Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado Fly Fishing Report 18th June

Another week of hot weather and a little rain coupled with the Bureau raising the Pan to 850cfs! The Bureau had been progressively raising the river throughout the week so that by the time it hit 800cfs the water was relatively clear and provided you could find a quiet spot on the edge of the flow the fishing was remarkably good.

The coming week promises more hot weather with a low chance of rain and thunderstorms. However Taylor Creek though still high is now almost clear and not rising at all indicating that much of the run-off at the lower elevations has peaked around the lower Frying Pan. Consequently as soon as the Bureau drops the current level the fishing should be back to normal. The big flow has spread the fish around and by keeping the fishermen limited in accessing the water has given the fish a chance to settle in and feed well up and down the river.

The Fork also appears to have peaked for the moment and is running at just under 3000cfs. With the warm weather remaining during the coming week, if the Fork doesn’t rise much more at Basalt that will indicate that the peak is close to having passed. According to the Bureau records, the Fork is currently exceeding the most recent high of 2500cfs by a good margin. So we are experiencing record flows at the moment. So if you are coming up, give us a call and we will give you an uptodate report on the river conditions.

Just a comment on the releases from Ruedi. The Colorado is running at 15,000cfs at Glenwood Springs. The reason for the releases at this time is, according to a story in the Aspen Times on June 5 th, is to assist some endangered fish at Grand Junction. The raising of the Pan by 400cfs over the week has certainly put paid to accessing a lot of the Pan over the few days that the water level was raised. It is not helpful to the fishermen and certainly not helpful to the businesses which rely on the fishermen who visit our area. So doubling the flow in the Pan certainly had a significant affect on locals.

On the other hand, what effect will 400cfs have in a river which is running at 15,000cfs at Glenwood Springs and which is running at 27,700 near the Colorado/Utah State line? There will be a political answer, but one is quizzical as to whether the additional 400cfs from Ruedi will make all the difference as to whether some endangered species lives or dies. The fish might not notice the additional 400cfs, but we certainly did.

During the last few days of this week, the Bureau pushed the Pan over 850cfs. However the water quality above the 4mile mark was remarkably good and there was some good fishing provided one found some quiet water where the fish could get some relief from the big flow. The fish have spread out and are finding little areas in the most unlikely places. But now that the water is quite clear they are moving back to start to feed. They don’t mind the fast water. They just don’t like grit in their gills so as soon as the water clears they are back to feeding. Mid river, it was just a matter of putting on larger flies and fishing down to the fish in the quieter stretches near seams. They took the magnum prince and the strawing emerger without much effort. There were also good reports higher up near the dam and Harry took clients above Ruedi who enjoyed some good fishing as well.

So in the coming week if the water level remains high, try bigger flies which you might use in a larger river. One would expect though that the releases from Ruedi will abate as the week progresses.

Recommended Flies: 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 fish are well onto the baetis now. 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. If the fish are under the surface try fishing 2 emergers with a very small weight to get the flies down a little. An rs2#20 behind an FPA emerger or sparkle baetis with a thorax bead will do the trick.

On the bright days the BWO's will tend to come off in the shade. But if it starts to rain, don't come in. Just stay out on the water as long as you can - unless its an electrical storm!

In the high water at the moment, try bigger flies with lots of legs like the magnum prince, bitch creeks and girdle bugs.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 2910cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

With the Fork running at record levels finding quiet clearer water away from the flow will be tough, but it is possible lower down in some of the flatter and wider areas right on the edges. The fish will be hungry and as the water clears, though remains high they will be feeding along the edges of seams near quieter water.

Recommended Flies: In the high water, pick your way along the edges and try caddis dries and emergers and dries with baetis droppers. 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. Baetis emergers try RS2, the crystal hunchback, juju baetis, the mighty mite, icebreakers and the FPA sparkle baetis - #18 - #24. Also try princes, brassies, and copper johns as well as stones fly nymphs. Use flies with a bit of flash which the fish will pick up in the darker water.

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. 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.