September 14, 2024

UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT   

FLOW: 30 CFS at Aspen

WATER CLARITY: Low and Clear

OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Yellow Sallies, Caddis, Golden Stoneflies, Terrestrials, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Craneflies, Sculpins 

THE LOWDOWN: The Fork is low, low, low and clear. These fish won't tolerate a noisy approach or a sloppy presentation. We're sticking to our small flies -- think midges, blue winged olives, and micro-caddis -- and short rigs. As usual in late summer, pay particular attention to riffles where fish can get the oxygen and cover they need to feel comfortable eating.

Dry-dropper fishing and euro-nymphing are two go-to methods on this upper stretch as well.

HATCHES: Craneflies 10-16, Pale Morning Duns 14-18, PMD Rusty Spinners 14-18, Caddis 14-18, Golden Stoneflies 6-10, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  
DRIES:  Chubby Chernobyl 6-10, Amy's Ant 8-10, Craven's Baby Boy Hopper 12, Skippy Hopper 8, Cloud Nine Golden Stone 6-10, Stimulator 12-16, Outrigger Sallie 16, Putterbaugh Caddis Black 16-18, Elk Hair Caddis 18-20, HOH CDC Thorax BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun PMD 16-18, Uber-Realistic PMD 16-18, No Hackle PMD 16-18, Cranefly Adult 10 

NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 6-10, Prince Nymph 12-18, Soft Hackle Peacock 16, Stott's Raisinette 20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph 18-20, Tungsten Faucci Nymph 16-18, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Jigged Hot Orange Bead CDC Pheasant Tail 16-20, Stott's USD Nymph 12, Magnymphico 16-18, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior 18-22, BTS Baetis 20-22, Sparklewing RS2 20-22 

STREAMERS: Swim Coach, Slump Buster, Carlton Banks, Baby Gonga, 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: 505 CFS at Basalt

WATER CLARITY: Low and Clear

OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:  Pale Morning Duns, PMD Rusty Spinners, Yellow Sallies, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Caddis, Golden Stoneflies, Sculpins 

THE LOWDOWN: It's the time of year where our middle and lower Fork boxes mirror our Fryingpan boxes with their tiny nymphs and understated dries. Green Drakes have come and gone, but Caddis, Sallies, PMDs and craneflies are still out there to keep you busy.

Again, focus on the more highly oxygenated riffles and keep those rigs short unless you're looking to downsize your fly collection.

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

HATCHES: Yellow Sallies 16-18, Caddis 12-18, Pale Morning Duns 14-18, PMD Rusty Spinners 14-18, Craneflies 10-16, Golden Stoneflies 4-10, Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: Jigged Nightmare 18, Jigged JuJu PMD 18, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, PMD Trigger Nymph 16-18, Spanish Perdigon 16-18, Stott's Good Carl 20, Stott's Good Carl 20, Jigged Tungsten Red Tie PT 18-20, Rainbow Warrior 20-22

DRIES: Outrigger Caddis 16, Putterbaugh Caddis Black 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Traditional Adams 16-20, Yellow Humpy 14-18, No Hackle PMD 16-18, Melon Quill PMD 16-18, TC Custom PMD Sparkledun 14-18, Stimulator 12-18, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, 

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

HINTS: Fish the banks first- trout are lazy!

LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD  

FLOW: 600 CFS in Glenwood Springs

WATER CLARITY: Low and Clear

OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Golden Stones, Blue Winged Olives, Pale Morning Duns, PMD Rusty Spinners, Craneflies, Caddis, Midges, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: Construction on Westbank boat ramp has begun; expect some color downstream from the heavy machinery as river work takes place. Add that to the color commonly spewed from the Crystal after rain and this section can get pretty hazy.

Best approached by boat, the lower Fork has a ton of different hatches happening right now. (Not to say you can't wade it, just swing by and we'll show you some wade access on the map we sell.)

Heaviest hatches recently consist of Yellow Sallies, caddis, and midges.

Twilight is a great time to fish down here, especially if you work for a living and don't have a lot of time. Think rusty spinners and especially caddis if you're seeing angry takes out there in the dying light.

HATCHES: Pale Morning Duns 14-18, Caddis 14-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Golden Stones 4-10, Craneflies 10-16, Midges 18-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 
NYMPHS: Jigged Duracell 16-18, Jigged and Guide's Choice Hare's Ear 14-18, Mercer's Jigster PMD 16-18, Jigged Frenchie 16-18, Rust Murder She Wrote 18-20, Guide's Choice Hares Ear 16-18, Double Down CDC PT 16-18, Copper John 14-16, Tim Heng's BLM 18-20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph 18-20, Tungsten Redemption 16-18, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Stott's Raisinette 20

DRIES: CDC Comparadun PMD 16-18, Yellow Comparadun PMD 16-18, Para PMD Rusty Spinner 14-18, Yellow Humpy 14-18, Stimulator 12-18, Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Chubby Chernobyl 6-12, Improved Sparkle Dun BWO 18-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy's Special Emerger 20

STREAMERS: Swim Coach, Circus Peanut, Grease Monkey, Slumpbuster, Devourer of Souls, Meal Ticket, Tim's Autumn Splendor,

HINTS: Generally, cloudy days tend to produce the best mayfly action, but caddis prefer the high, bright sun. Don't overlook the magic of fishing dawn and dusk.

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