Roaring Fork River Report July 9, 2025
UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT
FLOW: 370 CFS near Aspen
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 9 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Golden Stoneflies, Caddis, Green Drakes, PMDs, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN: Now that the upper has lowered, cleared, and warmed slightly, expect better hatches, easier access, and overall top-tier fishing. The Drakes haven't quite hatched this far up, but it shouldn't be more than a couple weeks. Don't be afraid to fish those big nymphs, though! Everything's a bit ahead of schedule this year.
Midges, BWOs and PMDs are most abundant in regard to hatches, but you can start to consider some nymphs for the upcoming emergences, like golden stonefly nymphs, caddis larvae, green drake nymphs, et cetera. Dry dropper can rigs can be very effective on this stretch.
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. H&L Variant 14-18, Skippy Hopper 8-12, Chubby Chernobyl 6-12
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: 660 CFS at Basalt
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 9 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Green Drakes, PMDs, Midges, Blue Winged Olive, Golden Stoneflies
THE LOWDOWN: Lower flows, and warming/clear water have turned on the fishing in the middle stretch. Green Drakes are on the scene all the way up to and passing Basalt, with hatches typically taking place right at twilight. BWO, PMD and midge hatches should be best in the morning and/or on overcast days, which we haven't seen too many of, but the nymph fishing is hot.
We've seen good numbers of caddis coming off in this section, especially in faster water near banks. Streamers and larger food items also play well during rainy/overcast weather. Skittering caddis dries seems to be the ticket to getting eats on top. Nymphing large flies can also be quite productive in between hatches.
HATCHES: Green Drakes 12-14, Caddis 14-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, PMDs 16-18, 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, Jigged Tungsten Red Tie PT 18-20, Cat Poop Stonefly 6-12, Zirdle Bug 6-8
DRIES: White Wulff 14-18, Colorado Green Drake 12-14, Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Kaufmann's stimulator 14-18, AK Best's Melon Quill PMD 16-18, Quasi-No-Hackle PMD 16, TC Custom Pink Sparkledun PMD 16-18, Missing Link 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: 957 CFS in Glenwood Springs
WATER CLARITY: Clear enough
OVERALL RATING: 9 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Green Drakes, Midges, Caddis, PMDs, Sculpins, Sallies
THE LOW DOWN: Drakes are still hatching down here, but they're not as strong as you might find a few miles up. This is a late evening hatch, so be sure to pack a headlamp and wade carefully,
Caddis hatches should continue on the up and up with the warm days and higher, hazier water. Think female caddis if you stay on the water until twilight; this will improve in the coming weeks.
BWO and midge hatches haven't been notable, but they will occur on cloudier, darker days. We've been throwing BWOs and caddis midday and switching up to smaller midges later in the afternoon. BWO and PMD nymphs are effective all day.
Construction on Westbank boat ramp is complete.
HATCHES: Green Drakes 12-14, Caddis 14-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, PMDs 16-18, Midges 18-26, Yellow Sallies 16
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: Missing Link Caddis 14-18, Lawson's EZ Caddis 16-18, No-Hackle PMD 16-18, Sparkle Dun Pale PMD 16-18. Puterbaugh Foam Caddis 16-18, 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, Chubby Chernobyl 6-10, Royal Wulff 12-14, High Profile Green Drake 12-14, Hair Wing Sallie 16
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
