Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado - Frying Pan and Roaring Fork Fly Fishing Report

The weatherman was accurate with his prediction of snow on Tuesday. The mountains got well over a foot of new snow and we got close to that along the Frying Pan. It was quite a remarkable fall in a continuing dry spell. The snow was so deep it was not possible to access the Frying Pan near the Dam except by walking. Nick Williams and friends were staying at the cabins and made the trek in Tuesday and took some nice shots of a rare view of the road in.

The weather cleared nicely during the remainder of the week so that by weeks end the weather had warmed up. The coming week is predicted to be generally warm and pleasant with a possible storm by the end of next weekend. So we can look forward to another week of warm weather, melting snow and some more great fishing.

The fishing is excellent in all rivers and the weather looks perfect for the coming week, so if you are in the area, consider a day on the river.

In addiiton, if you are in town and are interested in dropping by the shop one evening for a fly tying class with Cameron and Mike, give the shop and call and check when the time of the next class. The class is free with just a small charge for materials.

The cold weather which brought the snow at the beginning of the week cleared as the week progressed ending on the weekend with some excellent fishing along the Pan. The dry fly fishing near the dam is excellent at the moment with midges – small black and gray patterns such as the FPA special emerger #22 - #28 small parachute adams #24 - #28, the black loopwing emerger #22. Before the fish are taking dries, the UVZ midge#20, gray grubs, brassies, and the black #20 WD-40 also worked well without much weight.

The coming week is anticipated to be generally warm and bright so one would expect the dry fly fishing in particular to continue to be excellent.

Recommended Flies: We are now into spring. The baetis will now be starting to move about in the water so in addition to midges and egg patterns start trying small baetis nymphs. If you see some BWO's starting to come off use emergers. If the temperature is in the 40's any rain should bring on a hatch of BWO's and some excellent dry fly activity.

It is still a matter of fishing to the depth of the fish. That will be key. If the fish are lying low just add weight until you can drift the fly right to the fish. However on the sunny days the hatches are extending while the sun is on the water.

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, loopwing emergers #20 - #22 and FPA special emergers #20 - #30. Use light tippet all the way to 12x depending on the brightness of the light and the degree to which the fish are getting particular.

Now that the baetis nymphs are starting to move about try the FPA sparkle baetis #20-#22 and small pheasant tails #20 - #24. When they get up on to the surface use Parachute Adams, gray special emergers and winger baetis patterns.

Vary the body color if the fish are not responding and don't try too hard to match the size if there is a big hatch. A perfect imitation will be less likely to work than something just a little different which will catch the fish's attention.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 286cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

Despite the heavy snow on Tuesday, the warm weather has melted off most of that additional snow and we are back to the older snow pack along the river which is melting quickly. Another week of warm weather and some wind should cut right into much of the remaining snow which gets sun during most of the day. The warm weather over the past few days has brought the flow back a little but if it keeps warming up and remains above freezing overnight the river should get a little higher with some run-off.

The stone flies are now moving about in the water as well as the mayfly nymphs so nymphing with a combination of stone flies, pheasant tails from #16 up and larger midge patterns will produce results.

Ed, Cameron and Mike all reported good floating on the Fork lower down during the week. There were also good reports of wade fishing up towards Aspen. With the low flows there is good access to places which will not be accessible to wading as soon as the run-off gets under way.

Recommended Flies: Try midges and eggs as well as baetis nymphs, stoneflies and attractors such as princes and hare's ears.

For baetis try nymph patterns such as pheasant tails #18 - #24.

For stone flies try the 20 incher and the red squirrel or any other moulting pattern.

For midges look at our suggestions for the Pan. Try larger sizes lower down the Fork.

In addition try san juan worms, brassies, and copper johns.

Colorado River

Ed, Mike and Cameron continue to report good fishing on the Colorado this week with good midge hatches and some BWOs coming off. Generally they have been nymphing but the hatches have been prolific affording some opportunity for good dry fly action as well.

Recommended Flies: BWO nymphs, emergers and dries; midge emergers and dries during the hatches, stoneflies such as 20 inchers size #10 - #14; streamers #2 - #8, egg patterns.