UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT   

FLOW: 920 CFS near Aspen

WATER CLARITY: Off-color, likely all week

OVERALL RATING: 3 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Blue Winged Olive nymphs, emergers, & adults, Golden Stonefly nymphs, Caddis larvae, small Green Drake and PMD nymphs, Sculpins

THE LOWDOWN: Flows are almost double what they were last week (again) due to some warm days and precipitation, but we're still well below what we'd usually expect this time of year. Off-color has become a regular occurrence, but this stretch is the most fishable section of the Fork throughout Spring. With our ultra-light snowpack, we're unsure how much runoff will really affect upper river conditions -- honestly, it's a blessing that we're a few weeks behind on runoff this year. 

Midges & BWOs are most abundant in regard to hatches, but you can start to consider some nymphs for the upcoming emergences, like golden stonefly nymphs, caddis larvae, green drake and PMD nymphs, et cetera. As the water rises, don't be afraid to throw some larger nymphs in the deeper and faster water and trail them with something smaller.

HATCHES: Midges 18-24, Blue-winged Olives 20-22

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  
DRIES: Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Quill Midge 20, Solitude Hatching Midge Black 22, Bill Fitzsimmons Trailing Shuck Midge 22-26, TC Sparkledun BWO 20-22, HOH CDC Thorax BWO 20-22, Uber-realistic baetis 20-22, Taylor Creek Custom Collete's Parachute BWO 20-22, Quasi-no-hackle 20-22.

NYMPHS: Twenty Incher Nymph 14-16, Prince Nymph 16-18, San Juan Worm 12, Guide's Choice Hares Ear 16-18, Stott's Raisinette 20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph 18-20, Jigged Hot Orange Bead CDC Pheasant Tail 18-20, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior 18-22, 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 the soft water along the banks before you cast into the middle of the river

MIDDLE ROARING FORK - BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE 

FLOW: 1500 CFS at Basalt

WATER CLARITY: Chocolate

OVERALL RATING: 2 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  Caddis larvae, pupa, & adults, Midges, Blue Winged Olive nymphs/emergers/adults, Golden Stonefly nymphs, small Green Drake and PMD nymphs, Sculpins 

THE LOWDOWN: Like the Upper, flows are up from last week but well down from the annual average. Warm weather and precipitation have turned the river an impenetrable brown, so maybe skip the middle and lower Fork if you're after a banner day. 

Runoff will likely put the kibosh on prolific mayfly hatches, but we've seen good numbers of caddis coming off this section, especially in faster water near banks. Streamers and larger food items also play well during rainy/overcast weather. Skittering caddis dries seems to be the ticket to getting eats on top. Nymphing large flies can also be quite productive in between hatches. 

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: San Juan Worm 12, Jigged Tungsten Red-Tie PT 18-20, Tungsten 2 Bead Nymph Olive 16-18, Jigged Iron Lotus 18, Jigged Hares Ear 16-18, Twenty Incher Nymph 14-16, Jigged Tungsten Red Tie PT 18-20, Cat Poop Stonefly 6-12, Zirdle Bug 6-8

DRIES: Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Kaufmann's stimulator 14-18, Missing Link 14-16, Traditional Adams 18-22, TC Custom Sparkle Dun BWO 18-20, Amy's Ant 8-10, Chubby Chernobyl 6-12, Craven's Baby Boy Hopper 12

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

HINTS: Fish the banks first- trout are lazy!

LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD  

FLOW: 2650 CFS in Glenwood Springs

WATER CLARITY: Chocolate

OVERALL RATING: 2 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olive nymphs/emergers/adults, Midges, Caddis larvae/pupae/adults, small Green Drake and PMD nymphs, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: Flows on the lower doubled again this week, bringing heavy color into the mix. It looks like we're finally in real "runoff," even if flows are lower than we might usually expect in June, 

About half of the water in the Lower Fork is now being contributed by the Crystal, making this stretch particularly prone to off-color days after precipitation or warm nights. Caddis hatches should continue on the up and up with the warm days and dirty water.

BWO and midge hatches will likely slow until we have some semblance of clarity again. As that water starts to ebb, we may even start seeing our world-famous Green Drakes -- earlier than usual! We've been throwing BWOs and caddis midday and switching up to smaller midges later in the afternoon. Think female caddis if you stay on the water until twilight, this will improve in the coming weeks.

Construction on Westbank boat ramp is complete.

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stone 8-10, San Juan Worm 12, Jigged Hot Bead PT 16-18, Guide's Choice Hares Ear 16-18, Rust Murder She Wrote 18-20, Tim Heng's BLM 18-20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph Black 18-20, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, 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: Missing Link Caddis 14-18, Lawson's EZ Caddis 16-18, Puterbaugh Foam Caddis 16-18, Improved Sparkle Dun BWO 18-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy's Special Emerger 20, Adams 18-22, TC Custom Collette's Para BWO 20-22, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Mike Lawson's No-Hackle BWO 20-22, Chubby Chernobyl 6-10, Royal Wulff 12-14

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: Generally, cloudy days tend to produce the best -until the caddis get going.

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