Fishing Report

For the Week ending 2nd October 2016

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Well finally! The US Fish and Wildlife Service ran out of money and stopped maintaining the 300cfs flows in the Pan. Midweek, the flows dropped to 242cfs, which is better than 300cfs but not as good as 150cfs for this time of year. The flows will in all likelihood drop further this week so we are looking at some magnficent fishing as we head into Autumn.

The forecast for the coming week is generally for clear weather with the possibility of some rain on Thursday. The colors are magnficent and the leaves have only begun to fall. So the prospects for this week are excellent.

As the visitors continue to leave, the Town is more and more deserted as are the rivers. Davide and I fished on the upper Fork today and did not see a soul all day. If one is inclined to make the journey some of the best fishing of the year is on offer at the moment.

The places for our October guide school/fishing camp is filling up and we are set for some wonderful fishing experiences. See the link above if it is of any interest.

Frying Pan

Current Flow: below the Dam 242cfs.(if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)

With the flows dropping a little in the Pan it is now more accessible and still offering great fishing. The hatches continue closer to the dam and mid river there is a hatch in the evenings until the sun begins to set.

The coming week offers more great fishing with a pleasant weather forecast and the probability that the flows will drop further in the Pan. As the level falls the fish will increasingly feed on the surface and will offer better access for the fisherman.

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 - 443cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

With the flow in the Pan cut back by 58cfs there was a concomitant reduction in the Fork flows below the confluence in Basalt. The condition of the water in the Fork remains pristine.

On the warmer days, there are a few PMD's and midges coming off and BWO's still come off when it is cloudy. The fish are still looking up and will take dries. But the best results are from nymphing and the best nymph patterns are getting smaller.

Today in the bright light the fish tended to hug the bottom so it is a matter of getting down to them. But there are a few fish which will take dries. It is just a matter of finding them.

Concentrate on smaller flies.

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.

Try streamers.

Colorado

The Colorado is generally in good condition and affords some great floating. The effective flies are getting smaller, but streamers are still yielding good results.

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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