Fishing Report

For the Week ending 16th August 2015

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We are starting to see the crowds thinning out a little. Families are getting ready to get their kids back to school. So as the transition occurs the rivers won't be so busy. The forecast for the coming week is for temperatures in the high 70's to low 80's with the possibility of some rain. This is a little cooler than the past week.

This week in response to entreaties, the Bureau dropped the releases from Ruedi to 270cfs making the Pan just a little more accessible for wading. All things being equal, it seems that the Bureau will hold this level and then as the inflow drops the releases will fall. Currently the inflow is around 154cfs although the Meredith guage is lower.

There were reports of some of the seasons best drake and PMD hatches this weekend close to the dam. Although lower down the hatches are sparse. The higher than average water is keeping them down.

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 270cfs.(if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

Thankfully the Bureau dropped the flows a little this week. At 270cfs the river is a little more user friendly in the narrower sections. Though with the consistently higher flows this year there has been little opportunity to access the Frying Pan closer to town. So when the flows get lower that will be a prime destination.

The hatches remain a little erratic. This Saturday, some observed that the hatches of drakes and PMD's were some of the season's best closer to the Dam. Yet lower down the hatches were sparse and the fish remained subsurface except in the shallowest sections. With the forecast for a slightly cooler upcoming week it will be pleasant out on the river. Cloud cover will help, but it remains to be seen whether that will eventuate.

It is certainly an interesting year this year. The fishing is not as consistent as one would expect and it takes a little work to figure out what the fish are up to. That's why it is called "fishing" and not "catching". The most reliable hatches this year are the morning midges.

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 - 565cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The Fork continues to fall. The drop in releases from the Pan this week, dropped the flows a little further. 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 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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