Fishing Report

For the Week ending 1st May 2016

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The cold weather just keeps on keeping on. Every day during the week there was rain and sometimes snow. There was sufficient snow at higher elevations to push the snowpack up to 114% of the median. Furthermore we are now at 169% of last year. This doesn't mean we have had that much more snow. It just indicates how cold it has been. We have not seen any run-off in Taylor Creek and by this time of year, usually most of the lower elevation snow has gone. So when the hot weather comes the rivers will jump quickly.

The run-off may start over the next few days with the forecast temperatures pushing up in the mid 60's and clear skies. We need consistent weather to get the melt going consistently. If it gets colder next weekend it will slow down a little.

In the meantime, the fishing this past week was excellent with some marvellous BWO hatches. There was great dry fly action on both the Pan and the Fork. It was cold and one needed to dress appropriately but if one took the necessary precautions, it was truly auspicious fishing.

The have just put the Pan up to 125cfs tonight. The conditions will remain excellent out on the river in the coming week. But take care to dress appropriately. This is really Colorado spring weather this year!

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 125cfs.(if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

As the weather settled down to cold, blustery wet conditions the BWO hatches were excellent and the dry fly activity was the best for a month. The fish keyed on specific patterns such as small bwo's both olive and gray. At times it was necessary to change up as the fish adjusted their attention. Generally smaller flies worked well as well as emergers such as the gray biot emerger.

When there was not a great deal of action on the surface the fish took BWO nymphs as well as crawling caddis patterns provided they were fished deep.

The coming week promises a little warming and perhaps a few clear days. The flows in the Pan have been put up to 125cfs this evening. Dress for cooler conditions and anticipate rain from time to time.

Recommended Flies:Use midges, bwos, nymphs and attractors. The fish are also taking small nymphs.

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.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma -422cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The flows in the Fork are tending to push higher. The were higher earlier in the week when there was more rain, but with the cold and drier conditions they have come down a little. The lower one travels down the Fork, the more colored the conditions tend to get. So head up to Basalt and above for the better water conditions.

Recommended Flies: The best results on the Fork now are from nymphing. Use either stoneflies or attractor patterns down deep, with small nymphs or emergers as the second fly. In the clear water and bright days the fish are near structure or down deep.

Now the big browns are chasing streamers as well so take along your streamer gear for a change.

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.

Try streamers now as well.

Colorado

The Colorado is going to get a little color now as the melt begins at lower elevations. Keep an eye on the weather as the warming days will bring in more color.

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 streamers as well.

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