UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT   

FLOW: 110 CFS near Aspen

WATER CLARITY: Clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

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

THE LOWDOWN: As fish begin gearing up for fall, and with water temps back where we like them, the feeding bags have been on. Still expect fish to be hiding out in the faster, more oxygenated water until temps really drop. Morning and evening hatches have been sporadic, but small mayfly and caddis patterns can usually get the job done. When nothing is working on top, go tiny n' shiny along the bottom.

HATCHES: Midges 18-24, Blue-winged Olives 20-22, PMDs 16-18

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

NYMPHS: 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

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins

THE LOWDOWN: This stretch is and will remain very skinny, making for great wading but sketchy floating. Tiny fly rigs are now the most productive way to fish the middle and lower sections of the Fork, but the fish seem to be responding well to stonefly nymphs again -- just keep them on the smaller side. Clarity remains 100%. Mayfly hatches are slow to non-existent at the moment.

Streamers and larger food items also play well during rainy/overcast weather.

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Midges 18-24

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: Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Kaufmann's Stimulator 14-18, TC Custom Pink Sparkledun PMD 16-18, 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: 470 CFS in Glenwood Springs

WATER CLARITY: Clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Stonefly Nymphs, Annelids, Caddis Larvae, Sculpins

THE LOW DOWN: We're very happy to see flows slightly elevated and temperatures slightly down from the last couple of weeks. Flows are still making for some slow and bony floats, but we're no longer too worried about the fish burning up. That said, its always good to keep an eye on the water temperatures in the afternoon. Temps over 68 degrees are bad news for trout, especially when combined with the stress of being caught and handled.

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.

Clarity is perfect most days, with slight interruptions after afternoon downpours. This can mean selective fish, especially at high noon.

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18

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