Fishing Report

For the Week ending 2nd August 2015

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Another great week out on the rivers. The weather was relatively settled with warm to hot days and dry for much of the week. It is beginning to rain a little at the moment and the forecast is for some scattered rain over the next 2 days. After that it will be a little cloudy with temperatures in the mid 80's. Ideal comfortable conditions.

Overall we are now enjoying ideal fishing conditions on all rivers. The hatches have generally been strong, but not consistent with the changing weather threatening. So it is a matter of doing a little exploring at the moment. The better dry fly fishing is in the shallower water because there is so much food in the river, in the deeper water, the fish are happy to sit mid-way in the water column and take emergers. With the flows in the Pan at 235cfs there is still a lot of water for this time of year. Soon though the Bureau will cut back the releases as the inflow is 144cfs and Ruedi is now dropping. They will try and hold Ruedi near full until there is a call on the water.

This week a new economic study on the benefits of fishing for Basalt was released. It is an important contribution to understanding the role fishing plays in the vibrancy of the Basalt economy. The Roaring Fork Conservancy is to be complimented for this study.

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 235cfs.(if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

The releases ended the week where they started, even though the flows dropped for a couple of days midweek. The hatches have been a little inconsistent this week with more reliable hatches closer to the Dam. The fish haven't keyed in completely on the naturals on the surface yet and some anglers are finding it frustrating having to resort to fishing emergers when the fish ignore a strong hatch. It has been a strange year, but it is just a matter of exercising a little patience. Concentrate on the shallower water for the dry fly action until the fish key in completely on them. This will be assisted when the Bureau drops the releases a little more, which should happen shortly given that the inflow is 144cfs and falling.

Recommended Flies:Use PMD's, midges, bwo's, nymphs and attractors. The fish are also taking small nymphs and caddis patterns.Also use drake nymphs and be prepared to switch to emergers or dries as the fish key in on them.

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.

For PMD's use emergers and dries. For emergers, use the RS2, the emerger, or the FPA shuck trailer PMD. For dries use the No-hackle, the Comparadun or the parachute.

For drake 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 - 706cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The Fork continues to fall as the runoff abates. The conditions are ideal for floating the full length now. For those wanting to float above Basalt the window is always short and won't remain open for much longer if the flows keep falling at the current rates.

Recommended Flies: The best results on the Fork now are from nymphing but with caddis and drakes in the evening use dries later in the afternoon and evening. When nymphing, use either attractor patterns down deep, caddis larvae and emergers, or stoneflies with baetis.

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. Also try drake nymphs such as the FPA Nymph, or the poxyback. For variety try the muskrat as well.

The caddis are coming off as well as a few drakes lower down. Use caddis emergers and drake nymphs. 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.

Also try yellow sallies.

Colorado

The conditions in the Colorado are good at the moment with the rain having minimal effect. The floating has been good with Cam and Ed reporting some good trips. With the forecast for dry weather the coming week should be great.

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.

Try drake nymphs and yellow sallies as well.

Check out our new Frying Pan River Lodge.

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