Crystal River –
Flow: 580cfs/Redstone, 594 cfs/Carbondale
Conditions: Runoff is fading fast and with that comes some spectacular fishing taking place along the Crystal. It’ll be another week or so for the Crystal to really shine as the water continues to drop. Once it does, it’ll be game-on with some of the best fishing of the year taking place. If you despise the crowds on the Pan and Fork, the local’s choice is the Crystal. These forgiving fish like to eat a well presented fly and rewards anglers with opportunities for the Colorado Trout Slam (catching a cutthroat, brook, rainbow and brown trout). As an added bonus, the Crystal is also one of the last strongholds for Mountain Whitefish in Colorado (Super Slam!). Dry/dropper setups are ideal for the majority of the river. Cover water and practice stealth when approaching these fish. Caddis, PMDs, golden stoneflies and even green drakes are being encountered on the Crystal.
Flies
Dries: Foamulator Yellow, Dry Humper, Mini Chubby Yellow, Stimi ChewToy, PMXs, Foam Elk Hair Caddis, Melon Quill, Flag Dun PMD, Comparadun Drake
Nymphs: French Dips, Perdigons, Rain Drops, Gum Drops, BH Electric Caddis, Breadcrusts, BH Princes, Poxybiot Golden Stone, SanJuan Worm, Tung PTs, Mexican Flag, BH Barr Emerger PMD, Swiss Straw Emerger
Streamers: P3 Buggers, Thin Mints, Mini Jig Buggers
