom Midge Red/Clear 20-22

DRIES: Rogue Foam Golden Stone 8-10, Egg Layer Golden Stone 6-8, Grillos’ Pizza Delivery 6, Mercer’s Stealth Link PMD 16-18, AK’s Melon Quill 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Puterbaugh's Foam Caddis 16-18, Harrop's CDC Biot Dun BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun BWO 18-22, Rat-faced McDougal 16-18, Barr's Vis-a-Dun BWO 20-22, Parachute Adams 18-24, TC Custom Collette's BWO 20-22, Bill Fitzsimmons' Trailing Shuck Midge Emerger 22-24, Sprout Midge 20-22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Midge 22-24, McCannel's Massacre Midge 22-24, Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22-24

STREAMERS: Craven's Swim Coach, Circus Peanut, Grease Monkey, Barr's Slumpbuster, Devourer of Souls, Hansen's Meal Ticket, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor,

HINTS: The best hatches should be seen on cloudier, “crappier” days.

Real Time Flows:

ROADIFCO (Upper River in Aspen)

ROAEMMCO (Middle River in Basalt)

ROAGLECO (Lower River in Glenwood Springs)