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Wow! What a week of wet weather! Last week the Ivanhoe guage stood at 93% of the median. Today it is at 111% of the median. And the forecast for the coming week is more rain and snow. So the snowpack is due to increase even further. We are now guaranteed a great summer with plenty of water. The wet and cold of the past week also saw some exceptionally good dry fly action with great BWO hatches, so expect more of the same over the coming week. Seven Castles Creek blew out and is still putting out colored water which is coloring the Pan from the 4 mile mark and then into the Fork. The flow is subsiding but it may remain that way for another few days.
The Pan is now running at 151cfs with the additional rains, but that won't last much longer. There is always a co-ordinated release in mid May unless the snowpack is too low. The past week of much rain has pushed the snowpack up nicely above the median increasing the likelihood of a release, so it is possible that there will be inceased flows in the not too distant future. In the meantime the fishing has been excellent and the water conditions ideal. With the forecast for more rain over the coming week the BWO hatches will be strong. Make sure you dress for cold wet conditions. The rain can blow in quickly. But the fishing will be excellent. Recommended Flies:Use midges, bwo's, nymphs and attractors. The fish are also taking small nymphs and caddis larva. The fish aren't particularly fussy yet so a well presented pattern will do the trick. 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. 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.
Current Flow: near Emma - 691cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page). The rains during the week blew out the lower Pan and hence the Fork below Basalt has colored up all the way down to Glenwood. It should clear shortly but with the forecast of more rains and snow there is the chance that the conditions might be extended. So just head to Basalt now. If the weather cools the flows may subside a little but expect the conditions to remain colored lower down now that the run-off is appearing to pick up with the warmer weather. Recommended Flies: The best results on the Fork now are from nymphing. Mostly weighted attractor patterns now or small nymphs and grey emerger patterns. 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 attractor patternssuch as hare's ears, worms and princes. In the faster water it is also worth trying weighted nymphs such as the Frenchie and Vlad's nymph. They will get down quickly and stay close to the bottom in the faster water where the fish will locate on bright days.
The Colorado is colored up now with the recent hot weather so don't bother stopping down there. Just come up to Basalt. 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. Check out our new Frying Pan River Lodge. |
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