River Reports

The Roaring Fork is in a true late-fall pattern. Lower, clearer flows are concentrating trout into deeper water, making soft seams, pockets, and tailouts the most consistent targets. Cold mornings push the bite into midday, where fish feed steadily on midges, baetis, and drifting eggs. This is prime egg season, so running a pegged egg up front with a midge or baetis trailer is extremely effective. Make sure to bring peg eggs — peach, apricot, and light pink are all producing well. Presentation depth is the most important factor right now; if you're not occasionally ticking bottom, add length or weight. Streamer fishing is limited but still worth trying in low light windows with small, natural sculpin-style patterns. Expect most success from noon to late afternoon when water temps rise slightly and fish move to feed. With clarity high, stealth and accurate drifts are key. Overall, the Fork is fishing consistently for anglers who adjust to winter holding water and focus on depth control, small bugs, and precise presentations.

The Frying Pan is fishing exceptionally well for late fall. Clear, cold flows at 44 CFS are creating ultra-technical conditions that favor anglers who fish small, subtle, and precise. Nymphing with midges and baetis patterns remains consistent throughout the day, with trout holding tight in softer, deeper water. The true magic of the Pan right now comes with cloud cover. When the sky goes gray, BWOs hatch for long, stable windows — producing the iconic slow, rhythmic rising behavior the Pan is famous for. These are the moments where long leaders, fine tippet, and tiny dries or emergers truly shine. Egg season is absolutely in play. Browns are still finishing up their spawn, and trout are feeding heavily on drifting eggs. A peg egg paired with a small RS2 or Top Secret Midge is extremely effective.

The Eagle at 145 CFS is officially in early-winter mode. Low and clear conditions are pushing fish into deeper, slower pools, drop-offs, and soft seams. Fishing can be steady but very technical, requiring subtle presentations and small flies. Egg patterns are highly effective right now, with fish feeding behind redds and in deeper pockets where egg drift collects. Pairing a peg egg with a midge or RS2 trailer is a consistently productive rig. Nymphing is the primary approach — think RS2s, Zebra Midges, Juju Baetis, and small baetis emergers. Depth control is everything at these flows. Streamer fishing is limited but can still move fish when fished slowly through deep holding water. Expect the best activity from midday through the warmest part of the afternoon. With clarity high, tippet size and stealth matter.