Roaring Fork River
Flow: 197cfs/Aspen (Jaffe Park), 442cfs/Basalt, 983cfs/Glenwood Springs
Conditions: Spring conditions are abounding! We’re seeing the water rise with snowmelt and color-up though still fishable even below the Crystal. Lots of float traffic lately with the Colorado being discolored. Junk rigs like stoneflies, worms, flashy caddis and jig patterns are all producing fish. The caddis hatch is on along the lower river and risers are again being seen even through the discolored water. Skate, skitter and bump your caddis dries for the best success. Don’t be surprised if you find the fish holding in surprisingly fast water during caddis hatches. Streamer die-hards are now beginning to hook a few as the fish transition out of winter holding water and are now used to looking up for meals. Overall, the best fishing has been from Basalt t0 Glenwood due to the lower elevation. The upper river from Snowmass to Aspen has just woken up from winters slumber – trails have opened and post-holing through the snow is no longer much of an issue. The fishing has been quite good up here with less pressure than downstream. Focus on stonefly, midge and baetis patterns up here. Additionally, this stretch of water is generally always fishable even when the lower river is too blown-out to fish.
Flies-
Dries: X-Caddis, Foam Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulators, Goddard Caddis, Chubbies, Roy’s Special Emerger, Griffith Gnats, CDC Sparkledun BWO, Purple Haze, Parachute Quill BWO
Nymphs: 20 Inchers, Princes, Rubberlegs, Worms, Rainbow Warriors, Perdigon, Frenchie, Jig Rain Drop, BH Electric Caddis, Graphic Caddis, Soft Hackle Caddis, Rock Grinders, Gumdrops, ZugBugs
Streamers: Sculpilicious, Sculpzilla, Winter Warlock, Sculpinator, Thin Mint, Gongas, Dungeons
