Roaring Fork River Report November 3, 2025
UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT
FLOW: 26 CFS near Aspen
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Golden Stoneflies, Caddis, Sculpins, Eggs
THE LOWDOWN: Blue Wings are back and hatching happily. The fish are responding in kind -- risers everywhere! Expect to find the biggest numbers in the deeper runs or up shallow near said runs, rather than up in the summer riffles.
In the mornings and evenings, throw together a nymph rig to dredge 'em up. 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 and tie on some eggs.
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, Flashtail Mini Egg Orange 18
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: 281 CFS at Basalt
WATER CLARITY: Clear with periodic haze from Snowmass Creek and Fryingpan River
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN: After a decent bump in flows from rain interrupted fishing last week, we're happy to be back down to clear, manageable water.
Cold weather and overcast days have been good fuel for smaller autumn mayflies. Tiny (size 22) BWOs are hatching in droves and can be a great option mid-day. While stonefly nymphs and streamers are still the preferred way to fish right now, small shiny nymphs as trailers are a good call.
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 Colette's BWO 20-22, Quasi No-Hackle BWO 20-22, 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: 528 CFS in Glenwood Springs
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stonefly Nymphs, Annelids, Sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: Spawning closures are now in effect 50 yards up- and down- stream of both Threemile and Fourmile creeks on the Fork. Help protect our precious resource by reeling up and letting the fish do their thing!
Spurred on by cold nights, 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 these past few weeks, mostly dredged up on nymph rigs. Plus, recent rains have made the trout even more reckless.
BWOs have been hatching happily down here, which is great news for us dry fly nuts. While the bugs and their imitations are tiny (20-22), we'll take what we can get.
Things are fishing a lot like the mid-river. That's to say, stonefly nymphs and tiny shiny bugs in the centerline are very effective. Of course, it is officially streamer season, so pack the big box too.
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 20-22, TC Custom Sparkledun BWO 20-22, 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
