 |
Roaring Fork River Report
October 3 , 2008
UPPER Roaring Fork - Aspen Downstream to Basalt
FLOW: 33 cfs .
WATER CLARITY: Great clarity coupled with dropping water has made the fishing really heat up. The crowds of summer are rapidly diminishing making for more solitude out along the river as well.
THE SHORT AND SWEET: Nymphing has been exceptional during mornings and afternoons. Attractor nymphs in sizes #14-18 followed by smaller, more exact imitations in the #18-20 range are best. This is great water to dry/dropper fish as well, due to the vast amounts of pocket water present. The drake hatch has moved through the river now, and now just sporadic numbers of drakes are being seen. The PMD's are still going strong and the BWO's are increasing in numbers weekly. Some large fish are beginning to turn up in the nets of lucky anglers including some fish topping the 20"inch mark.
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT:
\PMD's (16-18), BWO's (18-20) and Caddis (12-16)
IN DEPTH REVIEW: With the flows dropping to optimal levels, this is the place to be if you want some solitude, great fishing conditions and are willing to do a bit of hiking. The immense snow pack we had this past year is making for the literally the best late summer and early fall fishing we've ever had. Shallow dry dropper rigs fished in the slower sections of side/pocket water are yielding many fish. In that sense, it's very easy to locate fish, and the fish are really stacking up in these areas. Heavier tippets of 5x and 6x are sufficient. The caddis and drake fishing in the evenings has been superb and a few of our guides have really been tearin' it up on large Stimi's, H&L's and Royal Wulffs. Though the majority of drakes are now gone, the fish still have a residual memory of them and will continue to eat them for the next few weeks. The streamer fishing is really heatin' up along the Fork. Don't be bashful to chuck some larger streamer patterns out there. If you are streamer fishing through pocket water we suggest fishing single flies, while on larger pools and runs a double streamer rig seems to be more effective. PMD hatches are still taking place, and during late afternoons into the early evening hours are often yielding some surprisingly good dry fly fishing.
Appropriate Patterns
Dries: Stimi's, *new* Trixy the Hooker, *new* Convertables, H&L Variants, Royal Wulffs, Ethawing Caddis, P&E Caddis, *new* Flag Dun PMD, *new* Sparkle Stacker PMD, PMD Pink Sparkleduns
Nymphs: *new* Spanflex Stones, Poxybiot Stones, Wired Stones, 20 Inchers, BH Princes, SJ Worms, *new* Yuba Pupa, *new* Freeliving Caddis, *new* Pearl Bead Cased Caddis, PT's, BLM's, STD's, Tungsten Bead Baetis, RS-2's, Glass Bead Midge Emerger, CDC Loopwing BWO
Streamers: Stingin' Sculpins, *new* Mini Sculpin, Slump Busters, Black or Pumpkin Tungsten Buggers, Autumn Splendors, *new* Stingin' Clousers, *new* EP Micro Minnows, *new* EP Trout Streamer
Hints: Many of our fly patterns have been custom tied and developed for the Roaring Fork. Custom tying materials in local colors are available as well. Check in with our staff when you pass through our area and we will happily show you what the hottest flies are and the best areas to fish... Tight Lines!
MIDDLE Roaring Fork - Basalt Downstream to Carbondale
FLOW: 437 cfs in Basalt
WATER CONDITIONS: Visibility is about 3-4 feet. The river is no longer high as flows have receeded significantly over the past week. Great conditions.
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Stoneflies, PMD's, Rusty Spinners, BWO's and Caddis
THE SHORT AND SWEET: Streamer fishing is ON FIRE!! The river is beginning to recede down to the point where floating is getting a bit tough, though the wade fishing is only getting better and better with the lower water.
THE IN DEPTH REVIEW: Shallow, heavy nymph rigs are lethal when fished in the riffles and around the edges of soft water. Many fish are holding at mid-depth in the water column thus supending your nymph rigs three or four feet below your indicator is best, especially when floating. The dry/dropper fishing is great now now too, so be sure to have some hopper patterns in your arsenal. If you've kept an eye on a favorite spot but it has been unfishable due to high flows, now is the time to get out and fish. As August transitions into September, flows will continue to drop and wading will become easier. Faster riffles are slowing down and becoming prime holding/feeding habitat for trout. Concentrate on foot to two foot deep riffles and seams in deeper water. Flies are also getting smaller so concentrate your nymphing to flies between size 16-20s. The streamer fishing is heating back up though especially with the cooler weather and overcast. Early morning floats in particular are great for those wanting to chuck large flies at the banks.
Appropriate Patterns
Nymphs: San Juan Worms, Princes, 20 Inchers, *new* Spanflex Stones, Poxybiot Stones, BH Princes,*new* Yuba Pupa, *new* Freeliving Caddis, *new* Pearl Bead Cased Caddis, STD's, BLM's, Tungsten Bead Baetis, Thread BWO Emerger
Dries: Stimi's, *new* Trixy the Hooker,*new* Convertables, King Kongs, Triple Deckers, B/C Hoppers, Clipped Hopper, P&E Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, Parachute Foam Caddis
Streamers: Tan Stingin' Sculpins, Tan Ziwi's, Autumn Splendors, Black Lightnin' Buggers, Northern Lights, White Clousers, White Zuddlers, *new* EP Trout Streamers, *new* EP Micro Minnow
Hints: Start fishing lighter tippets of 5x now as the water is dropping and fish are keying in on smaller patterns.
LOWER Roaring Fork - Carbondale Downstream to Glenwood
FLOW:669cfs in Glenwood Springs
WATER CONDITIONS: Perfect, and as our young guides say "It's Money".
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Stoneflies, Caddis, PMD's, Rusty Spinners, BWO's
THE SHORT AND SWEET: Streamer fishing is on FIRE . Stoneflies, Caddis, and attractor patterns are all fishing well. Grab your gear and get out there. Now that the river has dropped to a more fishable level, the wade fishing has also been very good along the lower river. The float and wade traffic along the river is light, as most anglers seem to be wading the Pan or floating the Colorado. A few of our guides have been fishing the lower river and rippin' some very nice fish out including several fish in the 16"-20" inch range. Seemingly, with the cooler weather the big fish are on the feed.
THE IN DEPTH REVIEW: Read above. There's no need for the In Depth Review, get out there and fish!
Hints: This is easily the hottest fishing we've seen in September in maybe.....forever. The float fishing is just that good right now and even our wade guides are "killin" it down valley right now.
Appropriate Patterns
Nymphs: San Juan Worms, Princes, 20 Inchers, *new* Spanflex Stones, Poxybiot Stones, Wired Stones, 20 Inchers, BH Princes, *new* Cranefly Larva, SJ Worms, *new* Yuba Pupa, *new* Freeliving Caddis, *new* Pearl Bead Cased Caddis, BLM's, STD's, BH P-Tails, Red Copper Johns, Bulbous Emergers, Boogers, and Blings
Dries: Stimi's, *new* Trixy the Hooker,, *new* Convertables, King Kongs, Rogue Stones, B/C Hoppers, Clipped Hopper
Streamers: Tan Stingin' Sculpins, Tan Ziwi's, Autumn Splendors, Black Lightnin' Buggers, Northern Lights, White Clousers, White Zuddlers, *new* EP Trout Streamers, *new* EP Micro Minnow
Link to the USGS Real Time Flow Chart for the Fork @ Aspen
Link to the USGS Real Time Flow Chart for the Fork @ Basalt (Emma)
Link to the USGS Real Time Flow Chart for the Fork @ Glenwood
|
