Hatch-chart pattern list
Best Flies for Roaring Fork River (Colorado)
The Roaring Fork River in Colorado fishes as both a wade and a float. It is a freestone fishery for Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout, with the most reliable window in March, April, July. The patterns below are matched to the hatch chart we publish for this water. They are not a live report of what other anglers caught this week.
What's hatching now
Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Roaring Fork River hatch chart. August is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.
| Month | Insect | Size | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO |
| Midge | #22-26 | Griffiths Gnat | |
| June | PMD | #16-18 | PMD Cripple |
| Red Quill | #14-16 | Red Quill Sparkle Dun | |
| July | Caddis | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis |
| PMD | #16-18 | Pale Evening Dun | |
| September | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO |
| October Caddis | #8-10 | Stimulator | |
| October | Blue-winged Olive | #20-22 | BWO Sparkle Dun |
| Midge | #22-26 | Mercury Midge |
Nymphs
Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.
Dries
Dries and terrestrials for the Roaring Fork River. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.
Streamers
Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.
Setup
4X and 5X cover most nymphing. 4X on dries until the fish get picky, then 5X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.
FAQ
- What flies work on the Roaring Fork River?
- Start with BWO Sparkle Dun and BWO Parachute, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Roaring Fork River does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.
- When is the best time to fly fish the Roaring Fork River?
- The editorial window we list is March, April, July, August, September, October. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.
- Do I need a guide on the Roaring Fork River?
- Colorado has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.
- Where can I see live flow for the Roaring Fork River?
- Open the Roaring Fork River river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.
- Is this a report of what's working now on the Roaring Fork River?
- No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.
Related
Roaring Fork River
Access, hatch chart, USGS gauge.
Colorado
Trip planning for this region.
BWO Sparkle Dun
Dry
BWO Parachute
Dry
Sparkle Dun
Dry
Taylor Creek Fly Shops Guide Service
Vail Valley Anglers Guide Service
Blue Quill Angler
1532 Bergen Pkwy, Evergreen, CO 80439
Bucking Rainbow Outfitters
Steamboat Springs, CO
Animas River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
Arkansas River (Colorado)
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
Blue River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
Cache La Poudre River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.