Roaring Fork River
Flow: 348cfs/Aspen (Jaffe Park), 574cfs/Basalt, 991cfs/Glenwood Springs
Conditions: The lower river from Carbondale to Glenwood Springs has been fishing well in the mornings up until about 2pm or so. Water temps have been getting up to 68’f the past few days in late afternoons – because of that, anglers should be carrying a stream thermometer with them and cease fishing when temps meet or exceed 68’f. It would not surprise any of us if the CPW places fishing restrictions on the lower river in the coming week(s). The float traffic has been heavy as guides from Summit County and the Vail Valley are now fishing here too with their rivers being shut down. Hatches are consisting of PMDs, yellow sallies and caddis. With the water dropping, fish are moving off of the banks and into midriver holding areas. The river is at a great level for hopper/dropper/dropper rigs with even a fair amount of fish coming up and eating the dry! The green drake ‘wave’ is now along the upper portions of river from Basalt to Aspen. Midday hatches of green drakes are more frequent up here with evenings giving up the heaviest numbers of bugs. The headwaters of the river up near Independence Pass have really been shining lately – plus Mother Nature’s air conditioning is awfully nice too. Picking pockets with a single dry fly and catching brook trout is about as much fun as you can have with your Crocs on.
Flies-
Dries: Adams Wulff, Royal Wulff, H&L Variant, Comparadun Drake, CDC Parachute Drake, Colorado Hen Wing Drake, Chubby Chernobyls, Dry Humpers, Tarantulas, PMXs, Stimi ChewToys, Foam Elk Hair Caddis, Egg Laying Caddis, E/C Caddis, Renegades, Rusty Spinner
Nymphs: Rubberleg Stones, CheaterBelly Stones, Jig CopperJohn Green, 20Inchers, Point Drake, Crown Jewel Drake, Stalcups Drake Emerger, Sunkin Spinner, Princes, BH Electric Caddis, Breadcrust Caddis, Gum Drops, Rock Grinders, Jiggy Sally, Halfback PMD, Swiss Straw Emerger
Streamers: Jig Mini Bugger, Thin Mint, P3 Bugger, Double Bunny, Gongas, Dungeons, Jig Sparkle Minnow
