Autumn Gold on the Roaring Fork: October Fishing Report

October 11th is here, and the Roaring Fork is fishing exactly how I like it—low, clear, and demanding. We are running at about 115 CFS below Maroon Creek, which means you have to be precise. This isn't the time for heavy-handed casting. I have been spending my days in the new Clackacraft drift boat, and at these flows, boat control is everything. If you are looking for trophy trout, you need to be dead-drifting small, shiny nymphs through those deeper, cooler pockets where the big rainbows and browns are hunkered down to escape the midday sun.

The hatches are lingering longer than usual, which is a gift. While the Fryingpan gets all the press for its bug density, the Fork in the Aspen area is where you go to earn your stripes. We are seeing BWO activity in the mornings and evenings, and if you catch the light right, you will see heads popping for midges and the occasional stubborn caddis. Don't go hunting for heavy weight; stick to 18-24 sized midge patterns and 18-22 BWOs. I’ve been rigging my Sage fly fishing setups with light tippet, and frankly, the Hardy fly fishing reels have been doing the heavy lifting when one of those angry fall browns decides to run for the timber.

From the upper stretches near Aspen down through Basalt and Carbondale, and eventually into the confluence at Glenwood Springs, the river is a moving mosaic of autumn colors. It is the perfect time for scenic float fishing, whether you are a solo angler chasing a personal best or a group looking to do something different. We have been hosting a lot of bachelor and bachelorette parties lately; honestly, there is no better way to celebrate than spending a day on a drift boat rather than a bar stool. It is a unique Colorado adventure that sticks with you long after the waders come off.

Keep your thermometer handy—the water is low and slow, so if the afternoon heat spikes, give the fish a break. But when the clouds roll in, the dry fly fishing picks up, and that is when the magic happens. Whether you are after those big browns that only come out to play when the temperature drops, or just want to master the drift on a legendary stretch of water, come see us at Aspen Angling Company. My calendar is filling up fast, but we have some stellar days left on the water. Give us a call and let’s get you on the oars. Woody Kiehl out.