Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado Fly Fishing Report 18th June

Variable weather patterns this week included a spate of quite hot weather interspersed with a cold change and some sleet and snow. Sunday was Mother’s day and we finished off the week with a beautiful warm day. With the weather expected to take a turn tomorrow the fish were feeding well on midges and a few BWO’s throughout the day on the Pan. The fish must be sensing what the weatherman is predicting for the next few days – cold, some thunderstorms and snow at higher elevations.

With the run-off well in progress the Fork is running over 1000cfs at the moment at Basalt while the Pan remains at 328cfs. The only worthwhile places to fish are high up the Fork above Basalt and on the Pan above the 4 mile mark.

The prediction of colder weather in the coming week might slow down the flows in the Fork a little but it needs below freezing temperatures overnight to have any discernible effect. However with the amount of snow in evidence on the higher altitudes, frankly the warmer the weather and the higher the winds, the better it will be to get the snow pack down more quickly.

Though warmer earlier in the week, the colder weather later in the week cleared up the tributaries to the Pan a little so that above the 4 mile mark the fishing was good. The midges were in abundance with some BWO’s and the odd caddis.

With the warmer weather over the weekend, Sunday was particularly pleasant with the fish being active both on midges and BWO’s. The fish fed well into the evening, possibly sensing a change in the air.

The prediction of thunderstorms and some rain with some cooling weather early in the coming week will bring on some good BWO hatches. But the temperatures won’t drop much below zero. So the key is to start fishing mid-river and then move higher as the day progresses and the tributaries start to color up.

During the week there is not much traffic along the Pan but by weekend, we are starting to see numbers of fishermen arrive.

Recommended Flies: The principal hatch is still midges but the baetis are active. The midges will come off during the day, particularly if it is sunny. So try WD-40's #20 , red and black chironocones #20, brassie's #18 - #22, midge larva patterns #18 - #22, copper johns #18 - #22, black polywings #18 - #22 and garcia's rojo midges # 18 - #22.

If the fish start moving higher in the water column or get active under the surface, 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.

When they are on the surface, try dry patterns such as the z-wing real midge, suspended midge and any similar dry black and gray patterns such as a parachute Adams in sizes from #20 through to #28.

The baetis nymphs are starting to move about in the water. Try some small nymph patterns such as pheasant tails and the FPA sparkle baetis #20 - #24 down deep. In addition try the emerger patterns like crystal hunchback, juju baetis, the mighty mite, icebreakers and the FPA sparkle baetis - #18 - #24 and rs2 #18 - #22 and soft hackle baetis #18 -#22.

If BWO’s start to come off try dry patterns like the adams and parachute adams #20-#24 and the matthews #18 - #24 with an emerger dropper.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 1080cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The warmth during this past week really pushed up the flow in the Fork midweek. The colder change slowed it down a little but from Basalt down the river is dirty. So unless we get an exceedingly cold change, aim to come up past Basalt before you consider fishing in the Fork. If the weather remains warm to hot, you will have to travel up past the tributaries above Basalt and keep looking to see where the water clears.

Try stone flies, caddis larva and nymphs as well as eggs and princes down deep. In addition BWO emergers such as the rs2, soft hackle emergers, and the crystal back BWO.

But if you are coming up, give us a call at the shop and we will give you an uptodate and, to best of our ability an accurate report on the river conditions so you won’t be disappointed when you get here.

Recommended Flies: Use midge emergers and tiny nymph attracters. See some of the patterns we have mentioned for the Pan. If you are nymphing deep down, use plenty of weight and pick where the fish are protected behind structure or deeper down in the slower water.

Try small baetis nymph patterns such as pheasant tails #18 - #24. For baetis emergers try RS2, the crystal hunchback, juju baetis, the mighty mite, icebreakers and the FPA sparkle baetis - #18 - #24. Also try princes, brassies, copper johns and eggs deep down as well as streamers.

When the BWO's are coming off try the adams and parachute adams #20-#24 and the matthews #18 - #24.

Try various stone fly patterns and in particular Theo's and the 20incher #10 -#14. In addition use streamers, particularly when floating.

Keep an eye out for caddis as well and try emergers and dries.

Colorado River

Don’t bother stopping to try the Colorado. It is just too dirty. Just head up valley past Basalt and turn left to the Pan or keep going to the upper Fork. The Colorado won’t be worth the effort for a while so long as the weather remains warm. So check in with the shop to get an uptodate report if you are coming up later in the week.

Recommended Flies: BWO nymphs (see some of the patterns we mention for the Fork); midges emergers and dries during the hatches, eggs and princes; caddis; 20 inchers size #10 - #14; streamers #2 - #8.