Roaring Fork River
Lower (Below Carbondale)

LOWER ROARING FORK - CARBONDALE DOWNSTREAM TO GLENWOOD
FLOW: 340 CFS in Glenwood Springs
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins, Eggs
THE LOW DOWN: Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Warm weather and stable flows have blessed us with the first real BWO hatches of the year. They're here earlier than normal, but maybe not surprisingly with this spring-like weather. Fishing smaller patterns (#20-22) will likely be most productive.

When in doubt, midges have been reliable. Warmer days will always be better for hatches this time of year, but you'll almost always find a fish willing to grab a midge nymph, especially trailed behind a larger, more attractive stonefly pattern.

Streamers can still be effective, but generally the fish are going to be less aggressive/reactive as water and air temps drop substantially.
HATCHES: Midges, Blue Winged Olives
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 8-12, Rust Murder She Wrote 18-20, Tim Heng's BLM 18-20, Tungsten Two Bead Nymph Black 18-20, Stott's Raisinette 20, Stott's Mercury Bad Carl Grey 20, BMW Foam Top RS2 Black 20-22, Mercury Bead RS2 Grey 22, Pandemic BWO Emerger 20-22, Freestone Emerger Olive 22, Internal Wire Tube Midge Black/Red 20, Desert Storm Midge Fluor. Orange 22, TC Custom Midge Red/Clear 20-22, Flash Egg 18
DRIES: Parachute Adams 18-24, TC Custom Collette's BWO 20-22, Bill Fitzsimmons' Trailing Shuck Midge Emerger 22-24, Sprout Midge 20-22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Midge 22-24, McCannel's Massacre Midge 22-24, Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22-24
STREAMERS: Craven's Swim Coach, Circus Peanut, Grease Monkey, Barr's Slumpbuster, Devourer of Souls, Hansen's Meal Ticket, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor,
HINTS: In the winter, things reverse -- the best hatches should be seen on warmer, sunny days.

Upper Roaring Fork: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=09076300&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060

Middle Roaring Fork: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09081000

Lower Roaring Fork: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09085000

MIDDLE ROARING FORK - BASALT DOWNSTREAM TO CARBONDALE
FLOW: 175 CFS at Basalt
WATER CLARITY: Clear
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins, Eggs
THE LOWDOWN: Be a Pain in the A.N.S.! Clean Your Gear | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Blue Winged Olives are moving slowly and steadily upwards as the weather encourages them. They won't be as strong here as they are on the lower stretches of the Fork and on the Colorado, but don't be surprised if you see some coming off.

With low, stable flows, it's fairly straightforward fishing around these parts. For best results, focus your attention on deeper runs and pools where fish can find cover and expend less energy while water is still cold. Keep flies tiny (exception: egg patterns) and watch that bobber for lazy, subtle strikes. Best time to fish is in the afternoon especially after night time temps drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

There have been some bursts of off-color due to some construction work at the confluence of the Pan and Fork.
HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 18-22, Midges 18-24

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS
NYMPHS: Jigged Tungsten Red-Tie PT 18-20, Tungsten 2 Bead Nymph Olive 18, Jigged Iron Lotus 18, Jigged Hares Ear 16-18, Stott's Juggernaut 20, Stott's Raisinette 20, Barr's Emerger 18-22, Neon Nightmare 22-24, Bling Midge Charcoal/Tan 20-24, Flash Egg 18
DRIES: Traditional Adams 20-22, Sprout Midge 20-22, Antonio's Hi-Vis Midge 22-24, McCannel's Massacre Midge 22-24, Dorsey's Midge Emerger 22-24, Collette's BWO 18-22, Purple Haze Parachute Adams 18-20,
STREAMERS: Tungsten Double Mint, Tungsten Thin Mint, Craven's Baby Gonga, Carlton Banks, Circus Peanut, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor
HINTS: Get your flies down -- heavy shot, small flies