Crystal River –
Flow: 1,850 cfs/Redstone, 2,640 cfs/Carbondale
Update: We’re officially on the back end of runoff now. Flows will continue to drop quickly and clear, fishable conditions should abound within the next two weeks!
Conditions: Though we’re in the middle of runoff right now, summer fishing and hatches are right around the corner. Current conditions are unsafe. Post-runoff, your typical western dry/dropper rig is pretty standard fare. High floating, bushy dry flies like Chubby Chernobyls, PMXs, Stimis, Tarantulas and Dry Humpers are guide favorites in sizes #8-14. Beaded attractor patterns like Princes, Pheasant Tails and 20Inchers are old-school favorites for dropper flies. New-school Euro/Jig flies like Perdigons, Bullets and Frenchies are equally successful in sizes #14-18. Small streamers in darker colors are good searching patterns when the light is low. Our private waters in Redstone and Marble will both offer superb fishing this summer given our good snowpack. Fishing dramatically picks up on these waters in July, with August and September as the true highlights. If you’re in the area during June and runoff is hampering river conditions, your closest fishing options include Beaver and Lizard Lakes in Marble, Dinkle Lake in Carbondale and Ruedi Reservoir in Basalt.
As always, feel free to give us a call for daily river conditions at 970.963.5741
Flies
Dries: Royal Stimi’s, Chubby Chernobyls (yellow/tan), Tarantulas, PMX (yellow), Dry Humper (yellow), Foam Elk Hair Caddis (tan/brown), Ginger Variant, Royal Wulff Cripple, Melon Quill, Sparkle Flag PMD (yellow)
Nymphs: 20Inchers, Pats Rubberlegs, Jig Prince, Jig Breadcrust, TB Electric Caddis, Tung PTs, Rainbow Warriors, BH Barr Emerger PMD, BH Swiss Straw Emerger, Guides Choice, Jig Frenchie, Bullet (purple), Gum Dropper (black), Cold War Caddis
Streamers: Slump Busters, Thin Mints, Sculpzillas, PSLs, Skully Bugger, Royal Coachman Bucktail, Mickey Finn
