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As predicted, the Bureau put up the flows this week aggressively pushing the water out at 650cfs by Saturday. However from Saturday evening they began to cut back rapidly so that currently the flows are back to 409cfs. At this rate the flows will be back at 200cfs by mid-week. But the high water didn't prevent John Malovich from catching what looks like the same fish Marty caught last year when it measured 31". The fish seems to have put on more than a few pounds over the last year. The flows jumped significantly this week. The inflow to Ruedi is now around 750cfs and Ruedi is 85% full. The Bureau will hold the flows low until Ruedi fills and then they will have to increase the releases to control the level to make sure it does not overflow. So watch the levels as one would expect the Pan flow to move higher in July again for a short period. The Fork flow topped at 3000cfs 2 days ago and is currently at 2550 after a cool change moved in last night for a few hours. But with hot weather and rain/thunderstorms predicted for the coming week, the flows will pick up again. So the Pan will be your destination for the next week or so. Meredith Long is at it again. 6 years ago this major donor to the Roaring Fork Conservancy was forced to remove a substantial amount of fencing and "no trespassing" signs along the Frying Pan River which were preventing public access to fishing. Since then the public have been enjoying fishing this water. Over this past winter strands of wire were re-erected to prevent fishermen from accessing part of this section of river. A public dispute is brewing again as indicated in an article in the Sunday edition of the Aspen Daily News. The particular stretch of public land in dispute had become a popular spot for fishermen to stop for a while and try and catch the monster trout that live there, fed by an automatic fish feeder installed just upstream. The fishing public have been complaining bitterly for the past few months and have been waiting for a response from the authorities. This time though, as appears from the Aspen Daily News article, the authorities seem to have abdicated all the responsibilites entrusted to them to protect the public interest and have gone weak at the knees. One hopes that this is a misreading of their intentions. The Colorado Law is quite clear. It is a misdemeanor to, inter alia, obstruct a water way (18-9-107 of the Colorado Revised Statutes). The "no trespass" signs are on public land. The signs indicating where the private land starts are also misleading as generally the distance is twice that indicated on the signs. This is a clear violation of Colorado Statutes 33-6-116. It is also an offence under 33-6-115.5 of the Colorado Statutes to, inter alia, erect a barrier to prevent access to a fishing area. There was no doubt as to the position 6 years ago. That's why the fence came down. So what has changed? And where is the Roaring Fork Conservancy in all of this? They posture as champions of the rivers for the benefit of the public and seek public donations to pursue that purpose. They are conspicuous by their silence. Is it relevant that Meredith Long is a major donor to them? He was reported to have donated over a million dollars in the past and even now is listed as a "cornerstone partner" on their website. Is there something a little odd here, or is one just being a little too cynical? With the apparent unwillingness of the authorities to do anything, is the future now open for anyone to start erecting barriers to public access knowing that the authorities don't have the will to do anything? What if someone owns both sides of the Roaring Fork and stretches a wire across it? Will the authorities handball it around and say it is all too hard? Is that what we have come to? From many conversations it is obvious that the natives are getting restless. Patience is wearing thin. One fervently hopes that these public servants, drawing public salaries from taxed funds might find a backbone between them all at some point in the not too distant future. Perhaps upon a little reflection, some Sunday reading and a few more communications from the public, something might eventuate. We shall see.
With the big bump in flows this week, the only fishable water was close to the dam. However the releases are now coming down, and the Pan will be back around 200cfs midweek. It will be the only good fishing water for miles with the forecast for hot temperatures and more rain. 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 - 2550cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page). Withthe flows jumping rapidly and running at 2500 at Basalt, the Fork will only run higher next week and won't be fishable. So just head to Basalt and the Frying Pan.
The Colorado is colored up now so don't bother stopping down there. Just come up to Basalt. Check out our new Frying Pan River Lodge. |
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