River: The Roaring Fork River starts
near Independence Pass South East of Aspen, flows through Aspen; is joined by
the Frying Pan at Basalt, the Crystal at Carbondale and dumps into the Colorado
River near Glenwood Springs. There are many smaller streams that join the
“Fork” along its northwesterly course from the Continental Divide to the
Colorado River.
Water:
The river varies widely from its source to the Colorado. The small, brushy
stream becomes a floatable river between Basalt and Carbondale. Much of the
river is also wadable during much of the season, but great care should be taken
while doing so. The river is powerful through much of its flow and the bottom is
aptly described as “greased bowling balls”.
Access:
There are a variety of fisherman access points along the course of the Fork.
Some of the more popular are near Woody Creek, the town of Basalt, near
Carbondale and through the town of Glenwood Springs. The river is popular with
drift boat and raft owners; there are good put in points near Carbondale, at the
West Bank Bridge and in several spots around Glenwood Spring.
Fish:
The most common fish are rainbow and brown trout, but there are some cutthroat
through the river and brook trout inhabit the upper stretches. The lower river
holds some very large trout with the average fish being 14-16 inches. The
rainbows are powerful and love to jump here! The river is also home to a
multitude of Rocky Mountain Whitefish. While scorned by many, a whitefish can
save the day during slow fishing times. If you want to avoid catching the
whitefish, use dry flies, streamers of larger nymphs; they like eating small
nymphs, which fit into their small mouths well.
Bugs:
the Fork has very good hatches of caddis flies, mayflies – including PMD’s
and Green Drakes during summer months – as well as stonefly hatches – goldens and the larger Pteronarcys; midge hatches are dependable during winter
months when the river is fishable.
Flies:
Standard imitations of the above bugs are useful; attractor patterns can be very
effective; the Fork fish seem to like Trude patterns. When floating, the river
can be fished very effectively by using streamer patterns; a tan or white Zonker
is particularly useful. Fishing a dry and a dropper is very effective; try a
large (size 8-12) Stimulator and a bead head prince for a dropper. Nymphs that
imitate the hatching bugs are also useful; large, dark nymphs in summer months
and smaller patterns such as pheasant tails and midge larva patterns work well
in winter months.
Techniques:
When nymph fishing, look for riffles that drop into runs; fish the edges and
current seams; there is lots of cover for trout throughout the flow of the Fork. Nymphing calls for some chuck and duck fishing during some seasons. Streamers
should be cast to the edges and stripped away. Dry fly anglers will do well to
watch for rising fish, and also will do well by fishing likely looking shallower
water with attractor patterns. A good presentation and long drift will serve the
angler well.
Seasons:
The Fork fishes well after the coldest of the winter months; the Roaring Fork
Valley can be very cold during January and parts of February. Often, there is
shelf ice and ice flows in the river during this time. Best to fish the Pan,
then. Spring conditions – during pre runoff – can be very good. Good hatches
of BWO and midges may be abundant; fishing the water with stone fly nymphs and
bead head patterns can be very effective. Run off is pretty dependable on the
Fork, making the river unfishable from anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of
months. After runoff, the river is great; it is a wonderful time for a float;
wade fishing, as the river drops, can be very effective. Fall months are
magnificent in the valley and the fishing is too.
Rating:
The Roaring Fork is one of the real treasures of the Rocky Mountain West. A must
fish destination for folks from around Colorado and the nation. Glenwood Springs
is about a three hour drive from Denver; it takes another hour to get to Aspen.
A day trip is possible for front range residents; various and plentiful hotels
offer a nice opportunity for an overnighter, as well.
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