Roaring Fork River
Upper (Above Carbondale)

UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT
FLOW: 112 CFS at Aspen
WATER CLARITY: Clear, but seeing intermittent color from Lincoln Creek
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, Caddis, Golden Stoneflies, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Craneflies, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN: Hatches have become much more consistent as flows have now stabilized. You name almost any trout bug --they're present on the upper Fork. We're seeing all the above insects, and remember the Green Drake hatch tends to happen at dusk (unless it's a cloudy day, then they'll pop off midday).

We usually recommend treating the upper Fork like the Fryingpan, as in light tippets, perfect presentations, and not laying your line over the fish.

Dry-dropper fishing and euro-nymphing are two go-to methods on this upper stretch as well. Don't overlook terrestrial patterns like hoppers, ants and beetles!
HATCHES: Green Drakes 10-12, Craneflies 10-16, Pale Morning Duns 14-18, PMD Rusty Spinners 14-18, Caddis 14-18, Golden Stoneflies 6-10, Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: DRIES: Chubby Chernobyl 6-10, Rogue Foam Golden Stonefly 8-10, Egg-Layer Golden Stone 8, Amy's Ant 8-10, Craven's Baby Boy Hopper 12, Skippy Hopper 8, Cloud Nine Golden Stone 6-10, TC Custom Green Drake Sparkledun 12-14, Green Drake Cripple 12, Perin's Comparadun Green Drake 12, Flick's March Brown 12, Garcia's Mini Hot Yellow Sallile 16, Putterbaugh Caddis Black 16-18, Elk Hair Caddis 18-20, HOH CDC Thorax BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun BWO 20-22, TC Sparkledun PMD 16-18, Uber-Realistic PMD 16-18, No Hackle PMD 16-18, Cranefly Adult 10
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 6-10, Griffin's Twenty-Incher Nymph 10-16, Prince Nymph 12-18, Soft Hackle Peacock 16, Stott's Raisinette 20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph 18-20, Tungsten Faucci Nymph 16-18, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Jigged Hot Orange Bead CDC Pheasant Tail 16-20, Stott's USD Nymph 12, Magnymphico 16-18, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior 18-22, BTS Baetis 20-22, Sparklewing RS2 20-22 STREAMERS: Swim Coach, Slump Buster, Carlton Banks, Baby Gonga, Autumn SplendorHINTS: Fish the soft water along the banks before you cast into the middle of the river

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 20-22STREAMERS: Autumn Splendor 6, Carlton Banks 4, Cousin It Sculpin 6, Grease Monkey 4, Beldar Lemon Drop 8HINTS: Fish the soft water along the banks where fish can catch a break from the strong currents present this time of year.