Roaring Fork River Report March 16, 2026
UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT
FLOW: 18 CFS near Aspen
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Eggs
THE LOWDOWN: Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
The upper Fork is at an icy trickle this time of year, but that doesn't mean it's unfishable. It's actually an awesome time to search the deeper holding pools along this stretch with deep nymph rigs. Flies should stay tiny and strikes will be subtle, but don't let that discourage you -- you'll be amazed what hides down low when there's nowhere else to go.
There haven't been many reported hatches, but midges are always a possibility on warmer, sunnier days.
HATCHES: Midges 18-24
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
NYMPHS: Stott's Raisinette 20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph 18-20, Jigged Hot Orange Bead CDC Pheasant Tail 18-20, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior 20-22, 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 tend to be down in the slowest, deepest water they can find right now.
MIDDLE ROARING FORK - BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE
FLOW: 175 CFS at Basalt
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins, Eggs
THE LOWDOWN: Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
With low, stable flows, it's fairly straightforward winter fishing around these parts. For best results, focus your attention on deeper runs and pools where fish can find cover and expend less energy. Keep flies tiny (exception: egg patterns) and watch that bobber for lazy, subtle strikes. Best time to fish is in the afternoon especially when night time temps drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your eyes open for upstream ice dam releases.
There have been some bursts of off-color due to some construction work at the confluence of the Pan and Fork.
HATCHES: Midges 18-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: Jigged Tungsten Red-Tie PT 18-20, Tungsten 2 Bead Nymph Olive 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, Flash Egg 18
DRIES: Traditional Adams 20-22, Sprout Midge 20-22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Midge 22-24, McCannel's Massacre Midge 22-24, Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22-24
STREAMERS: Tungsten Double Mint, Tungsten Thin Mint, Craven's Baby Gonga, Carlton Banks, Circus Peanut, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor
HINTS: Get your flies down -- heavy shot, small flies
LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD
FLOW: 340 CFS in Glenwood Springs
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins, Eggs
THE LOW DOWN: Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Warm weather and stable flows have blessed us with the first real BWO hatches of the year. They're here earlier than normal, but maybe not surprisingly with this spring-like weather. Fishing smaller patterns (#20-22) will likely be most productive.
When in doubt, midges have been reliable. Warmer days will always be better for hatches this time of year, but you'll almost always find a fish willing to grab a midge nymph.
Streamers can still be effective, but generally the fish are going to be less aggressive/reactive as water and air temps drop substantially.
HATCHES: Midges
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 8-12, Rust Murder She Wrote 18-20, Tim Heng's BLM 18-20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph Black 18-20, 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, Flash Egg 18
DRIES: Parachute Adams 18-24, TC Custom Collette's BWO 20-22, Bill Fitzsimmons' Trailing Shuck Midge Emerger 22-24, Sprout Midge 20-22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Midge 22-24, McCannel's Massacre Midge 22-24, Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22-24
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: In the winter, things reverse -- the best hatches should be seen on warmer, sunny days.
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
