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Take the Fork, the Roaring Fork
by Karen Christopherson |
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more "Fish
Tails" |
Wandering down from the high country flows a
river that changes from small to mighty, offering something
for everyone. The scenery and character of this river changes
drastically, as does the elevation. It starts at over 12,000
feet, ending as it flows into the Colorado at about 7,800 feet
- an elevation change of 4,200 feet in its 70 mile trek. The
river flows obliviously through the developing areas in the
Roaring Fork Valley - you can escape this too by fishing the
"Fork".
Flying over the Fork |
Getting Started - Headwaters to Aspen
The Roaring Fork, or "Fork" as
locals say, has its headwaters in the Hunter-Fryingpan
Wilderness southeast of Aspen. It flows alongside the
Independence Pass road, through Aspen, and into the Roaring
Fork Valley. Almost all of the river from its headwaters
to Difficult Campground (about 3 miles upstream of Aspen) is publicly accessible as the river is flowing through White River
National Forest.
Wild Trout Waters
The Roaring Fork is classified as Wild Trout
Waters from Hallum Lake (in Aspen) downstream to
Upper Woody Creek Bridge (between Aspen and Basalt) - it is
also Gold Medal (the double whammy). Luckily
you can access the river from the Rio Grande Trail, which runs
along the north side of the Fork. Hey, you can even ride your
mountain bike as you hunt for those wild Rainbows!
Basalt to Carbondale - things pick up
The river gets a lot larger at Basalt as the
Fryingpan enters the Roaring Fork. This section is floatable
during high water levels. There is access in/near the towns of
Basalt and Carbondale and at a few spots in between.
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Author
Al Marlowe on the Fork near
Carbondale. Al wrote the book, 'Fly Fishing the
Colorado', as well as many other books and
articles.
Photo courtesy
Al Marlowe
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Carbondale to Glenwood - Gold Medal Floating
From the confluence with the Crystal River (near
Carbondale) north and downstream to the confluence with the Colorado River
(near Glenwood Springs) the Fork is classified as Gold Medal Water. The river
gets significantly larger here, and has a character similar to
the Arkansas or upstream Colorado. You can fish from the banks,
and wade in parts, but floating is the way to fish the lower
part of this river. As the river has traveled
north through time, it has cut its way down through the glacial
moraines and deposits. In some places, the Fork lies quite a distance
below the terraced plain of the valley. To the east, the Maroon
Formation shows its brilliant red hue as the hills rise above
the valley floor. To the south looms Mt. Sopris, rising to
almost 13,000 feet.
 Upstream towards Mt. Sopris |
Surprisingly good access
Fortunately, there is quite a bit of public access along this river which is located in a part of the state
renown for wealth and privacy (i.e. Aspen). Access points are often at bridges,
and where agreements have been reached. A couple of well-known
and easier -to-find access points are at the Sunlight Bridge
(south side) and at Veltus Park (west side of river in Glenwood).
A variety of fish
Upstream you might find rainbows and wild
brookies. As you move downstream rainbows, browns, and mountain
whitefish will be after your fly. Year-round hatches mean you can fish in winter while your friends go skiing. A warm day in winter can be the same as a
cold day in summer. The fish might be acting a bit different, but don't dismiss winter fishing.
 At the park in Glenwood towards Colo. R. |
Other rivers
One of the best things about this area is that you can also fish several other rivers.
There's always the Fryingpan, and there's also the Colorado and Crystal Rivers, not to mention all of
the area small mountain lakes and streams. This region offers a variety of fishing,
and plenty of activities to keep your non-fishing friends
happy - hiking, biking, shopping, touring, 4WD'ing, or soaking (in the hot springs).
Resources/Other Info:
How to get there?
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Take Hwy 82 south from Glenwood Springs. This follows the Roaring Fork all the
way to Independence Pass. |
| In the summer, you can access
the Roaring Fork from the east. Take Hwy 82 west, off US Hwy 24, south of Leadville. The road is paved and offers some spectacular scenery.
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Rules for the Roaring Fork
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Catch and release and artificial flies only for section from McFarlane Creek
(about 3 miles above Aspen) to Upper Woody Creek Bridge (between Basalt and
Aspen). |
| From Upper Woody Creek Bridge to Colorado
River - artificial flies and lures only; minimum size for
trout taken is 16", limit 2 |
| An area 50 yds upstream and downstream from
confluences with Four Mile Creek and Three Mile Creek -
fishing prohibited March 15 - May 15 |
Where to stay?
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There are forest service campgrounds along Hwy 82 southeast of Aspen. There are numerous
motels, B&B's and condos in Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and Aspen.
The
Basalt Chamber of Commerce can help with lodging and
things to do. |
For maps of the area, see the gold
medal and wild trout pages. |
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here