Aspen Outfitting Company’s Upper Roaring Fork River Report 2/17/23

Cian McGillicuddyWinter Fly FishingLeave a Comment

Flows and Water Clarity

The Roaring Fork is running low and clear – with brief periods of cloudy water in the afternoon on warmer days. Flows are 26 cfs below Maroon Creek, and 123 cfs at Emma. Water temperature is 34 degrees Fahrenheit.

Overview

The fishing has been really good following the recent snow, and with warmer, sunny weather coming for President’s Day Weekend, it should get even better. We’re finding the most success by fishing midday and the afternoon. As always, safety is the number one priority on the river. With significant temperature changes after the recent snow and fluctuations between night to day, ice shelves are prone to breaking, and ice dams can be a concern. Keep an eye up-river for ice flows and if you see the water levels starting to rise, move away from the water. Flows in the Upper Fork have dropped a bit, so make sure that you find slower, deeper water– particularly before 11 and after 3. Focus on deep holes and eddies near natural structure for great results.

Common Hatches and Food Sources 

Midges, Baetis, and Stoneflies.

Midge Larvae and Baetis nymphs are the standard sources of food present in the upper fork during the winter. But, we must say that small stonefly patterns have been crushing it! Retail Manager London Krapff put the rest of us to shame on the river yesterday by using the Element Flies Pat’s Stone Runt (size 16, black). 

During this time of the year trout occasionally feed on eggs, but it can be hit or miss. On warmer days, we’re still seeing some fish rise intermittently to eat hatching midges. 

Hot flies & Techniques

Nymphs 

Midges and Baetis 

Zebra Midge (black, gray, size 18-22), WD40 (black, gray, size 18-22), Miracle Midge (gray, brown, size 18-22) RS2’s (cdc, crystal wing, black, gray, size 18-22), crystal midge (gray, olive, size 20-22), Juju Baetis (red, olive, black size 18-22), Pheasant Tail (natural 18-20).

Point Flies

Pat’s Stone Runt (black, size 16), Two bit Hooker (black, size 14-16), Tungsten jigs with hot collars (yellow, brown, pink, size 14-18), Bead Head Rainbow Warrior (classic, purple, red, size 16-20), Eggs (chartreuse, peach, white). Perdigons (olive, black, 16-18).

Dries: 

Griffith’s gnat (classic or hi-vis, 18-22), Element Hi-Vis Midge (black, size 20) Parachute Adams (18-20), BWO Hackle Stacker (18-20)

Streamers: 

Motor Oil (black, size 6), Slumpbuster (natural, size 8-12), Thin Mint (size 6-10). 

Techniques

Nymphing is the most productive technique during this time of year. Finding deep holding water and using weight to get your flies down will be crucial to success. Longer leaders and heavy split shot will help you get your flies in front of more fish. Leading with larger jig style or tungsten patterns has been a very productive technique for helping smaller flies get down deeper. 

With the cold temperatures, your floating line and line guides are at risk of freezing over so treating your guides and line with ice off paste can help extend your time on the water. With low water temps there are less insects hatching, so the fish are hungry. Small midges and baetis are the staples when fishing this time of year, but don’t be afraid to try something out of the ordinary. Small stoneflies are working surprisingly well right now! If you’re not finding success, get creative with your point flies– larger bugs have been producing occasionally too!

With warmer days forecasted ahead, keep an eye out for pods of rising fish. Winter dry fly hatches can be few and far between, but are incredibly fun and rewarding to fish. Midges are the predominant hatch right now, so switching to small dry flies and fine tippet is your best chance at fooling fish. Small streamers are also an option this time of year, but be sure to focus your efforts on deep pools and structure. 

Wintertime Fish Feeding Habits

As we mentioned last week, trout metabolism is a factor for winter anglers. Trout are cold blooded, so their metabolism is regulated in large part by water temperature. Pay close attention during the warmest part of the day this weekend, as the water temperature is likely to increase after the recent cold snap. A change of even a couple of degrees can have big consequences! Look for fish becoming more adventurous/opportunistic with their menu choices, and feeding more aggressively overall.

Information About The Roaring Fork

The Roaring Fork River is a freestone river that runs 70 miles from Independence Pass through Aspen, Basalt, and Carbondale until it reaches its confluence with the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs. The cold, clean waters of this famous river support an incredible array of aquatic life including brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout. The Roaring Fork is designated as a “Gold Medal” fishery, meaning it offers some of the best trout fishing in the nation to beginners and seasoned anglers alike.

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