Anglers travel from around the world to fish the legendary waters surrounding Aspen. No matter your skill level, Adventures with The Little Nell is to here to customize a high-end fishing trip with our team of experienced guides on the Roaring Fork River, the Frying Pan or any number of private Gold Medal Waters throughout the Valley.
Fish to your heart’s content on a wading or float trip offered from first light through dusk. Sloane Brown, who manages our summer adventure program, shares his insights below with the weekly Aspen hatch report, which can also be found on the chalkboard in the Adventure Center.
Aspen Hatch Report for Monday, July 11, 2016
Upper Roaring Fork River
Near Maroon Creek – 563 cfs – (rating = 8 out of 10)
The water is running “gin clear” right now. This makes the fishing a little trickier. Try using lighter tippet (5x-7x).
There have been periodic PMD, Rusty Spinner, Caddis, and Green Drake hatches throughout the day with ample opportunity to present dry flies to rising fish. Dry-dropper rigs have been working really well. Try a larger dry fly (caddis stimulator, chubby Chernobyl, PMX patters) dropped to a caddis larva or PMD Nymph.
Appropriate Patterns: (dry flies): Caddis size 10-16, PMD size 14-16, Green Drakes size 10-14. Nymphs: Pats rubber legs, hair’s ears (olive), and electric caddis size 16.
Middle Roaring Fork River
Near Basalt – 985 cfs – (rating = 9.5 out of 10)
This might be the best week of fishing for the Middle Fork of the entire year. There are TONS of bugs present. Cancel your dinner plans, and go out fishing from 6 p.m. until dark-thirty. You won’t be disappointed.
The Green Drake hatch is coming off heavily through the town of Basalt. Look for this to happen during the last 45 minutes of daylight. The Caddis hatch should start around 6 p.m. The fish are definitely looking up to top water.
Appropriate patterns: elk hair caddis size 12-16, H&L Variant size 10-12, any Green Drake patterns size 10-14, PMX size 10, hair’s ear size 14-16, pat’s rubber legs size 10-14, electric caddis size 14-16.
Lower Roaring Fork River
Near Glenwood – 1630 cfs – (rating 7 out of 10)
The Green Drake hatch has come and gone for the lower Fork. However, there is still an abundance of caddis. You can still present a dry fly to a rising trout in the evening. Try throwing a nymph rig during the heat of the day, and then switch to a dry-dopper for the evening hours.
Appropriate patterns: Pat’s rubber legs size 10-12, prince nymphs size 12-16, electric caddis size 14-16, hair’s ear size 12-16, soft hackle caddis size 14-16, green drake nymph size 12-14.
For up-to-date river reports, or to book your next fly fishing adventure, simply call Sloane and The Adventure Center directly at 970.920.6315.
