Things got a little western on the Roaring Fork on Monday and Tuesday! The river was ripping and visibility was low, but water clarity has improved slightly and flows have returned to a similar level to last week– our Guide Trips that went out yesterday were slaying fish! Though projected high temps in the 60s this weekend and next week mean snow melt could level off, we’re anticipating some rain and thunderstorms – particularly in the afternoons. That’ll mean daily ebbs and flows in river levels, and precipitation will likely decrease visibility. Lower visibility and rain means that fish should be crushing worms, big Stoneflies and Caddis nymphs right off of the bank and in slower water!
Aspen Outfitting Company’s Upper Roaring Fork River Report 5/26/23
The Roaring Fork is roaring! Runoff is in full swing, but the fishing remains good. Visibility is definitely low, but clarity is better as you move higher up valley. High flows and cloudy water means that it’s time for the big nasty bugs! Stoneflies, worms, big jig style nymphs, flashy bugs and streamers are the name of the game. Caddis have started popping on the fork, if you haven’t tried fishing some bigger caddis nymphs yet, give it a try!
Aspen Outfitting Company’s Upper Roaring Fork River Report 5/5/23
With rain earlier this week, flows have risen quite a bit! Runoff is definitely happening and conditions can change quickly. On rainy days or following warm weather, expect increased flows and cloudy water. That means it’s time for the big nasty bugs! Stoneflies, worms, big jig style nymphs, flashy bugs and streamers are the name of the game. Caddis have started popping on the fork, if you haven’t tried fishing caddis nymphs yet, give it a try! If water clarity is decent where you’re fishing, downsize your flies and opt for more natural colors.
Aspen Outfitting Company’s Upper Roaring Fork River Report 4/28/23
Weather this past week has caused inconsistent conditions on the river. As we move into a warmer weather pattern this week, we expect some snow melt at higher elevations, increased flows and some cloudier water. River conditions also may change throughout the day! We’ve been seeing clearer water earlier in the day with visibility decreasing as we move into the afternoon and evening. If you’re fishing earlier in the morning, try trailing midges and BWOs behind a smaller, more natural stonefly pattern. As we move into the afternoon, or on days with poor visibility, we’re finding good success with bigger flashier stoneflies, worms, generalist patterns and streamers!
Aspen Outfitting Company’s Upper Roaring Fork River Report 4/21/23
After increased flows and decreased visibility last week, flows have settled back down and the water has cleared up with this colder weather! Colder temps this week should keep these conditions stable. That means some of the bigger bugs that were working last week are still in play, but smaller midge and baetis patterns are back on the menu!
Gear Swap Item Catalogue
If haven’t heard already– we’re excited to announce our first annual Spring Fly Fishing Gear Swap and Blowout Bonanza! Thank you to everyone for all of the wonderful contributions. We hope that this gear swap will allow local anglers to make money by clearing out their gear closets while giving newer anglers the opportunity to get high quality, used gear at a reduced price. There will be tons of great gear, free drinks and food live music, giveaways and some killer pre-summer sales!
Aspen Outfitting Company’s Upper Roaring Fork River Report 4/14/23
Big changes are happening on the river! Flows have doubled in the past week and water clarity has dropped substantially. A few days of really warm weather caused snow to melt and water levels to rise. We’ll have to see what the mix of cooler temperatures and precipitation this weekend and next week will do to water levels and clarity, but it looks like the beginning stages of runoff have started! Despite the rapid change, the fishing has been lights out!
Aspen Outfitting Company’s Upper Roaring Fork River Report 4/7/23
Happy Easter Weekend! The next few days should be beautiful, so get out on the river and have yourself an Easter Trout Hunt! With forecasts in the high 40’s and low 50’s for this weekend and high temps in the 60’s early next week, midge and BWO hatches should gain some serious momentum!
Aspen Outfitting Company’s Upper Roaring Fork River Report 3/31/23
This past week brought us sunshine, snow and a wide range of temperatures. As a result, we’ve been seeing river conditions change throughout the week, but we’ve been catching fish throughout it all! Nymphing continued to be productive during the colder streaks, and we were really excited to see some fish rising during the warmer days. Dust off those dry fly boxes, because we’re starting to catch fish on the surface!
Best Summer Activities in Aspen 2023
Are you ready for the summer? WE MOST CERTAINLY ARE! Warmer weather has us thinking about long summer days, hungry fish and awe-inspiring sunsets. If you are as excited as we are, you’re probably already making plans. Here’s a list of some of our favorite Summer activities for 2023!