Fishing Report

For the Week ending 17th August 2014

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Another great week with the Pan at 275cfs and the Fork continuing to fall. At Basalt the Fork is nearly 100cfs lower than last week and the water is in great condition. The drakes are still coming off higher up the Fork at night while they are coming off well on the Frying Pan from mid-river up.

As schools begin to return, the traffic is beginning to thin out. It was hot this past week with temperatures in the mid 80's, bright clear skies and little afternoon cloud. We did have a forecast of some rain last week which did arrive mid=-week for a day and blew out the Crystal. Apart from that athere were a few other showers but it wasn't general and passed quickly.

The weather the coming week is for more possible afternoon rain but generally it appears to be more of the same. There is always the possiblity of a downpour so dress accordingly. But generally it might be just a fraction cooler as we get through August and into the Autumnal weather patterns.

The Bureau came to town to provide a river update and generally it appears that the Pan will stay at current levels for another few weeks in response to the calls by the US Fish and Wildlife seeking releases for the endangered species near Grand Junction. This means that the flows in the Fork from Basalt down will still be good for another few weeks if one wants to float in a raft from Basalt. There were a few rafts out this weekend, but not so many fishermen. Mostly pleasure craft enjoying the great floating from Basalt.

In the coming week keep an eye on the weather forecast and dress for possible rain. If floating just keep an eye on the Crystal. If there is any downpour it will blow out and cause the Fork to be unfishable below Carbondale.

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 273cfs.(if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

The releases increased in response to a call by the US Fish and Wildlife service so now the Pan is running at 273cfs.

But these levels offer perfect conditions for both the fish and the fishermen. The water will be a little deeper in the narrower sections so the fish will be able to seek more protection. The higher flows will mean that there will be less need for the fish to come to the surface lower down towards town, so the better dry fly activity will be in the half closer to the Dam.

With the prediction of more rain and cloudy days, expect more great fishing with PMD's, drakes and BWO's coming off through the day and midges in the mornings and evenings. Be mindful of the weather and take along your wet weather gear as a precaution.

Recommended Flies:Use midges, PMD's and BWO's. Use drake nymphs because they are about and ready to come off.

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.

With the beatis nymphs and BWO's coming off in the shade 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.

The PMD's are now coming off so try the nymphs before the hatches start and then emergers and dries. Try Pink Cahill's, Sulphur Dun's and the Comparadun for dries. For emergers try the FPA beadtail emerger, the FPA special emerger, and the killer mayfly pmd.

The drakes are due to start coming off so try the nymphs at the moment and get ready for the hatches around midday. For nymphs try the Flavilinea, the FPA Nymph and the Muskrat. As soon as the fish start taking dries start with the emerger and then try W's Drake, the Wulff, the cripple, and the Comparadun.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 533cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The Fork continues to drop and the wading gets easier. At current flows, augmented by the Pan, the floating from Basalt in a raft is still a great proposition rather than the armada from Carbondale down.

The fishing reports have been excellent and provided the rains hold off and the Crystal doesn't blow again, there should be good floating all the way to Glenwood. But there is a forecast for more rain and thunderstorms next week so keep an eye on the weather and check the forecasts.

Recommended Flies: The best results on the Fork now are from nymphing. Use small baetis and pmd nymphs after a large stonefly pattern. Alternatively sink caddis pupae patterns.

Try small baetis such as the FPA Sparkle Baetis, the FPA Thorax Emerger, and black pheasant tails have also worked well. For emergers, the rs2 in black or gray. Also the sparkle wing rs2.

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

Also try PMD nymphs, rusty spinners and yellow sallies.

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.

For the drakes in the evening the H & L Variant is a must as it will remain visible into dark. Otherwise try the Colorado Drake, the adult drake, and the hairwing dun.

Colorado

The condition of the Colorado has been excellent this week and the fishing good.

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, worms and small baetis patterns behind the lead fly.

Also consider yellow sallies, PMDs, and terrestrials.

For streamers use white or black flies.

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