Late October Gold: Roaring Fork Valley Fly Fishing Update

It is October 29, and if you aren't on the water, you are missing the best bite of the season. I have spent 30 years dialing in the Roaring Fork Valley, and I’m telling you, the transition into late autumn is when the real heavyweights wake up. Whether you are chasing big browns on the streamer or looking for big rainbows sipping midges in the slicks, the Aspen area fly fishing scene is firing on all cylinders. My new Clackacraft drift boat has been sliding through the lower Roaring Fork with ease, and the water clarity is exactly where it needs to be for some serious driftboat fishing. We are seeing solid Blue Winged Olive activity on the cloudy days, but when the sun hits, don’t be afraid to pull out the heavy artillery. I’ve been running my Sage fly fishing setups rigged with articulated streamers, and the aggressive takes are enough to rattle your teeth. The browns are getting territorial, and if you put the fly in the right zone—those deep, dark buckets near Carbondale and the structure between Basalt and Glenwood Springs—you are going to find those trophy trout you dream about. Don’t forget the Colorado River either; the stretch below Grizzly Creek is fishing lights out, and the water below Glenwood Springs is holding some absolute monsters right now. If you have been itching to get out, we are still running scenic float fishing trips that are perfect for those wanting to cover water comfortably. By the way, if you are planning a bachelor or bachelorette party, skip the stale bars and get your crew in my boat for a real Colorado adventure. I have got my Hardy fly fishing gear tuned up and ready for anyone brave enough to test their knots against these fall fish. Whether we are hitting the Eagle below Edwards or searching for the ghosts in the deep pools above Gypsum, I know where they live. The water is cooling, the crowds have thinned, and the fish are hungry. Stop talking about the one that got away and come put one in the net with me. Get in touch with Aspen Angling Company today and let’s get you on the oars before the ice locks us out.