June 28, 2024 

UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT   

FLOW: 1300cfs

WATER CLARITY: High and tinted

OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  Caddis, Golden Stoneflies, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Sculpins 

THE LOWDOWN: At last, the Fork appears to be on the drop. The water is still high, and daily rains have given the river a steady tint, but clarity has improved with slowing snow-melt. Fishing is definitely start to look up even while wading remains sketchy. 

Fish can still be picked off on the banks using large attractor flies -- think Rubber Legs and bead heads. Cold water from snowmelt tends to slow down the hatches. 

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Golden Stoneflies 6-10, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  
DRIES:  Elk Hair Caddis 18-20, HOH CDC Thorax BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun BWO 20-22, Massacre Midge 22-24, 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, Putterbaugh Caddis Black 16-18

NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 6-8. Tungsten Twenty-Incher Nymph 10-12, FKA Prince Nymph 14-16, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior 18-22, 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 4, Cousin It Sculpin 6, Grease Monkey 4, Beldar Lemon Drop 8

HINTS: Fish the soft water along the banks where fish can catch a break from the strong currents present this time of year. 

MIDDLE ROARING FORK - BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE 

FLOW: 2400cfs in Basalt

WATER CONDITIONS: High and off-color

OVERALL RATING: 2 out of 10

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

THE LOWDOWN: The water is still ripping, but visibility is much better than it has been. It's looking a whole lot more like a river than a mudslide these days, and we'll take that!

Fishing will be tough going this time of year with drastically elevated water levels and reduced clarity. If you choose to try your hand in this stretch, stick to the banks and wade carefully.

There's not a lot of public access mid-river, but local favorites are Catherine Store, behind Crown Mountain Park, and the section along Two Rivers Road here in Basalt.

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Golden Stoneflies 4-10, Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 6-10, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Stott's USD Drake Nymph 12, San Juan Worm 10-12, PMD Trigger Nymph 16-18, Spanish Perdigon 16-18, Stott's Good Carl 20, Stott's BH Drama Rust 20, Jigged Tungsten Red Tie PT 18-20, 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: Chubby Chernobyl 6-10, Rubber Legs PMX 12, Mole Fly Baetis 20-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Befus' Para Emerger 18-22, Putterbaugh Caddis Black 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Royal Wulff 10-12, H&L Variant 10-12, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Bill's Midge Emerger 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Hatching Midge 20-22

STREAMERS: Tungsten Double Mint 4-8, Hansen's Meal Ticket 4, Baby Gonga Black 8, Home Invader 2

HINTS: Fish the banks - trout are lazy!

LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD  

FLOW: 4000cfs in Glenwood Springs

WATER CONDITIONS: High and off-color

OVERALL RATING: 2 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Golden Stones, Blue Winged Olives, Green Drakes Caddis, Midges, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: Though the water is very high, Caddis are still coming off later in the evening when the temperatures begin to turn and the clarity improves slightly. Green drakes are right around the corner if not already coming off. Remember, this is a late evening hatch so be sure to pack a headlamp. 

Like everywhere else on the Fork, the fish should be hanging out on the banks, which is good news because wading can be extremely dangerous with current conditions. Be careful out there!

Streamers are usually effective on the lower Fork, we'd suggest smaller flies and natural colors for the most part. Keys tarpon eat size 8 flies, so don't feel like you have to throw a 3/0 double articulated fly to be "streamer fishing."

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-26, Golden Stones 4-10

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 
NYMPHS: Jigged Duracell 16-18, Cat Poop Stone 4-10, Mercer's Jigster PMD 16-18, Jigged Frenchie 16-18, Spanflex Brown Stonefly 8, San Juan Worm, Foam Top RS2 18-20, Murder She Wrote Rust 18-20, Guide's Choice Hares Ear 16-18, Double Down CDC PT 16-18, Copper John 14-16, BLMs 18-20, Freestone Emerger 22, RS2s 20-22, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Imposters 20-22

DRIES: Reed's Rogue Mustard Chubby 8-12, Egg Layer Golden Stone 8, Improved Sofa Pillow 4-8, Cloud Nine Golden Stone 8-10, H&L Variant 10-12, Royal Wulff 10-12, Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Improved Sparkle Dun BWO 18-22, Quasi-No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy's Special Emerger 20, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Hatching Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, Morgans Midge 18-20, Griffiths Gnat 20

STREAMERS: Beldar Lemon Drop 2, Grease Monkey 4, Slumpbuster 6-8, Devourer of Souls 6, Tim's Splendor 6-8

HINTS: Generally, cloudy days tend to produce the best mayfly action, but caddis prefer the high, bright sun. 

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