Roaring Fork

[H2O]

Floated from Carbondale to just past West Bank 8-3

Great fishing! All browns with a hopper dropper setup. Put on at 1pm - fished til 6pm.

Floated Basalt to Carbondale on 8-4

PHENOMANAL STREAMER FISHING!!!! Natural bunny patterns moved a fish at least every third cast. The overcast conditions and slightly off-color water helped.

I love that river. Hungry, healthy fish.

[Go Fish]

Who did you float with? I've got a good buddy, Mike Shook, that guides The Fork.

I haven't fished it in 5 years, since I moved from WY to MA. Your report brought back some incredible memories.

[H2O]

I fished with some of Mike's friends on a bachelor party on wednesday. The groom is the director of the Roaring Fork Conservancy and just married my cousin. On thursday I fished with 2 buddies from Taylor Creek, old roomate and friend. I lived out there for a few years out of college. Coming back to NYC after 5 days in that valley was tough. Never floated that Basalt down section although I've waded most of that public water. Can't wait to get out and do it again.

[H2O]

Mike makes some GREAT maps of the local rivers.

[Go Fish]

If you think those map/guide books are good you should buy him about 10 beers and pry the REAL info out of him ;).

I'll be out there to ski this winter and plan to hit the tailwater section of the Pan. I can't wait.

[H2O]

Make sure to bring a real light rig(0-3wts.) and a bunch of small midge dries(20-26) if you want to have a blast on that upper tailwater without the crowds of summer. You might want to take a drive down to the CO, big rainbows and great winter fishing as well, as long as there isn't much ice moving around!

[Go Fish]

I fished the Pan 5-10 days every winter for 7 years when I lived out there. I can't stand fishing there in the summer. We called it "buddy fishing" something like: "Hey buddy get the F$^%# out of my hole!" No Fun.

These days I only get 1-2 days on the river/year so I seem to get stuck at the Toilet Bowl, Bend or Gauge pools hunting pig rainbows. Every once in a while there will be a nice midge or BWO hatch that pulls me away but I am a sucker for trying to catch those 15+ lb. fish....

[SherpaT]

I hit the Frying Pan mid-july this year for 4 days, and I had every dawn and dusk hatch to myself, up in the flats. One other fisherman in site; 2 max. Too wierd, because I know its reputation for being crowded.

Mid days, I fished in the lower river, for some dynamite pocket water fishing. Just wet-waded pool to pool with a 3 weight. Perfect. Agree that the RF is full of very healthy fish, but damn tough to wade. I caught the peak of Green Drakes at the Catherine Bridge in Carbondale. Fish every other cast (it was dark so I missed a bunch) until I couldn't see anything. Some huge trout backs porpoising in the dark. Really cool.