Roaring Fork River Report April 14, 2025
UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT
FLOW: 90 CFS at Aspen
WATER CLARITY: Clear and starting to rise; will see some color here and there
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Blue Winged Olive nymphs, Golden Stonefly nymphs, Caddis larvae, small Green Drake and PMD nymphs, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN: Conditions on the upper river have vastly improved. Deep snow along the banks has dissipated and ice seems a distant memory. Of course, we could get a major storm and this could all change, but we'll keep you posted. Access is much easier this week.
Still just midges in regard to hatches, but you can start to consider some nymphs for the upcoming emergences, like golden stonefly nymphs, caddis larvae, green drake and PMD nymphs, et cetera. As the water rises, don't be afraid to throw some larger nymphs in the deeper and faster water and trail them with something smaller.
Like we always preach, fish the upper Fork like you would the Pan, especially in the shallow and clear areas. Small indicators and trailing flies, light tippets, and stealth come first.
HATCHES: Midges 18-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Quill Midge 20, Solitude Hatching Midge Black 22, McChannel's Massacre Midge 22-24, Bill Fitzsimmons Trailing Shuck Midge 22-26, TC Sparkledun BWO 20-22, HOH CDC Thorax BWO 20-22,
NYMPHS: Twenty Incher Nymph 14-16, Prince Nymph 16-18, San Juan Worm 12, 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: 424 CFS
WATER CLARITY: Clear but on the uptick; we will see some color with the coming warm-up
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Blue Winged Olive nymphs/emergers/adults, Golden Stonefly nymphs, small Green Drake and PMD nymphs, Caddis larvae, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN: The middle Roaring Fork is much improved as well. We are seeing baetis (BWOs) hatching as high as Catherine Store, but they are thicker down by Carbondale and below this week. We'll see a significant caddis hatch once we string two or three bright and warm days together and see some off-color water.
BWOs and midges are the hatch right now, Be sure to notice the difference and show the fish what they want to see. Dead drifting is usually the ticket for these bugs, and we will skate and bump our caddis dries once they get going.
HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: San Juan Worm 12, Jigged Tungsten Red-Tie PT 18-20, Tungsten 2 Bead Nymph Olive 16-18, Jigged Iron Lotus 18, Jigged Hares Ear 16-18, Twenty Incher Nymph 14-16, Mercury Bead RS2 Grey 22, Tungsten Zebra Midge Red 20-22, T Midge Black 24, Stott's Good Carl 20, Jigged Tungsten Red Tie PT 18-20, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior 20-22, Murder, She Wrote Epoxyback Rust 20, Thorax BWO Emerger 20-22, Jigged JuJu BWO 20, Egg 16-18
DRIES: Traditional Adams 18-22, Fitzsimmon's Midge Adult Black 22, Harrop's CDC Spent Midge Black 22-24, Morgan's Midge Dark 24, Brook's Sprout Midge Grey 22-24, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, TC Custom Sparkle Dun BWO 18-20
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: 533 CFS in Glenwood Springs and rising
WATER CLARITY: Mostly clear but we will see color with the warm-ups
OVERALL RATING: 9 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olive nymphs/emergers/adults, Midges, Caddis larvae and pupae, small Green Drake and PMD nymphs, Sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: The lower Fork has been the most productive stretch of this 70-mile freestone river. BWOs and midges are hatching for up to 4 or 5 hours a day now. We've been throwing BWOs midday and switching up to smaller midges later in the afternoon.
We're anticipating a major caddis hatch when we get a few warm and bright days in a row. Off-color water is not a deal breaker -- most caddis hatches come off when it's dirty! Keep in mind the real runoff won't kick off until mid-May.
Annual spawning closures are in effect at 3 Mile and 4 Mile Creeks in Glenwood Springs. You'll see the signs, please give these essential areas a wide berth, which are just a small portion of the lower Roaring Fork River.
Construction on Westbank boat ramp will continue through April 10, they are in the final stages of paving the new ramp.
HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stone 8-10, San Juan Worm 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: Improved Sparkle Dun BWO 18-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy's Special Emerger 20, Adams 18-22, TC Custom Collette's Para BWO 20-22, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Mike Lawson's No-Hackle BWO 20-22, Mole Fly Baetis 20-22, Brook's Sprout Midge Grey 20-22, Bill Fitzsimmon's Midge Adult 22, Bill's Midge Emerger 22-24, Antonio's Hi-Vis Quill Midge Emerger 20-22, Harrop's Midge Adult Black 20-22
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 -until the caddis get going.
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
