Roaring Fork River Report October 31, 2026

FLOW: 245 CFS at Basalt (Fryingpan flow increasing September 16 at 10 am)

WATER CLARITY: Clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, 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

As far as hatches go, expect to see a few BWOs and Midges at low light, but most action has come on the nymph. Fishing has been decent with small worms and egg 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: Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS

DRIES: 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

FLOW: 544 CFS in Glenwood Springs

WATER CLARITY: Clear unless there is rain the night before

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Sculpins

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

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: 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: 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,

Please observe annual fall spawning closures at the mouths of 3 and 4 Mile Creeks, you'll see the signs.

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)