roaring-fork

Roaring Fork River is a fork in Colorado.

It ranks #6 among the 17 waters of Colorado in the registry, and is of national prominence.

Fished for trout (inferred from the species listed).

Species: rainbow trout, brown trout and mountain whitefish.

USGS GNIS record: 174812.

Stretches: Lower Roaring Fork, Middle Roaring Fork and Upper Roaring Fork.

Confluences: Basalt confluence with the Fryingpan.

Catherine Store (access). It is fishable and launchable. Also called Catherines and Catherine Store section.

It is upstream of Bonedale.

It is downstream of Two Rivers Road.

Crystal River confluence (confluence). It is fishable. At Carbondale (Vail Valley Anglers).

It is on the stretch Lower Roaring Fork.

Two Rivers Road (access). It is fishable and launchable.

It is upstream of Catherine Store.

Bonedale (access). It is fishable and launchable.

It is upstream of Westbank.

It is downstream of Catherine Store.

Fourmile Creek confluence (confluence). Seasonal closure at the mouth.

Glenwood (access). It is fishable and launchable. Orvis' last listed access.

It is downstream of Westbank.

Threemile Creek confluence (confluence). Seasonal closure at the mouth.

Westbank (access). It is fishable and launchable.

It is upstream of Glenwood.

It is downstream of Bonedale.

Sourced from 2 independent fly sites.

Sources: aspendailynews.com, basaltchamber.org, edits.nationalmap.gov, fishingreports.orvis.com and Vail Valley Anglers (retrieved 2026-10-20).

Hatches

Yellow Sally

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Usually appear with caddis and PMDs; big hatches on the Eagle and Roaring Fork. End date not stated.

Sources: blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Caddis

Stage: pupa, adult. Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Reported windows differ: one shop says the summer hatch begins once runoff starts dropping in mid to late June (tan, #12-16, lasting several weeks); a local column says caddis are strong from Mother's Day through summer.

Sources: blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Golden Stonefly

Stage: adult. Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Adults emerge mostly at night.

Sources: blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Blue-Winged Olive

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Fall brood; spring timing not given.

Sources: Vail Valley Anglers, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Salmonfly

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Light on the Roaring Fork and Eagle; the better hatch is on the upper Colorado at Pumphouse.

Sources: blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Grasshoppers, ants, beetles

Stage: adult. Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

From mid-July.

Sources: Vail Valley Anglers, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Pale Morning Dun

Stage: nymph, emerger, dun, spinner. Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Starts early July, earlier if conditions allow. Flies get smaller, #14 down to #20, over the course of summer.

Sources: blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Trico

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Around mid-August. Drowned Trico or emerger patterns suit faster water.

Sources: blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Green Drake

Stage: nymph, emerger, dun, spinner. Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec
  • Jun, Jul, per Vail Valley Anglers
  • Jun, Jul, per Vail Valley Anglers
  • Jun, Jul, Aug, per Vail Valley Anglers
  • Jun, Jul, per Vail Valley Anglers
  • Jun, Jul, per coloradotu.org

Reported windows differ: start late June or early July, lower river first and moving up over a few days; emergence from mid-June to early July depending on flows and temperature; late June through July, plus some August chances in the upper reaches; guided float dates June 21-July 21; Colorado TU gives June 1 to August 1. One report had drakes about a month early in a warm summer.

Sources: Vail Valley Anglers, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Red Quill

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Matters on the Eagle and Fork too, though most abundant on the Colorado.

Sources: blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Midge

Single or templated source.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb hatching
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Heavy midge activity from about the end of February. Teaser text only; the rest was not captured.

Sources: blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com

Access, closures and rules change; check with the state agency before you go.