July 22, 2024
UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT
FLOW: 800cfs
WATER CLARITY: On the high side but dropping and clearing fast
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Golden Stoneflies, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN: The Fork is dropping in earnest now with flows about half of what they were last week. Clarity has improved significantly. Wading is finally a possibility up high.
Hatches should become more consistent as flows stabilize, but bug activity is already on the up and up. Dry dropper fishing and euro-nymphing are two go-to methods on this upper stretch.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Golden Stoneflies 6-10, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Elk Hair Caddis 18-20, HOH CDC Thorax BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun PMD 16-18, Massacre Midge 22-24, Mole Midge 20-22, HOH Hanging Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, Sprout Midge 20-24, Skittering Z-Lon Midge 20-22, Putterbaugh Caddis Black 16-18
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 6-8. Tungsten Twenty-Incher Nymph 10-12, FKA Prince Nymph 14-16, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior 18-22, BTS Baetis 20-22, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 20, Kingrey's Cap'n Hook 20-22, Bead Wing Midge 20-22, Rojo Midge 20-22
STREAMERS: Autumn Splendor 6, Carlton Banks 4, Cousin It Sculpin 6, Grease Monkey 4, Beldar Lemon Drop 8
HINTS: Fish the soft water along the banks where fish can catch a break from the strong currents present this time of year.
MIDDLE ROARING FORK - BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE
FLOW: 1500cfs in Basalt
WATER CONDITIONS: High but clearing up significantly
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Caddis, Green Drakes, Stoneflies, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN: While the water can still look intimidating to the wade-fisher, the float fishing has been prime. We've seen a day-over-day decrease in flows that has brought multiple feet of clarity. The fish are hungry and willing to eat after a whirlwind runoff.
Believe it or not, the Green Drakes are up to to and past Carbondale as of this week. These big boys love the fast, turbulent water we see in this stretch. Get out there and fish the valley's favorite hatch while it's hot.
There's not a lot of public access mid-river, but local favorites are Catherine Store, behind Crown Mountain Park, and the section along Two Rivers Road here in Basalt.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Golden Stoneflies 4-10, Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 18-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 6-10, Tungsten Twenty-Incher 10-14, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Stott's USD Drake Nymph 12, San Juan Worm 10-12, PMD Trigger Nymph 16-18, Spanish Perdigon 16-18, Stott's Good Carl 20, Stott's BH Drama Rust 20, Jigged Tungsten Red Tie PT 18-20, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Imposter 20-22, Lil Foamy 18-20, Neon Nightmare 20-22
DRIES: Chubby Chernobyl 6-10, Rubber Legs PMX 12, Royal Wulff 10-12, H&L Variant 10-12, Traditional Adams 16-20, Mole Fly Baetis 20-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Befus' Para Emerger 18-22, Putterbaugh Caddis Black 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Hatching Midge 20-22
STREAMERS: Tungsten Double Mint 4-8, Hansen's Meal Ticket 4, Baby Gonga Black 8, Home Invader 2
HINTS: Fish the banks - trout are lazy!
LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD
FLOW: 2000cfs in Glenwood Springs
WATER CONDITIONS: Starting to clear and dropping steadily
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Golden Stones, Blue Winged Olives, Green Drakes, Caddis, Midges, Sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: Though the water is high, Caddis are still coming off later in the evening when the temperatures begin to turn and the clarity improves slightly. Green Drakes are here and ripe for the picking. Remember, this is a late evening hatch so be sure to pack a headlamp and dry shake for a fighting chance at keeping those flies visible.
Wading still isn't ideal but the float fishing is great by all accounts. Everything from streamers to dries to droppers are killing right now, so call your friend with the boat, pack the cold snacks and grab your go-to rig.
Streamers are usually effective on the lower Fork, but we'd suggest smaller flies and natural colors for the most part. Keys tarpon eat size 8 flies, so don't feel like you have to throw a 3/0 double articulated fly to be "streamer fishing."
HATCHES: Green Drakes 10-12, Caddis 14-18, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-26, Golden Stones 4-10
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
NYMPHS: Jigged Duracell 16-18, Cat Poop Stone 4-10, Tungsten Twenty-Incher 10-14, Mercer's Jigster PMD 16-18, Jigged Frenchie 16-18, Spanflex Brown Stonefly 8, San Juan Worm, Foam Top RS2 18-20, Murder She Wrote Rust 18-20, Guide's Choice Hares Ear 16-18, Double Down CDC PT 16-18, Copper John 14-16, BLMs 18-20, Freestone Emerger 22, RS2s 20-22, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Imposters 20-22
DRIES: Reed's Rogue Mustard Chubby 8-12, Egg Layer Golden Stone 8, Improved Sofa Pillow 4-8, Cloud Nine Golden Stone 8-10, H&L Variant 10-12, Royal Wulff 10-12, Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Improved Sparkle Dun BWO 18-22, Quasi-No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy's Special Emerger 20, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Hatching Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, Morgans Midge 18-20, Griffiths Gnat 20
STREAMERS: Beldar Lemon Drop 2, Grease Monkey 4, Slumpbuster 6-8, Devourer of Souls 6, Tim's Splendor 6-8
HINTS: Generally, cloudy days tend to produce the best mayfly action, but caddis prefer the high, bright sun. You'll see the heaviest drake activity near dusk; fish faster water than you're used to!
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
