Fishing Report

For Week ending 23rd October 2004

The weather has changed! Some fishermen reported being blown off the Roaring Fork on Thursday as the cold front moved in. The Frying Pan was protected from the wind. And the snow arrived on Friday. Not enough to lay on the ground at 7000 feet but cold enough to justify that extra layer and gloves. It is well and truly off-season. Very quiet. So a great time to be able to get onto the river alone.

Hunting season has also arrived. If you are thinking of hiking to fish take some orange vests. No point being an unwitting target. We have not seen a great deal of hunting traffic yet so it remains quiet. I suspect the cold and the snow up high will drive the game lower. There appears to be a good cover of snow above 8,500 feet. I expect also some of those Floridian hunters will be in the shop this morning looking for their hand and feet warmers! But never fear the sun will be back in fact as I write it is blue skies and nary a cloud to be seen.

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 80 cfs. (if you want more up to date figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

The water in the Pan has been running at 150cfs until Thursday when it dropped to 110. This morning (Saturday) it has dropped to 80cfs!)

As always, the mysis shrimp is working for the first half mile below the dam at Reudi Reservoir.

Fishing is best round about midday. We suggest fishing from 10am –4pm.

We continue to see good afternoon hatches of baetis, size #20 and smaller. On Tuesday and Wednesday in particular there were strong baetis hatches around midday mid-river. Also proving successful were baetis emergers, midges #20 – #22, eggs and pheasant tails #18 and #20.

The colder weather will call for midge patterns eggs and pheasant tails size 18 and 20.

Recommended Flies: baetis #20 and smaller; mathews sparkle dun #20; sparkle baetis emerger #18; brooks sprout baetis #20; barrs blue wing olive emerger #18 and #20; AK's parachute Olive quill #20; dark olive pheasant tails and olive biot emergers, size #20 and #22; midges, size #20 and smaller.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma 300 cfs. (if you want more up to date figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

This weeks funny story is from the Fork. Ed D. a local fisherman was fishing the hole above Lazy Glen. He reports that the fishing was strong with prince nymphs being the popular choice. He was fishing in company with his dog, a black lab. The sun was shining, the fish were jumping and his dog was bounding about on the left bank. Its funny how one becomes aware of another presence. A bit like that time you lifted the rod instinctively and there was a fish there. Ed looked up and there on the left bank was the largest black bear he had ever seen. Actually he wasn't sure if that was so but when you are in the water feet from a bear it not the time to take out the tape measure. Furthermore, the bear was agitated. After a moment, Ed suspected that the bear wanted to get at some of the fish he had been hooking.

At the moment he divined the bear's motives, he felt that quick tug as a fish hooked itself. Ed was not prepared to say that his state of mind was such that he observed the take. But he did observe his canine companion's sudden rush of blood he saw the bear. His dog started barking protectively and began working its way across the river right where Ed was fight the fish. The dog didn't care. What to do? Ed continued to play the hooked fish – the biggest of the day. It bent the rod in two, it battled, it fought, it was not going to succumb. Nor was Ed. Not only was he battling the fish but he was shouting at his dog as it splashed its way across the river passed the fighting fish. In turn, the bear was intently observing the hooked fish while pacing back and forward. It was all too much. The tippet broke. The fish escaped. Released from the fight with the fish, Ed was finally able to get his dog's attention. The bear left. It was the end of Ed's day. He reports that he was shaking so much he could not thread the tippet through the eye of another #16 prince nymph.

The Roaring Fork is also continuing to fish well with baetis, midges, and on the lower stretch near Glenwood Springs, some caddis activity. As noted above, the red quills size 14 and 16 are active.

Recommended Flies: same as the Frying Pan. Red quills size 14 and 16; elk hair caddis #16 and smaller for the adult and a prince nymph #16 and #18 for the emerger; carrot nymph #18; red copper john #20; gold ribbed hare’s ear #16 and #18; 20 incher stone #14; Blue Wing Olives #20; egg patterns #10 - #18; streamers #10 (on some days); autumn splendor #4 - 8; bead head pops bugger olive #6.

Colorado River

The Colorado continues to well with streamers from a boat, as well as dry flies in the shallows.

Recommended Flies: Bead head pheasant tails #16, 18; Blue Wing Olives #18,20; bead head prince nymph red #12 - 16; stimulators #10 - 14; egg patterns #10 - #18;