UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT   

FLOW: 39 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: Hatches are still limited if occurring at all, but with the cool fall weather we've been experiencing, water temps are dropping and fish should be gearing up for spawn. Expect to find the biggest numbers in the deeper pockets and under cover rather than up in the summer riffles. 

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 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: Cat Poop Stonefly 10-12, 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: 368 CFS at Basalt

WATER CLARITY: Clear with periodic haze

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins

THE LOWDOWN: Water levels are back down to normal for this time of year, meaning easy wading access and fish hiding out in any possible cover. Hatches are weak in this stretch as well, but we can expect some more BWOs in the near future if this cooler weather persists.

Stonefly nymphs and streamers have been the ticket here. Bonus points if your nymph rig has a small baetis trailer for good measure. 

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, 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: 512 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: Spurred on by cold nights, those big Colorado browns are headed up the lower stretches of the Fork. We've seen some of the nicest fish all year in this stretch this past week, mostly dredged up on nymph rigs. 

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. Of course, it is officially streamer season, so pack the big box too. 

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

HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Tricos

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: TC Custom Collette's BWO 18-22, Parachute Adams 18-24, Bill Fitzsimmons' Trailing Shuck Midge Emerger 22-24, 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