FLYMASTERColorado · river
Roaring Fork River
The Roaring Fork River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 70 miles (110 km) long, in west central Colorado in the United States. The river drains a populated and economically vital area of the Colorado Western Slope called the Roaring Fork Valley or Roaring Fork Watershed, which includes the resort city of Aspen and the resorts of Aspen/Snowmass. From Wikipedia
- Length
- 70 mi
- Basin
- 1,453 sq mi
- Elevation
- 5,719 ft
- Flows into
- Colorado River
Flow now
Roaring Fork River Blw Maroon Creek Nr Aspen, CO, 7 mi from the river.
121cfsat build, Nov 12, 12 PM MT
The typical week here, from 8 years of record: 100 cfs to 114 cfs, around 107 cfs.
Also gauged at Fryingpan River Near Ruedi, CO.: 45 cfs, Nov 12.
Snowpack
1.2 in of water in the snow at Chapman Tunnel and 2 more stations, against a median 1.0 in for the date (119 % of normal).
The snowpack here usually builds from Oct 21, peaks Apr 19 and is gone by Jun 1; runoff follows the melt.
The season, November
Usually workable this week. Pick your window and fish it well.
- Midgessizes 18 to 22
- Small eggs and worms
- Pheasant tail and zebra midge nymphsunder an indicator
Typical for the week over 8 years: 100 to 114 cfs. Running 121 cfs today, inside that range. Flows are not forecast; check the gauge the day before.
Brown Trout are spawning (October to December). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.
Brook Trout are spawning (September to November). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.
Mountain Whitefish are spawning (October to December). The egg bite behind spawning whitefish is the best winter nymphing of the year: an egg pattern below the riffles.
- Egg patterns in the runs below the spawning gravel, never on it.
Written by the app's rules engine from the calendar, the gauge record and the snowpack, not by hand, so it says only what the data says. The weather for the week comes with the app.
Fly shops on this water
- Crystal Fly Shop CarbondaleWebsiteFishing report, updated Sep 2
- Frying Pan Anglers BasaltWebsiteFishing report
- Roaring Fork Anglers Glenwood SpringsWebsiteFishing report
- Taylor Creek Fly Shops BasaltWebsiteFishing report, updated Aug 25
- Vail Valley Anglers EdwardsWebsiteFishing report, updated Aug 25
Nearby waters
- Fryingpan River7 mi
- Ruedi Reservoir8 mi
- Crystal River20 mi
- Eagle River29 mi
- East River31 mi
- Taylor River38 mi
- Gore Creek41 mi
Open Roaring Fork River in FlyMaster for today's plan, the flies, and your own log here.
Flows from the U.S. Geological Survey, snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network, text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Built Nov 12.