Fishing Report

For the Week ending 18th October 2015

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Well finally they have dropped the releases. From 300cfs to 100cfs in just a few days!!! What madness. They could have been reducing it for weeks and keeping it around the mid 150cfs into winter. But no. Its all or nothing!

Anyway I spoke with the relevant person from the US Fish and Wildlife and was told that they had not received a single complaint about the water levels. This is despite the fact that I had spoken with a number of authorities on a number of occasions.

Anyway, I don't think they believed me. So they have requested that I get names and contact details from anyone who had a problem with the releases at 300cfs. So far we have a list being comiled at the shop and we are already receiving emails detailing various complaints. So if you have an opinion on the high water, send an email to the shop (report@fryingpananglers.com) and we will include it in a submission which we will put early next season when they consider their water flows. This is the first step in a number of things we will be doing to have the voice of the fishing public heard.

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 100cfs.(if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

100cfs!! Crazy. Anyway, the fishing has been spectacular. The weather has been warm and comfortable and hatches have been coming off bringing on some great dry fly activity. The best news is that the water closer to town is now accessible and there was some good fishing there over the weekend. The fish are not used to looking up having been driven to the bottom by the fast water, but given time there will be some great days left before winter to get into some of those areas which have been left untouched for the whole season.

The forecast is for some rain over the next week so expect some more great hatches. The temperature is expected to remain in the mid 50's to mid 60's so it won't be too cold, but make sure you are well dressed out on the river as the hatches will tend to come on in earnest as the rain starts. The last thing one needs is to have to leave the river during a great hatch! So be prepared.

Recommended Flies:Use midges, bwo's, nymphs and attractors. The fish are also taking small nymphs and caddis patterns.

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

The fish are taking generic nymphs such as pheasant tails and caddis larva patterns. The BWO's are coming off as well. Try emerger patterns such as rs2's and WD-50's.

For BWO naturals use standard BWO's, parachute BWO's, parachute Adams, and Thorax patterns.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 328cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

With the Pan coming down so dramatically, the Fork has dropped quickly at Basalt. Now all float is from Carbondale down.

The Fork is now able to be crossed in wider sections all the way down to Carbondale giving great access to wade fisherman. The fish remain deep when it is bright but with the prospect of wet weather for the next week, there could be some great opportunities fishing the edges of runs.

Recommended Flies: The best results on the Fork now are from nymphing. Use either stoneflies or attractor patterns down deep, with small nymphs or emergers as the second fly. In the clear water and bright days the fish are near structure or down deep.

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.

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.

Higher up on the Fork the water is still fast, so use attractors such as princes, large stonefly nymphs, and hare's ears in that area. Hopper droppers will work if floating in the shaded areas. We haven't had a really hot summer so there have not been a lot of hopper around, but it is worth trying one against the banks on hot afternoons.

Colorado

The Colorado is clear and is offering good fishing.

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.

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