Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado Fly Fishing at its Finest

For Fly Fishing on the Frying Pan River, the Roaring Fork River and the Colorado River for the week ended 3rd May 2008

Despite the warm start to the week, by Wednesday some cold weather and snow moved in which developed into a very cold day on Thursday with some snow and a bitterly cold wind. The weather persisted on Friday so that by the weekend the Fork had cleared up very nicely and had dropped 200cfs.

In addition the tributaries to the Pan cleared even though they kept running high. The water above the 4 mile mark was excellent through the weekend.

The coming week promises warm to hot weather with thunderstorms earlier in the week. Furthermore the overnight temperatures are not predicted to drop to freezing. So one would expect the run-off to pick up again through the coming week.

So if you are coming up or are in the area, do take the time to ring us at the shop to get a river report.

With the Pan consistently running at 332cfs during the week, the fish had a chance to settle down again and could be found in the quieter sections of the river on the edges or in side channels. The week saw good BWO and midge fishing though it did quieten down on Thursday when it because particularly cold and the temperature struggled to get above 32 degrees for most of the day.

But with the warmer weather over the weekend, Sunday was particularly pleasant with the fish being active both on midges and BWO’s. As a hint of a change started to blow in on Sunday afternoon the hatches quietened down a little but the fish continued to feed on midge and BWO emergers.

In the coming week the promise of warmer weather and the continuing melt at lower elevations means that the water below the 4 mile mark will remain colored. So the key is to start fishing mid-river and then move higher as the day progresses and the tributaries start to color up. With the temperatures picking up, the tributaries may start to color up some more as the week progresses as there is still a lot of snow in the lower Frying Pan catchment left to melt.

Recommended Flies: The principal hatch is still midges but the baetis are active. The midges will come off during the day, particularly if it is sunny. So try WD-40's #20 , red and black chironocones #20, brassie's #18 - #22, midge larva patterns #18 - #22, copper johns #18 - #22, black polywings #18 - #22 and garcia's rojo midges # 18 - #22.

If the fish start moving higher in the water column or get active under the surface, try the gray loopwing emergers #20 - #22, the FPA special emergers, biot emergers both with and without the trailing shuck and gray RS2's #18 - #22.

When they are on the surface, try dry patterns such as the z-wing real midge, suspended midge and any similar dry black and gray patterns such as a parachute Adams in sizes from #20 through to #28.

The baetis nymphs are starting to move about in the water. Try some small nymph patterns such as pheasant tails and the FPA sparkle baetis #20 - #24 down deep. In addition try the emerger patterns like crystal hunchback, juju baetis, the mighty mite, icebreakers and the FPA sparkle baetis - #18 - #24 and rs2 #18 - #22 and soft hackle baetis #18 -#22.

If BWO’s start to come off try dry patterns like the adams and parachute adams #20-#24 and the matthews #18 - #24 with an emerger dropper.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 604cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

With the colder weather later in the week and the freezing overnight temperatures on Thursday and Friday the Fork was in good condition on the weekend, particularly above Basalt.

The coming week will bring some warming weather and possible thunderstorms so as the week progresses, the rate of run-off will most likely pick up again. So by later in the week the best move will be to check with the shop on the river conditions and be prepared to fish above Basalt.

So try stone flies, caddis larva and nymphs as well as eggs and princes down deep. In addition BWO emergers such as the rs2, soft hackle emergers, and the crystal back BWO.

But if you are coming up, give us a call at the shop and we will give you an uptodate and, to best of our ability an accurate report on the river conditions so you won’t be disappointed when you get here.

Recommended Flies: Use midge emergers and tiny nymph attracters. See some of the patterns we have mentioned for the Pan. If you are nymphing deep down, use plenty of weight and pick where the fish are protected behind structure or deeper down in the slower water.

Try small baetis nymph patterns such as pheasant tails #18 - #24. For baetis emergers try RS2, the crystal hunchback, juju baetis, the mighty mite, icebreakers and the FPA sparkle baetis - #18 - #24. Also try princes, brassies, copper johns and eggs deep down as well as streamers.

When the BWO's are coming off try the adams and parachute adams #20-#24 and the matthews #18 - #24.

Try various stone fly patterns and in particular Theo's and the 20incher #10 -#14. In addition use streamers, particularly when floating.

Keep an eye out for caddis as we have had a few reports of caddis up as high as Basalt.

Colorado River

The water in the Colorado cleared just a little with the cold weather at the end of last week, but with the predicted warmer weather and possible thunderstorms, the Colorado will turn upside down again later in the week. So if you are in the area, drive right by and head up valley towards Basalt where the water is bound to be a little more acceptable. The rate of deterioration will be a function of the extent to which the weather warms and the amount of rain the valley gets in the coming week. So check in with the shop to get an uptodate report if you are coming up later in the week. There is no point in coming all this way and passing up the opportunity to see what the upper Valley has to offer.

Recommended Flies: BWO nymphs (see some of the patterns we mention for the Fork); midges emergers and dries during the hatches, eggs and princes, 20 inchers size #10 - #14; streamers #2 - #8.

Have you tried a Winston fly rod? You owe it to yourself. We have Winston fly rods which you can test drive from the shop. Click here to have a look.

We have had such success with St Croix this year we have decided to offer you a deal which should be irresistible. Click here to have a look.

We are pleased to announce a general merchandise gift certificate program. Under this program you get a gift certificate with purchases of general merchandise.

If you would like to receive this report on a regular basis please email us at report@fryingpananglers.com and let us know.

Are you interested in a career as a fishing guide? We are always on the lookout for good guides who are interested in establishing themselves in our catchment area. Whether you want to be a wade guide or a float guide we have opportunities open. If you are interested give us a call at the shop (970 - 9273441) and speak to Art about the requirements and opportunities.

Frying Pan Anglers is a specialty fly fishing shop, and a licensed (#2389), insured outfitter in the State of Colorado.

We provide guiding services on the Frying Pan River, and float and guiding services on the Roaring Fork and the Colorado Rivers.

Whether you are a beginner or an accomplished angler, you can't go wrong by using one of our guides to help you learn our area's fine rivers. It is always a good idea to hire a guide at the onset of your vacation so you will learn the rivers and pick up on some of our productive fishing techniques.

In addition to walk/wade guided fishing trips we also offer float fishing trips in McKenzie style river boats. We supply the equipment and a hearty lunch on full-day trips.

Basalt is a short, thirty-minute drive from Aspen and is at the center of Colorado's Gold Medal fly fishing. The Frying Pan River joins the Roaring Fork just a few hundred yards from our front door.

We now have our own private access stretch of the Frying Pan River. It is available to those staying in Taylor Creek Cabins, guided trips and where there is availability, the public provided they sign in at the shop. This is the best Colorado Fly Fishing has to offer.