|
Another great week in the Roaring Fork Valley. Generally beautiful weather which brought out a lot of locals onto the rivers. In addition we had a few visitors in town who took time off the ski slopes to try a little fishing. We had a slight rain storm which came through briefly and was hardly noticed. Yet it dropped a little snow high up. The coming week is similarly predicted to have temperatures in the mid 60's and little snow or rain. As we approach spring the locals are coming out in droves renewing their fishing licences and looking to check their equipment for the upcoming season. Already the fishing is excellent and access to the rivers is perfect. So take a little time to get out onto the rivers as spring arrives. Celebrate the new season as it is here. We have finished the house at the Frying Pan River Lodge and are taking bookings for the coming season. You can now view some photos of the interior.
More excellent fishing on the Pan this week. The Bureau bumped the flows a little higher early in the week to 161cfs. It is fishing well for its full length now with the fish moving about and taking nymphs. The fish are not in the faster water yet tending to stay on the quieter edges but in the flow where they can feed. The higher flows have spread them out a little more. Recommended Flies:Use midges and eggs. As the weather begins to warm the fish are also taking small nymphs and caddis larva. So unless we get a really cold snap, the fish are beginning to get restless and aren't particularly fussy. 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. 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. AS we move into spring and the bugs begin to move about, the fish are taking generic nymphs such as pheasant tails and caddis larva patterns.
Current Flow: near Emma - 351cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page). The Fork remains in excellent condition. The flows below Basalt were bumped up with the increased releases into the Frying Pan. There are nice BWO and midge hatches bringing the fish to the surface in the quieter sections. Above Carbondale the water condition is pristine. However the Crystal was putting in a little color this week which showed up just a touch in the water below the confluence. However the fishing was good with fish tending to continue to stack in the quieter sections where they could feed on midges and BWO's coming off. The fish will also respond to streamers at the moment. It is a great time to get out onto the Fork now with such great conditions. Recommended Flies: The best results on the Fork now are from nymphing. Mostly eggs and attractor patterns now. The browns are on the redds so try streamers and eggs below them. You can try small flies such as, copper johns, pc phlash, mercury rs2's, pheasant tails, bubble back bwos. They will also take small soft hackles such as the grey biot emerger. Also try eggs and attractor patterns.
The Colorado is in great condition and should remain that way for now. Nymphing produces the best results. The fish are now responding to streamers and the browns are on the redds. Recommended Flies: egg patterns as well as some of the patterns suggested above for the Fork.
Check out our new Frying Pan River Lodge. |
|
The san juan angler for the best in San Juan River Fly Fishing |
||