Fishing Report

For the Week ending 12th May 2013

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We took off a week to go to Florida and by all accounts missed more cold weather, rain and some snow. The snowpack continues to improve relative to last year with a basin wide reading now 115% of the median. The forecast for the next week is generally clear and warm with a low possiblity of rain. With the temperatures in the mid 70's the melt will continue and pick up pace as the overnight temperatures are predicted to stay in the 50's. So the Fork will begin to color up again higher.

At the moment the Fork is fine above Carbondale with the Crystal continuing to render the lower Fork too colored to justify putting in. The Colorado is also a stretch to avoid at the moment.

So for the coming week, keep an eye on the temperatures and if the forecast is correct the best option will be to come to Basalt and float from there or wade above Basalt. Of course the Pan is in perfect condition at the moment. Ruedi is beginning to benefit from an inflow of 182cfs with releases limited to 109cfs at the moment. With the guaging station reading 116cfs, Rocky Fork is beginning to put a little more volume into the flow.

So as the week proceeds, feel free to call the shop to get an update on conditions. If it gets hot fast, the Fork won't be fishing well anywhere by the end of the week.

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 116cfs.(if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

With the increases in the flows to the Pan we now have excellent early season conditions with a flow at 116cfs, still good wading conditions and excellent water quality. The fish are feeding well on small nymphs now as the PMD and baetis nymphs move about. There were nice midge hatches as well this weekend and the weather warmed up. Not many fish were moving on the surface as the changeable conditions tended to drive them a little lower. But nymphing deeper produced good results.

As the weather settles down in the coming week we are looking forward to some great conditions. And if the weather warms quickly, the Frying Pan will be one of the few reliable waters for a long way.

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 - 295cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The Crystal continues to render the Fork unworthy of attention below Carbondale. However the cold weather over the past week has kept the Fork in excellent condition near Basalt and higher. So these conditions will persist for a few more days. But if there is any hotter weather, the Fork will have to be fished higher up.

The increased flows from the Pan have made the Fork a reasonable float from Basalt. Reports of good fishing abound. Cameron reported good streamer fishing last week. Nymphing with larger stoneflies and smaller baetis nymphs has continued to prove effective. So keep an eye out on the weather. If it warms up quickly the Fork might be problematic even higher up. It is all a question of the overnight temperatures.

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, 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 rainbows staging underway the fishing are also taking egg patterns.

Colorado River

The Colorado is not fishable at the moment with the releases through Shoshone really coloring up the flows and the Crystal dumping mud into the Fork below Basalt. So don't bother. Wait until the flows from the Pan pick up and then float from Basalt if that is your desire.

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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