Roaring Fork River
Upper (Above Carbondale)

UPPER ROARING FORK- ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT
FLOW: 1200 cfs below Maroon Creek (Woody Creek Canyon)
WATER CLARITY: Getting big and brown, early runoff is here. You'll find clearer water conditions in the afternoons
OVERALL RATING: 1 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWO adults and nymphs, midges, golden stoneflies, caddis, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: BWOs and Midges are the main food source, but leading with a stonefly or prince nymph could get fish looking. When fishing the upper Fork, especially at these flows, focus on the soft water near the banks. We're starting to fish some larger bugs on heavier tippet, but you may need to revert to small flies and tippet if the river is running clear.

Make sure to wear some studded boots or bring a walking staff, fishing from the middle of the river opens opportunities for multiple drifts and picking off every pocket a trout could hold.
HATCHES: BWOs 18-22, midges 20-24, caddis 16-18
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Pearl and Elk 16-18, Peacock Caddis 16-18, Sparkledun BWO 18-22, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, Sprout Midge 20-24, Skittering Z Lon Midge 20-22
NYMPHS: BLM 18-20, Tungsten Bead Baetis 20, 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: Weir's Sculpin 6, Autumn Splendor 6, Zuddler 6, Slumpies 6-8
HINTS: Skip the blah water and focus on the deeper open runs and pools.

The roaring fork is rising as runoff is hitting that area and causing the rivers to rise and become off color. The fork is flowing over 2000 through basalt with around 1 foot of visibility. A good day fishing can still be found on the fork but conditions can vary day to day as our historic snowpack will continue to have an effect on the river system for the first part of summer. There should however be some good caddis hatches that could get some fish looking up as well as some solid bwo hatches that could increase fish activity. That said, nymphing will still be the most productive method of fishing. With the high water bigger flies and bigger tippet will be a smart move. Look to throw some stoneflies, caddis, and other larger/brighter flies to cut through the stained water.

Parachute Adams
#12-22
Para Extended Body PMD #14-18
Sparkle Dun PMD #14-18
Hackle Stacker PMD #14-18
Lucent Wing Green Drake #12-14
Sparkle Dun Green Drake #12-14
Foam Green Drake #12-14
Missing Link Green Drake #12-14
Elk hair Caddis #14-18 (yellow
tan
olive)
Chubby Sally #14
Silvey's Sally #16-18
Chubby Chernobyl #10-16
Amy's Ant #12-16. Jujubaetis PMD #18-22
Barr's Emerger PMD #18-22
SparkleWing RS2 #18-20
Blue Poison Tung #16-18
Tungsten Rainbow Warrior #18-22
Girdle Bug #6-10
Tungsten Teaser #10-18
20-Incher
Copper John #10-18
Pheasant Tail #12-18
Poxyback Green Drake #12-14
CDC P-Tail #10-18
2 Bit hooker (red) #14-18
Sparkle Minnow #6
Zoo Cougar #4
Sculpzilla #8
SlumpBuster #8
Bellyache Minnow #8
Near Nuff Crayfish #8. Iron Sally #12-16