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As we progress through the height of the season, the Bureau put the Pan up to 300cfs last week. This has made the wading a little harder in the narrower sections of the river. In addition it is tending to keep the fish lower where they have plenty of food and protection without having to come up for the naturals. This is affecting the dry fly action a little. However the higher flows and colder water means that the hatches will be spread out more over the season and should extend the drakes well into September. The higher releases also help maintain the Fork at good levels as we start to move into the latter part of the season. The Colorado is also remarkably clear.
The hatches remain a little inconsistent this week with the higher flows. The 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 still finding it frustrating having to resort to fishing emergers when the fish ignore a strong hatch. Concentrate on the shallower water for the dry fly action until the fish key in completely on them. The condition of the fish is excellent in the higher water which offers them ample protection and good food. 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. 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.
Current Flow: near Emma - 691cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page). The Fork continues to fall but was augmented this week with higher releases from the Pan. 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. Also try yellow sallies.
The conditions in the Colorado are excellent at the moment with the water being remarkably clear. This is forcing the anglers to resort to smaller flies as the fish are a little spooky in the clear water. 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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