UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT   

FLOW: 180 CFS near Aspen

WATER CLARITY: Clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

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

THE LOWDOWN: A slight bump in flows and constant overcast have made fishing much more enjoyable these days. While hatches are still slow on the Fork, the slight haze of the water and the cool temperatures have made the fish a bit less picky.

The best rigs to run right now are still subsurface. Stonefly nymphs and small shiny beadheads fished together can be a deadly combo. Now that fall is (almost) officially here,  don't be afraid to swing some streamers.

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, Melon Quill PMD 16-18. Skippy Hopper 8-12, Chubby Chernobyl 6-12

NYMPHS: Twenty Incher Nymph 10-14, Prince Nymph 16-18, 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: 460 CFS at Basalt

WATER CLARITY: Clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins

THE LOWDOWN: Elevated water with relatively great water clarity is about the best thing you could wish for this time of year. Fish are getting hungry as winter creeps closer, and they're willing to get a little more reckless with more water over their backs. Hopper-dropper setups, deep stonefly rigs, and swung streamers should all do you well mid-valley.

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

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly Coffee/Brown 8-12, Jigged Tungsten Red-Tie PT 18-20, Tungsten 2 Bead Nymph Olive 16-18, 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

DRIES: Missing Link Caddis 14-16, Traditional Adams 18-22, TC Custom Sparkle Dun BWO 18-20, Sprout Midge 20-22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Midge 22-24, 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: 560 CFS in Glenwood Springs

WATER CLARITY: Clear

OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Stonefly Nymphs, Blue Winged Olive Nymphs, Annelids, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: Water temperatures are no longer a concern on the Lower. Things are fishing a lot like the mid-river. That's to say, stonefly nymphs and tiny shiny bugs in the faster riffles have been the most productive by far. And with these fish getting closer and closer to winter, it may not be a bad idea to tie on a juicy streamer here either.

While flows have bumped in the last week, it's still a little low to expect a buttery smooth ride in the boat.

BWO hatches should be on the horizon as temperatures continue to drop.

HATCHES: N/A

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 8-12, 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, Chubby Chernobyl 6-10, Dave's Phat Azz Hopper 10

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 hatches.

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