Roaring Fork River Report May 17, 2017

ROARING FORK RIVER REPORT

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May 17, 2017

UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT     
                 
FLOW: 800 cfs below Maroon Creek (Woody Creek Canyon) and rising

WATER CLARITY: There are changes afoot- the Roaring Fork is starting to crank up with runoff conditions.

OVERALL RATING: 3 out of 10 in the morning, 6 out of 10 in the afternoon

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, BWO dries and nymphs, Caddis dries, pupa and larva, Winter Stones, Golden Stonelfy nymphs, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: Mud season is here, but be not afraid of a little mud on the Fork. You will find clearer conditions in the afternoons versus mornings, and as most of you know, the fish will be stacked right on the banks. Exercise caution with the rising river levels.

HATCHES: Midges sz 22-24, BWOs 18-22, Caddis 16-18, Winter Stones 18-20

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES: Bills Midge Emerger 20-22, Bills Midge Adult 20-22, Flag Adams 18-20, Perfect Baetis 18-20, Ethawing Caddis 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18

NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Tungsten Bead Baetis 20, BTS Baetis 20-22, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 20, Biot Baetis 20-22, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Prince 18, Eggs 16-18, Tungsten Winter Stone, San Juan Worm 10, Poxyback Golden Stone 8-12

STREAMERS: Weir's Sculpin 6, Autumn Splendor 6, Zuddler 6, Slumpies 6-8

HINTS:  Don't pass up those warm and cloudy days, they're your best shot at plenty of fish.

MIDDLE ROARING FORK- BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE

FLOW: 1200 cfs in Basalt

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear for the most part, there has been a bit of color here and there with the warming trend. The Crystal has been blowing out here and there, which will add color below Carbondale.

OVERALL RATING: 3 out of 10 in the mornings, 7 out of 10 in the afternoons

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWOs, Midges, Caddis, Winter Stones, Golden Stonefly nymphs, Sculpins, Cranefly larva

THE LOW DOWN: It's turning into summer in a hurry this week, river levels are rising quickly. Like the upper river, look for cleaner water in the afternoons.

With the rising flows, look for worms, cranefly larva and golden stonefly nymphs to put more fish in the bag than the little flies in your box. BWOs and caddis are adding to the menu of daily midge hatches.

HATCHES: BWOs 18-20, Midges sz 22-24, Caddis 16-18

APPROPIATE PATTERNS

NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Tung Split Case BWO 20-22, Princes 16-20, CJs Red 16-18, PTs 16-20, Tung Teasers 16-18 Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Tailwater Assassin 20-22, Imposter 20-22, Eggs 16-18, Cat Poop 10-12, Twenty Incher 14-16, San Juan Worm 10

DRIES: Bills Midge Adult 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, Colletts BWO Adult 18-20, Sparkledun BWO 18-20, Goddard Caddis 16-18, Ethawing Caddis 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18

STREAMERS: Peanuts, Gongas, Carlton Banks, Splendors, Bread n Butter Bugger 6

HINTS: If you find yourself struggling down here, move! Covering water is key on the middle Fork.

LOWER  ROARING FORK- CARBONDALE TO GLENWOOD

FLOW: 2950 cfs in Glenwood Springs

WATER CONDITIONS: The Crystal has gone up to over 1,000 cfs, bringing muddy water with it. Fish will begin to shoulder up, so focus on short drifts close to the banks.

OVERALL RATING: 1 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWOs, Caddis, Midges, Eggs, Winter Stones, Golden Stonefly nymphs, Caddis larva, Sculpins, Cranefly larva

THE LOW DOWN: The lower Roaring Fork is in full on runoff mode, especially with the big flows dumping out of the Crystal. The river has little to no visibility, but throwing caddis dries after the sun gets lower will be productive here and there. Clear flows and great hatches can be found on the Fryingpan.

HATCHES: Caddis 16-18, BWOs 18-20, Midges 20-22

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:

NYMPHS: Prince Nymph 18-20, Tung PT 18-20, 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 10-12, Twenty Incher 14-16

DRIES: Pearl and Elk 16-18, Ethawing Caddis 16-18, Goddard Caddis 16-18, Morgans Midge 18-20, Sprout Midge 18-20, Skittering Zelon Midge 20-22, Improved Sparkledun BWO 18-20, Perfect Baetis 20, CDC BWO Comparadun 18-20

STREAMERS: Carlton Banks, Meat Gazers, Sculpzillas, Peanuts, Gongas, Splendors

HINTS: Force yourself to learn something new - a new fly, technique, spot - and you'll be a better angler.


Link to the USGS Real Time Flow Chart for the Fork @ Aspen

Link to the USGS Real Time Flow Chart for the Fork @ Basalt (Emma)

Link to the USGS Real Time Flow Chart for the Fork @ Glenwood