Fishing Report

For the Week ending 26th May 2013

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A cold change during the week brought the rivers down nicely affording a few days of good fishing on the Fork above Carbondale. But by the weekend with the return of the warm weather the rivers have retraced and taken out their peak a week ago. So for the moment the Fork is now not fishable as it is running at 1400cfs near Basalt and rising at 200cfs a day. As the water runs higher for the first time in a year, all the material which has gathered on the edges in that period is now caught in the flow. I saw a very large tree stump sitting in the middle of the Fork near family pool just out of Basalt yesterday afternoon. But the flows will reach higher and will move that further on down over the next week.

The Pan, of course, is in great condition. There was no co-ordinated release this year. Concequently the Pan will continue running at its current levels augmented solely by Rocky Creek until there is a call on the water from users downstream. With the flow at 122cfs and the posted outflow from Ruedi at 93cfs Rocky Fork is making up the difference. The great proportion is adding just the faintest hint of color but generally it is perfect. The low releases is permitting Ruedi to fill and currently it is sitting at 70% full and is rising by close to 1% a day. So at the current flows, Ruedi should be close to full towards the end of June.

So with the current flows the best destination for fishing for the next month will be the Frying Pan as there is no expectation that releases will be jumping up soon. The forecast is for the temperature to drop a little over the next few days with the possibility of some rain and thunderstorms. So be prepared for changeable weather out on the river.

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 122cfs.(if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

The Pan will be the best destination for fishing now as the Fork continues to climb and introduce a lot more material into the flow. The lower elevation run-off is just starting and given that Aspen mountain was opened this weekend for a little skiing, that indicates the snowpack higher up which has not started to melt yet. The beginning of the run off is later this year so as the hot weather starts to build the flows should rise quickly. So the Pan is going to be the only fishable water for miles over the next few weeks.

We have seen a few PMD's about and the fish are taking larger nymphs so the bug diet is beginning to expand for the fish. But on bright days with the low flows, the fish are staying close to the bottom for protection until there is a bigger hatch on the surface.

Recommended Flies:Use midges, PMD nymphs 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.

The PMD's are starting to put in an appearance now, but the best bet is to use nymphs for the moment until there are stronger hatches bringing the fish to the surface.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 1400cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The Fork is in full run-off mode at the moment so as it is rising past previous highs, just head for the Pan.

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. In addition the Fork is now in full run-off mode as the level rises daily so. So don't bother.

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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