Fishing Report

For the Week ending 24th March 2013

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We certainly got a cold spell over the past few days with a significant fall of snow. 18" of snow over the past week has certainly augmented the snow pack and the cold weather ensured that it has stayed up high with minimal melt. The weatherman predicts cold weather tomorrow and possibly a little more snow but as the week progresses we have the promise of warmer weather back to the mid 50's and maybe a little rain. We shall see.

So the coming week should see a few more fishermen out on the river. The cold weather has tended to keep them indoors or on the slopes enjoying some of the best powder we have had this season. It is certainly a good start for spring break.

At a recent fly rod shoot out in Texas in a blind casting test with 100 participants this was the result:

Hardy Zenith Sintrix ($649)
Orvis H2 ($795)
Mystic Maveryck ($549)
Sage One ($775)
Winston BIIIX ($795)
Scott S4 ($745)

Needless to say, we carry the Hardy and Mystic in all shops and the Orvis at The San Juan Angler. The shootout proves again, that quality is not dictated by price. And the test seems to be conducted on an objective basis rather than by reference to how much advertising dollars each manufacturer pays to magazines for advertising before they will reasonably assess the quality of a rod.
 
There is a reason that the same old tired companies get their products in the magazines while the new manufacturers who pursue excellence are ignored. But that is changing.  The advent of the internet and the ability to disseminate objective information means that the fishing public is now able to get a more unvarnished perspective instead of the "paid for propaganda" of the print media.  Consequently the fisherman is becoming more discerning as these tests continue to demonstrate.  Newer entrants into the USA rod market are making their mark in a big way.

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 44cfs.(if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

The colder weather slowed down the bug activity but if one was prepared to brave the cold there were still good hatches in the middle of the day. The wind made casting dry flies a little tricky but nymphing was effective. For instance above the bend pool today there was a prolific midge hatch in the middle of the day with the fish feeding heavily. They took a grey special FPA midge emerger #22. They also took larger flies including a black FPA special emerger but it was not as effective as the smaller grey. It was cold with a biting wind. At the end of the hatch the snow on the edge of the flow was covered in midges which had blown there.

The weather is predicted to warm over the next couple of days and should be a lot more pleasant mid week if one is sensibly unwilling to brave the cold of the last couple of days.

Recommended Flies:Use midges and BWO's.

For mysis at the dam use Mike's Mysis. epoxy mysis, and BUV mysis.

The midges will come off during the day, particularly if it is sunny. So try Wilson's Reverse Candy Cane #20, red and black chironocones #20, nick's larva in miracle pink, olive, and purple back, brassies #18 - #22, midge larva patterns #18 - #22, copper johns #18 - #22, rainbow warriors, black polywings #18 - #22 and bling midges # 18 - #22.

As they come off 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, Johnny Flash in Olive, Grey, and Black, Olive and Red Jujubee, trailing shuck midge black and cream.

In addition try dry patterns such as the z-wing real midge, black cdc midge and any similar dry black and gray patterns in sizes from #20 through to #26.

For baetis, try small nymphs such as pheasant tails, bubble backs, FPA sparkle baetis and rs2's. When the BWO's come off parachute adams and standard BWO patterns. Also try the parachute BWO and the thorax patterns. With the range of bugs coming off, larger BWO patterns will work well in the rougher water.

Roaring Fork

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

The quality of the fishing in the Fork has picked up nicely as the ice continues to melt off the edges. The river continues to clear higher up giving nice access closer to Aspen. With the stones rolling about the nymphing with both stones and baetis has been excellent. In addition there have been some nice midge hatches during the middle of the day which have produced good fishing from Basalt down.

Recommended Flies: The best results on the Fork now are from nymphing.

In the morning midges, baetis nymphs and BWO emergers.

For nymphing using attractors, midge larvae and emergers, stonefly, pmd, baetis nymphs and emergers. As the day progresses small baetis such as the FPA Sparkle Baetis, the FPA Thorax Emerger, and black pheasant tails have also worked well.

For small flies, copper johns, pc phlash, rs2's, pheasant tails, bubble back bwos.

For the stone fly nymphs good patterns continue to include the BB FB Epoxy 20 Incher, the BTB Hot Spot 20 Incher and the CTB RL Epoxy 20 Incher

In the afternoon, black and purple streamers such as black buggers have also produced results.

With the rainbow staging underway the fishing are also taking egg patterns.

Colorado River

The Colorado continues to clear opening up nice opportunities to float closer to Glenwood. Most of the float traffic has been lower down, but now with clearer edges more water is opening up giving some nice days out on the river. The last few days have been tough in the wind and cold but with the prediction of warmer weather from midweek, conditions to be out on the river will improve.

Recommended Flies: Generally the way to go is nymphing with small baetis, the FPA sparkle baetis, sparkle rs2's and biot emergers. For stonefly nymphs use the BTB Hot Spot 20 Incher, rubberleg patterns such as Mike's BTB Coffee/Black and the Halloween Speckled Girdle Bug, with midges, eggs, worms and small baetis patterns behind the lead fly.

For streamers use white or black flies.

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