Crystal River –
Flow: 107cfs/Redstone
Conditions: A CPW enacted full-day voluntary closure is in effect from mile marker 64 on Highway 133 downstream to the Roaring Fork confluence. This essentially represents the Crystal River on the lower valley floor (the bottom few miles of river). The remainder of river (30+ miles) is still open to fishing and fishing great – read below.
Low, clear and cold especially along the upper river where fishing is best. Some of the best fishing of the summer is taking place right now on the river. If you despise the crowds on the Pan and Fork, the local’s choice is the Crystal. These forgiving fish like to eat a well presented fly and rewards anglers with opportunities for the Colorado Trout Slam (catching a cutthroat, brook, rainbow and brown trout). As an added bonus, the Crystal is also one of the last strongholds for Mountain Whitefish in Colorado (Super Slam!). Dry/dropper setups are ideal for the majority of the river. Cover water and practice stealth when approaching these fish. Hoppers, PMDs, caddis and sally’s are main hatches being seen. Terrestrial patterns like ants and beetles are sneaky good patterns too.
Flies
Dries: Foamulator Yellow, Dry Humper, Mini Chubby Yellow, Stimi ChewToy, PMXs, Foam Elk Hair Caddis, Melon Quill, Flag Dun PMD, Headlight Sally, Trude Sally, Foam Ant, Royal Wulff Cripple
Nymphs: French Dips, Perdigons, BH Princes, Jig Sally, Tung PTs, Mexican Flag, BH Barr Emerger PMD, Swiss Straw Emerger, Rainbow Warriors
Streamers: Thin Mints, Mini Jig Buggers, Royal Coachman Bucktail, Mickey Finn
