Roaring Fork River Report May 6, 2026
UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT
FLOW: 82 CFS below Maroon Creek
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Golden Stonefly nymphs, Midges
THE LOWDOWN: Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
There are two boot and wader cleaning stations here at Taylor Creek in Basalt.
It's getting buggy on the upper Fork. We've seen spring caddis, blue winged olives, midges (of course) and even a few random winter stones.
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.
Keep an eye out for spawning rainbows and please give them a wide berth.
HATCHES: Caddis 16-18, Blue winged olives 18-22, Midges 18-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Puterbaugh's Foam Caddis 16-18, Harrop's CDC Biot Dun BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun BWO 18-22, Rat-faced McDougal 16-18, Barr's Vis-a-Dun BWO 20-22, 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: Cat Poop Stone 8-12, Prince Nymph 14-18, Griffin's Twenty Incher 12-14, 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
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: 7 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN: Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Caddis hatches are moving slowly and steadily upwards as the weather encourages them. They won't be as strong here as they are on the lower stretches of the Fork and on the Colorado, but don't be surprised if you see some coming off. Keep an eye out for spring baeits and midges as well.
With low, stable flows, it's fairly straightforward fishing around these parts. For best results, focus your attention on deeper runs and pools where fish can find cover and expend less energy while water is still cold. Keep flies tiny and watch that bobber for lazy, subtle strikes. Best time to fish is in the afternoon especially after night times that are cold.
There have been some bursts of off-color due to some construction work at the confluence of the Pan and Fork.
Keep an eye out for spawning rainbows and please give them a wide berth.
HATCHES: Caddis 16-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stone 8-12, Prince Nymph 14-18, Griffin's Twenty Incher 12-16, 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
DRIES: Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Puterbaugh's Foam Caddis 16-18, Harrop's CDC Biot Dun BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun BWO 18-22, Rat-faced McDougal 16-18, Barr's Vis-a-Dun BWO 20-22, 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, Collette's BWO 18-22, Purple Haze Parachute Adams 18-20,
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: 9 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins
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 caddis hatches of the year. They're here earlier than normal, but maybe not surprisingly with this spring-like weather.
When in doubt, BWOs and 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, especially trailed behind a larger, more attractive stonefly pattern.
Streamers can still be effective, but generally the fish are going to be less aggressive/reactive as water and air temps drop substantially.
Keep an eye out for spawning rainbows and please give them a wide berth.
HATCHES: Caddis, Midges, Blue Winged Olives
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: Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Puterbaugh's Foam Caddis 16-18, Harrop's CDC Biot Dun BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun BWO 18-22, Rat-faced McDougal 16-18, Barr's Vis-a-Dun BWO 20-22, 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: 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
