Fishing Report

For the Week ending 31st July 2016

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Another excellent week. The Bureau pushed the flows up to 250cfs a week ago which is our recommended ideal level taking all interests into account. The weather forecast is for some rain at last. It has been unseasonally dry now for a while with little of the normal afternoon tropical showers which are welcome in the heat. However the forecast is that this will change this week. In fact we did have some rain tonight which has brought some relief. Generally the forecast is for thunderstorms so remember to take along your wet weather gear. The weather can change quickly. Some cloudy days and rain will bring on excellent hatches.

The Pan and the upper Fork are excellent as well as the Colorado. The lower Fork towards Glenwood is not fishing as well with a lot of moss in places making the experience less pleasant. We are now well into the busiest time of the year so do a little research and be prepared to walk a little if you want to access water with few fishermen. Contact the shop and we can give you some ideas on the less trafficked places to go.

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 250cfs.(if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

The Pan is running at 250cfs and the fishing is excellent with the extra water comforting the fish and getting the bug hatches more active.

At the current level around 250cfs, the water condition is perfect at the top end of the recommended range. The hatches are good as the additional water has created more natural conditions.

This past week the bright clear days tended to limit the hatches a little but with the forecast for clouds and rain, the outlook for this week is excellent. Be prepared for wet weather. Some of the best hatches come off in the rain so you don't want to miss out because you forgot to bring along your wet weather gear.

The conditions are ideal.

Recommended Flies:Use midges, bwos, pmd's and drakes, both nymphs and dries.

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.

There will also be caddis and crane flies in the evening.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 600cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The Fork above Carbondale is the best place to head. Closer to Glenwood Springs the moss has taken over in some places making the fishing unpleasant. There is a lot of pressure now as well. The best floating is higher up with a raft. The wading access is excellent now.

There are great caddis hatches at the moment offering some excellent dry fly action above Basalt. The drakes are above Basalt now. There are also yellow sallies, stone flies, PMDs and BWO's. The midge hatches are prolific as well. The best nymph patterns are getting smaller. The conditions are excellent on the Fork now.

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 drakes. Use caddis emergers and drake nymphs and dries.

Also try yellow sallies as well as streamers.

Colorado

The Colorado is in great condition. It offers better floating than the lower Fork. The water conditions are excellent.

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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