The common cliche of fisherman’s exaggeration of “it was this big” can also lend itself to other “big ones”. Take the origin of the name of the Frying Pan River and the many myths that local Aspen fishing guides come up with or propagate.
1. A frying pan was hung in a tree to notify early prospectors not to venture any further as it was Indian country.
2. The fish once were so plentiful that once you dropped in your line it went straight from the river into the frying pan.
The Roaring Fork Valley is home to some of the best fly fishing in America. Hence, it’s no surprise that Basalt, Colorado is hosting the World Championship fly fishing.
Basalt, Colorado is located along the middle run of The Roaring Fork River, which travels about 70 miles, starting near Independence Pass (12,095 feet) above Aspen to the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs (5,761 feet). Basalt offers access to both the Roaring Fork River and the Frying Pan River. The Frying Pan River travels from Hagerman Pass (11,939 feet) into the Ruedi Reservoir and then down to the town of Basalt (6,611 feet) were it joins the Roaring Fork River.
The upper Roaring Fork travels from Aspen to Basalt, while the middle Roaring Fork is the water from Basalt to Carbondale and finally the lower Roaring Fork is the water between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. The Colorado Wildlife Commission states that a 42-mile stretch along the Roaring Fork River is the longest continuous section of “Gold Medal Water” in the state.
Brown trout, mountain whitefish, rainbows and browns are fish found throughout the local rivers.
Other rivers flowing into the Roaring Fork River are:
The Maroon Creek which begins amongst the Maroon Bells (9,200 feet) to it’s confluence with the Roaring Fork River (7,900 feet) near Aspen.
The Castle Creek begins above Ashcroft ( 9,521 ft.) to it’s confluence along the Roaring Fork River (7,900 feet) near Aspen.
The Crystal river runs 30 miles from Marble (7,992 ft) to the Roaring Fork River in Carbondale (6,181 ft.)
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