Roaring Fork River
Lower (Below Carbondale)

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Recent Guide Reports

Trending Flies in Recent Reports

  1. Parachute Adams  

  2. Autumn Splendor  

  3. BWO  

  4. Parachute BWO  

  5. Circus Peanut  

  6. Foam Caddis  

  7. Midge Emerger  

  8. Mercer's Missing Link  

  9. Missing Link Caddis  

  10. PMD  

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Fly Shop Directory

Recent Guide Reports

Jul 19 Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
Rating: 4/5

LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD
FLOW: 450 CFS in Glenwood Springs
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10 early in the day, afternoon closures in effect
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies, Craneflies, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stoneflies, Sculpins
THE LOW DOWN:

We have two wader and boot cleaning stations here at Taylor Creek! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Water temperatures are an issue now, so we urge you to carry a thermometer and reel up when that water hits 68 degrees. Technically, voluntary closures only apply to the afternoons, but it's the angler's responsibility to keep an eye on water temperatures and fish behavior mid-summer, regardless of time of day. Limit any time the fish spend out of the water, keeping pictures quick or skipping the showmanship altogether. We cant control the flows or the temperatures, but its up to us to act accordingly to protect our precious resources.

Most of the action on the lower Fork has gone sub-surface. Generally, we are nymphing the center line with small, shiny nymphs. Think about the places where the trout can stay cool and covered in this low, warm water. Hopper-dropper can be effective and lead to some exciting eats on top when the weather is right, but dont expect to bring them up in numbers to the hopper.
HATCHES: Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Craneflies, 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
DRIES: Rogue Foam Golden Stone 8-10, Egg Layer Golden Stone 6-8, Grillos Pizza Delivery 6, Mercers Stealth Link PMD 16-18, AKs Melon Quill 16-18, HOH CDC Thorax PMD 16-18, Quasi-No Hackle PMD 16-18, 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 cloudier, crappier 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

This report was written by Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen: http://www.taylorcreek.com
(970) 920-1128

Jul 19 Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
Rating: 4/5

MIDDLE ROARING FORK - BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE
FLOW: 290 CFS at Basalt
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Green Drakes, Pale Morning Duns, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stoneflies, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN:

Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

We have two wader and boot cleaning stations here at Taylor Creek! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

The Fork around basalt has benefited from the increased flow out of Ruedi Reservoir. This stretch of river is the least prone to temperature concerns, often remaining perfectly fishable even through the warmest summers.

Weeks of high, bright sun are never the best for hatches, but we've been seeing great caddis and PMD fishing in the mornings and evenings. The streamer bite has been decent when overcast or low-light conditions exist.
HATCHES: Pale Morning Duns 14-18, Caddis 16-18, Green Drakes 10-14, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
DRIES: Comparadun PMD 16-18, Film Critic PMD 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Puterbaugh's Foam Caddis 16-18, Double-Hackled Drake 12, HOH Last Chance Cripple Drake 12, TC Custom Sparkledun Drake 12-14, 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
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
STREAMERS: Tungsten Double Mint, Tungsten Thin Mint, Craven's Baby Gonga, Carlton Banks, Circus Peanut, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor
HINTS: Shorter rigs than you're used to will help this time of year. With water this low, suspended rigs through the riffles will save you some money on flies.



This report was written by Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen: http://www.taylorcreek.com
(970) 920-1128

Jul 08 Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
Rating: 4/5

LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD
FLOW: 565 CFS in Glenwood Springs

We have two wader and boot cleaning stations here at Taylor Creek! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10 early in the day, water temperatures are getting concerning in the afternoons.
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies, Craneflies, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stoneflies, Sculpins
THE LOW DOWN:

We have two wader and boot cleaning stations here at Taylor Creek! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Most of the action on the lower Fork has gone sub-surface apart from evening Caddis and the occasional morning PMD spinner fall. Generally, we are nymphing the center line with small, shiny nymphs. Think about the places where the trout can stay cool and covered in this low, warm water. Hopper-dropper can be effective and lead to some exciting eats on top when the weather is right, but dont expect to bring them up in numbers to the hopper.

Water temperatures are bordering on concerning, so we urge you to carry a thermometer and reel up when that water hits 68 degrees. Limit any time the fish spend out of the water, keeping pictures quick or skipping the showmanship altogether. We cant control the flows or the temperatures, but its up to us to act accordingly to protect our precious resources.
HATCHES: Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Craneflies, 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
DRIES: Rogue Foam Golden Stone 8-10, Egg Layer Golden Stone 6-8, Grillos Pizza Delivery 6, Mercers Stealth Link PMD 16-18, AKs Melon Quill 16-18, HOH CDC Thorax PMD 16-18, Quasi-No Hackle PMD 16-18, 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 cloudier, crappier 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

This report was written by Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen: http://www.taylorcreek.com
(970) 920-1128

Jul 07 Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
Rating: 4/5

LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD
FLOW: 565 CFS in Glenwood Springs

We have two wader and boot cleaning stations here at Taylor Creek! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10 early in the day, water temperatures are getting concerning in the afternoons.
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies, Craneflies, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stoneflies, Sculpins THE LOW DOWN: Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Most of the action on the lower Fork has gone sub-surface apart from evening Caddis and the occasional morning PMD spinner fall. Generally, we are nymphing the center line with small, shiny nymphs. Think about the places where the trout can stay cool and covered in this low, warm water. Hopper-dropper can be effective and lead to some exciting eats on top when the weather is right, but dont expect to bring them up in numbers to the hopper.

Water temperatures are bordering on concerning, so we urge you to carry a thermometer and reel up when that water hits 68 degrees. Limit any time the fish spend out of the water, keeping pictures quick or skipping the showmanship altogether. We cant control the flows or the temperatures, but its up to us to act accordingly to protect our precious resources.
HATCHES: Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Craneflies, 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 DRIES: Rogue Foam Golden Stone 8-10, Egg Layer Golden Stone 6-8, Grillos Pizza Delivery 6, Mercers Stealth Link PMD 16-18, AKs Melon Quill 16-18, HOH CDC Thorax PMD 16-18, Quasi-No Hackle PMD 16-18, 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 cloudier, crappier 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

This report was written by Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen: http://www.taylorcreek.com
(970) 920-1128

Jul 07 Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
Rating: 4/5

MIDDLE ROARING FORK - BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE
FLOW: 320 CFS at Basalt
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

We have two wader and boot cleaning stations here at Taylor Creek! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Green Drakes, Pale Morning Duns, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stoneflies, Sculpins THE LOWDOWN: Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Its super buggy around Basalt! As stated above, what should be blown out and unfishable is just about in perfect shape.

Twilight drakes, midday caddis and PMDs, plus golden stones are prolific. The streamer bite has been decent when overcast or low-light conditions exist, and theres still enough water to do a two-person float from town down in a light raft.
HATCHES: Green Drakes 10-14, Pale Morning Duns 14-18, 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: Double-Hackled Drake 12, HOH Last Chance Cripple Drake 12, TC Custom Sparkledun Drake 12-14, COmparadun PMD 16-18, Film Critic PMD 16-18, 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



This report was written by Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen: http://www.taylorcreek.com
(970) 920-1128

Jul 06 Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
Rating: 4/5

LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD
FLOW: 565 CFS in Glenwood Springs
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies, Craneflies, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stoneflies, Sculpins THE LOW DOWN: Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Most of the action on the lower Fork has gone sub-surface apart from evening Caddis and the occasional morning PMD spinner fall. Generally, we are nymphing the center line with small, shiny nymphs. Think about the places where the trout can stay cool and covered in this low, warm water. Hopper-dropper can be effective and lead to some exciting eats on top when the weather is right, but dont expect to bring them up in numbers to the hopper.

Water temperatures are bordering on concerning, so we urge you to carry a thermometer and reel up when that water hits 68 degrees. Limit any time the fish spend out of the water, keeping pictures quick or skipping the showmanship altogether. We cant control the flows or the temperatures, but its up to us to act accordingly to protect our precious resources.
HATCHES: Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Craneflies, 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 DRIES: Rogue Foam Golden Stone 8-10, Egg Layer Golden Stone 6-8, Grillos Pizza Delivery 6, Mercers Stealth Link PMD 16-18, AKs Melon Quill 16-18, HOH CDC Thorax PMD 16-18, Quasi-No Hackle PMD 16-18, 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 cloudier, crappier 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

This report was written by Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen: http://www.taylorcreek.com
(970) 920-1128

Fly Shop Directory

Website: http://www.almontanglers.com/
Phone Number: 970-641-7404
Address: 10209 Highway 135, PO Box 513, Almont, CO 81210
Website: http://www.roaringforkanglers.com
Phone Number: 970-963-9245
Address: 995 Cowen Dr. Ste. 102, Carbondale, CO 81623
Website: http://www.crystalflyshop.com/
Phone Number: 970-963-5741
Address: 208 Main Street, Carbondale, CO 81623
Website: http://www.fishcolorado.com
Phone Number: 970-262-2878
Address: PO Box 2540, 400,Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, CO 80498
Website: http://eagleriverflyfishing.com/
Phone Number: 970-328-2323
Address: 25 Eby Creek Road, Eagle, CO 81631
Website: http://www.flyfishingoutfitters.net
Phone Number: 970-845-8090
Address: 1060 W. Beaver Creek Blvd., Avon, CO 81620
Website: http://www.fryingpananglers.com
Phone Number: 970-927-3441
Address: 132 Basalt Center Circle, Basalt, CO 81621
Website: http://www.gorecreekflyfisherman.com/
Phone Number: 970-476-3296
Address: 675 Lionshead Place - Building A, Level 1 Vail, CO
Website: http://www.minturnanglers.com
Phone Number: (970) 827-9500
Address: 102 Main Street, Minturn, CO 81645
Website: http://www.rfanglers.com
Phone Number: 970-945-0180
Address: 2114 B Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Website: http://www.rockymtanglers.com
Phone Number: 303-447-2400
Address: 1904 Araphoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302
Website: http://www.taylorcreek.com
Phone Number: (970) 920-1128
Address: 408 E Cooper Ave, Aspen, CO 81611
Website: http://www.taylorcreek.com
Phone Number: 970-927-4374
Address: 183 Basalt Center Drive, Basalt, CO 81621
Website: http://thecoloradoangler.com/
Phone Number: (970) 513-8055
Address: 249 Summit Place, Silverthorne, CO 80498
Website: http://troutsflyfishing.com
Phone Number: 303-733-1434
Address: 1303 E. 6TH Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Website: http://www.vailvalleyanglers.com/
Phone Number: 970-926-0900
Address: 97 Main Street Unit E102 Edwards, CO 81632
Website: http://www.westernanglers.com
Phone Number: 970-244-8658
Address: 413 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501