Free Resource · Updated 2026
The Roaring Fork from Basalt down to its confluence with the Colorado near Carbondale holds good populations of wild trout and sees reliable hatches through the warmer months. This stretch has good public access and is often overlooked in favor of the more famous Frying Pan just upstream.
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Roaring Fork River Hatch Calendar at a Glance
Below Basalt the Roaring Fork is a medium-sized freestone river with classic riffle-pool structure. It runs clear and cold even in summer, fed in part by snowmelt from the high country above. The Gold Medal water is the stretch from Basalt downstream, where fishing pressure is lower than most expect.
Caddis are the most dependable summer hatch. Evening rises from June through August can be excellent with fish rising across the entire width of the river in the slower pools. The X-Caddis is a reliable pattern but a soft hackle swing at dusk often outfishes dries during heavy hatches.
The Roaring Fork also sees respectable PMD and Yellow Sally hatches in summer. Fall BWOs bring out the larger brown trout, and October can be the best month of the year for experienced anglers willing to fish nymphs between sparse hatches.
See the full Colorado Fly Hatch Chart for hatch timing across all of Colorado's top trout streams.
Check Conditions Near Roaring Fork RiverWhat to Fish
Caddis are the backbone of summer fishing on the Roaring Fork. The evening hatches below Basalt can be dense and the fish respond well. Try a size 16 X-Caddis on the surface first, then switch to a soft hackle swing if rises stop. The soft hackle often continues to produce after the surface feeding slows.
Recommended: Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis #14-18
PMD hatches on the Roaring Fork happen mid-morning through early afternoon on summer days. Fish set up in the slower water below riffles. A size 16 or 18 Comparadun or Sparkle Dun will match the natural well. The hatch lasts a couple hours on good days.
Recommended: PMD Comparadun #16-18
Yellow Sallies overlap with PMDs in summer. When both are on the water, fish can be feeding on one or the other. Watch the water closely to see what they are actually eating. The Yellow Sally is often size 14 on the Roaring Fork, slightly larger than on some other rivers.
Recommended: Yellow Sally #14-16
Fall BWO hatches on the Roaring Fork are a good reason to visit in October. The hatches happen on the typical cloudy, cool days and bring up fish that spent the summer hiding under banks. Fish a size 20 RS2 or Parachute Adams and expect selective feeding in the slower runs.
Recommended: Parachute Adams, RS2 #18-22
Live readings from USGS gages on the river.
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