Roaring Fork River
Lower (Below Carbondale)
Recent Guide Reports
Forecast
Trending Flies in Recent Reports
- RS-2
- Parachute BWO
- BWO
- San Juan Worm
- 20 Incher
- Prince Nymph
- CDC Midge
- PMD
- Imposter Pupa
- Emerging Midge
Current Conditions
Gauge Flow
High Water Warning
Gauge Height
Water Temperature
Water Temperature Over 68°F
Condition Graphs
Fly Shop Directory
Recent Guide Reports
Oct 12
Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
LOWER ROARING FORK- CARBONDALE TO GLENWOOD
FLOW: 649 cfs in Glenwood Springs
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, midge adults, BWO adults, emergers and nymphs, PMD adults, emergers and nymphs, rusty spinners, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: FYI: Two Rivers boat ramp in Glenwood is closed for repairs until April, so plan accordingly.
Fall conditions are here, and you all know what that means! The streamer bite is getting hot, and we are fooling plenty of trout out there with small to big streamer patterns. We generally suggest trying small streamers first, larger double-articulated flies can cause damage to smaller fish taking a swing at them.
Like the upper and middle, most fish have abandoned the shallow riffles (for now) and are found in the deeper pits with more oxygenated water and cover.
Dry fly hatches are still pretty consistent, if you get into a decent baetis hatch, try attaching a small palsa indicator a few feet up from those tiny dries. Other dries to consider are caddis, PMDs and PMD spinners.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-20, PMDs 14-18, Midges 18-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
NYMPHS: BH Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Halfback PMD Emerger 16-20, 20 Incher 10-14, Poxyback Drake Nymph 12, BLMs 18-20, Freestone Emerger 20, RS2s 20-22, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Thread Body Baetis 18-20, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Jerome PMD 16-18, Tungsten Bruised PMD 16-18, Imposters 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, San Juan Worm 10
DRIES: Melon Quill PMD 16-18, Hackle Stacker PMD 16-18, No Hackle PMD 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 14-18, Tan Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Perfect Baetis 20, Collett's Para BWO 18-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, CDC Comparadun 18-20, Hatching Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Morgans Midge 18-20, Sprout Midge 18-20, Skittering Zelon Midge 20-22, Griffiths Gnat 20, Egg Laying Golden Stone 6-8
HINTS: Watch out for some pretty good hatches, especially when warm and cloudy.
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
FLOW: 649 cfs in Glenwood Springs
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, midge adults, BWO adults, emergers and nymphs, PMD adults, emergers and nymphs, rusty spinners, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: FYI: Two Rivers boat ramp in Glenwood is closed for repairs until April, so plan accordingly.
Fall conditions are here, and you all know what that means! The streamer bite is getting hot, and we are fooling plenty of trout out there with small to big streamer patterns. We generally suggest trying small streamers first, larger double-articulated flies can cause damage to smaller fish taking a swing at them.
Like the upper and middle, most fish have abandoned the shallow riffles (for now) and are found in the deeper pits with more oxygenated water and cover.
Dry fly hatches are still pretty consistent, if you get into a decent baetis hatch, try attaching a small palsa indicator a few feet up from those tiny dries. Other dries to consider are caddis, PMDs and PMD spinners.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-20, PMDs 14-18, Midges 18-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
NYMPHS: BH Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Halfback PMD Emerger 16-20, 20 Incher 10-14, Poxyback Drake Nymph 12, BLMs 18-20, Freestone Emerger 20, RS2s 20-22, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Thread Body Baetis 18-20, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Jerome PMD 16-18, Tungsten Bruised PMD 16-18, Imposters 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, San Juan Worm 10
DRIES: Melon Quill PMD 16-18, Hackle Stacker PMD 16-18, No Hackle PMD 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 14-18, Tan Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Perfect Baetis 20, Collett's Para BWO 18-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, CDC Comparadun 18-20, Hatching Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Morgans Midge 18-20, Sprout Midge 18-20, Skittering Zelon Midge 20-22, Griffiths Gnat 20, Egg Laying Golden Stone 6-8
HINTS: Watch out for some pretty good hatches, especially when warm and cloudy.
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
Oct 12
Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
MIDDLE ROARING FORK- BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE
FLOW: 458 cfs in Basalt
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Midges, BWO adults and nymphs, PMD adults and nymphs, worms, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: The Fork is in perfect shape! Daytime hatches are consisting of BWOs, PMDs and some caddis. Caddis hatches are strongest on the sunny days, mayflies like BWOs prefer cloud cover. You may see a few oddball PMDs and midges as well.
Like the upper river, it's time to add stealth factor to your presentations and movements along the banks. Where you find one fish (usually deep) there should be a few more willing to eat.
If you are floating, keep the hoppers with deep droppers handy as well as your streamer rod with a sink tip line.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-22, Midges 20-24, PMDs 14-18
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Prince Nymphs 18-20, Pheasant Tails 18-24, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Tailwater Assassin 20-22, Imposter 20-22, Lil Foamy 18-20, Neon Nightmare 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, 20 Incher 10-14
DRIES: Elk Hair Caddis 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18, Sparkledun PMD Pink 16-18, Melon Quill PMD 16-20, Collett's Parachute BWO 18-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Bill's Midge Emerger 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Hatching Midge 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22
HINTS: Find some soft water where you can
FLOW: 458 cfs in Basalt
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Midges, BWO adults and nymphs, PMD adults and nymphs, worms, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: The Fork is in perfect shape! Daytime hatches are consisting of BWOs, PMDs and some caddis. Caddis hatches are strongest on the sunny days, mayflies like BWOs prefer cloud cover. You may see a few oddball PMDs and midges as well.
Like the upper river, it's time to add stealth factor to your presentations and movements along the banks. Where you find one fish (usually deep) there should be a few more willing to eat.
If you are floating, keep the hoppers with deep droppers handy as well as your streamer rod with a sink tip line.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-22, Midges 20-24, PMDs 14-18
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Prince Nymphs 18-20, Pheasant Tails 18-24, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Tailwater Assassin 20-22, Imposter 20-22, Lil Foamy 18-20, Neon Nightmare 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, 20 Incher 10-14
DRIES: Elk Hair Caddis 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18, Sparkledun PMD Pink 16-18, Melon Quill PMD 16-20, Collett's Parachute BWO 18-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Bill's Midge Emerger 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Hatching Midge 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22
HINTS: Find some soft water where you can
Oct 09
Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
LOWER ROARING FORK- CARBONDALE TO GLENWOOD
FLOW: 649 cfs in Glenwood Springs
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, midge adults, BWO adults, emergers and nymphs, PMD adults, emergers and nymphs, rusty spinners, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: The fishing is really good out there! This is the time for the switch to smaller flies and tippets as we ease in to late fall and early winter.
We are now in perfect floatable shape out there, and daytime hatches consist of PMDs, BWOs, caddis and a few midges, too.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-20, PMDs 14-18, Midges 18-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
NYMPHS: BH Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Halfback PMD Emerger 16-20, 20 Incher 10-14, Poxyback Drake Nymph 12, BLMs 18-20, Freestone Emerger 20, RS2s 20-22, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Thread Body Baetis 18-20, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Jerome PMD 16-18, Tungsten Bruised PMD 16-18, Imposters 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, San Juan Worm 10
DRIES: Hairy Sally 16, Garcia's Mini Hot Sally 16, Melon Quill PMD 16-18, Hackle Stacker PMD 16-18, No Hackle PMD 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 14-18, Tan Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Perfect Baetis 20, Collett's Para BWO 18-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, CDC Comparadun 18-20, Hatching Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Morgans Midge 18-20, Sprout Midge 18-20, Skittering Zelon Midge 20-22, Griffiths Gnat 20, Egg Laying Golden Stone 6-8
HINTS: Watch out for some pretty good hatches, especially when warm and cloudy.
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
FLOW: 649 cfs in Glenwood Springs
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, midge adults, BWO adults, emergers and nymphs, PMD adults, emergers and nymphs, rusty spinners, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: The fishing is really good out there! This is the time for the switch to smaller flies and tippets as we ease in to late fall and early winter.
We are now in perfect floatable shape out there, and daytime hatches consist of PMDs, BWOs, caddis and a few midges, too.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-20, PMDs 14-18, Midges 18-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
NYMPHS: BH Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Halfback PMD Emerger 16-20, 20 Incher 10-14, Poxyback Drake Nymph 12, BLMs 18-20, Freestone Emerger 20, RS2s 20-22, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Thread Body Baetis 18-20, Soft Hackle BWO 20-22, Jerome PMD 16-18, Tungsten Bruised PMD 16-18, Imposters 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, San Juan Worm 10
DRIES: Hairy Sally 16, Garcia's Mini Hot Sally 16, Melon Quill PMD 16-18, Hackle Stacker PMD 16-18, No Hackle PMD 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 14-18, Tan Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Perfect Baetis 20, Collett's Para BWO 18-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, CDC Comparadun 18-20, Hatching Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Morgans Midge 18-20, Sprout Midge 18-20, Skittering Zelon Midge 20-22, Griffiths Gnat 20, Egg Laying Golden Stone 6-8
HINTS: Watch out for some pretty good hatches, especially when warm and cloudy.
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
Oct 09
Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
MIDDLE ROARING FORK- BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE
FLOW: 458 cfs in Basalt
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Midges, BWO adults and nymphs, PMD adults and nymphs, worms, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: The Fork is in perfect shape! Daytime hatches are consisting of BWOs, PMDs and some caddis. Caddis hatches are strongest on the sunny days, mayflies like BWOs prefer cloud cover. You may see a few oddball PMDs and midges as well.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-22, Midges 20-24, PMDs 14-18
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Prince Nymphs 18-20, Pheasant Tails 18-24, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Tailwater Assassin 20-22, Imposter 20-22, Lil Foamy 18-20, Neon Nightmare 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, 20 Incher 10-14
DRIES: Elk Hair Caddis 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18, Sparkledun PMD Pink 16-18, Melon Quill PMD 16-20, Collett's Parachute BWO 18-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Bill's Midge Emerger 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Hatching Midge 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22
HINTS: Find some soft water where you can
FLOW: 458 cfs in Basalt
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, Midges, BWO adults and nymphs, PMD adults and nymphs, worms, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: The Fork is in perfect shape! Daytime hatches are consisting of BWOs, PMDs and some caddis. Caddis hatches are strongest on the sunny days, mayflies like BWOs prefer cloud cover. You may see a few oddball PMDs and midges as well.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-22, Midges 20-24, PMDs 14-18
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: BLMs 18-20, Prince Nymphs 18-20, Pheasant Tails 18-24, Freestone Emerger 20, BH Polywing Emerger 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Tailwater Assassin 20-22, Imposter 20-22, Lil Foamy 18-20, Neon Nightmare 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, 20 Incher 10-14
DRIES: Elk Hair Caddis 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18, Sparkledun PMD Pink 16-18, Melon Quill PMD 16-20, Collett's Parachute BWO 18-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Bill's Midge Emerger 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Hatching Midge 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22
HINTS: Find some soft water where you can