Roaring Fork River
Upper (Above Carbondale)

UPPER ROARING FORK - ASPEN DOWNSTREAM TO BASALT
FLOW: 21 CFS at Aspen
WATER CLARITY: Very Low and Clear
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN: Expect a slight flow bump if the temps go up after this deep snowstorm, but for now the Fork is steady, if very low and clear (typical for the next 5 months.) These fish won't tolerate a noisy approach or a sloppy presentation. We're sticking to our small flies -- think midges and blue winged olives -- and short rigs. With these cold mornings, afternoons have tended to be the most buggy.

The browns are at the tail end of spawn this time of year and it's hungry work, so the odds are in your favor.

Dry-dropper fishing and euro-nymphing are two go-to methods on this upper stretch as well.
HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: DRIES: TC Sparkledun BWO 20-22, HOH CDC Thorax BWO 20-22, CDC Biot Comparadun BWO 22, Harrop's CDC Biot Emerger BWO 20, Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Quill Midge 20, Solitude Hatching Midge Black 22, McChannel's Massacre Midge 22-24, Bill Fitzsimmons Trailing Shuck Midge 22-26
NYMPHS: Stott's Raisinette 20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph 18-20, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Jigged Hot Orange Bead CDC Pheasant Tail 18-20, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior 18-22, BTS Baetis 20-22, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Beadwing Midge Emerger Grey 20-22, Pulsating Midge Emerger 20, Freestone Emerger Olive 22, Tailwater Tiny Midge Red 20-22, Chartreuse EggSTREAMERS: 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: 17 CFS at Aspen
WATER CLARITY: Very Low and Clear
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Sculpins
THE LOWDOWN: The Fork is low, low, low and clear. These fish won't tolerate a noisy approach or a sloppy presentation. We're sticking to our small flies -- think midges and blue winged olives -- and short rigs. With these cold mornings, afternoons have tended to be the most buggy.

The browns are gearing up for the spawn this time of year and it's hungry work, so the odds are in your favor.

Dry-dropper fishing and euro-nymphing are two go-to methods on this upper stretch as well.
HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: DRIES: TC Sparkledun BWO 20-22, HOH CDC Thorax BWO 20-22, CDC Biot Comparadun BWO 22, Harrop's CDC Biot Emerger BWO 20, Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Quill Midge 20, Solitude Hatching Midge Black 22, McChannel's Massacre Midge 22-24, Bill Fitzsimmons Trailing Shuck Midge 22-26
NYMPHS: Stott's Raisinette 20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph 18-20, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Jigged Hot Orange Bead CDC Pheasant Tail 18-20, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior 18-22, BTS Baetis 20-22, Sparklewing RS2 20-22, Beadwing Midge Emerger Grey 20-22, Pulsating Midge Emerger 20, Freestone Emerger Olive 22, Tailwater Tiny Midge Red 20-22, Chartreuse EggSTREAMERS: 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