Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado - Frying Pan and Roaring Fork Fly Fishing Report

We are now ready for an excellent year on the Pan. The Bureau has dropped the releases progressively all week and now it is settling at 370cfs. The tributaries of the lower pan have all cleared up nicely indicating that the melt in the lower elevations has passed its peak. It is possible that the Bureau might raise the river again as the higher elevations melt off but there is no reason to suspect that the level will approach that of last weekend so even if they do bump it up the fishing will still be good.

The Fork also has settled a little although there is still a lot of snow higher up to melt. But at the moment the color of the Fork is actually quite good and gets better the higher up one goes. So provided the levels stay relatively steady there is good fishing to be had certainly above Basalt. With the current level floating the river will still be a fast and furious proposition but provided it remains relatively clear the fishing will be good. Wading is getting better as the river clears and there is good fishing on the edges.

The coming week promises continuing hot weather so we will see if the Fork rises any higher. So if you are coming up, give us a call and we will give you an uptodate report on the river conditions.

With the flows having been cut back progressively all week, the water in the Pan is now pristine. The big flow certainly flushed out a lot of sediment and shifted a lot of logs and branches. So now we have a little exploring to do to see how the river has changed, particularly where structure has been moved. But now we are back to smaller flies after the fun of the larger flies over the last 2 weeks.

As the tributaries to the lower Pan have cleared up the promised hot weather for the coming week should have practically no effect on the water conditions. So look forward to some good fishing. Mid week there might be some rain which will bring about some good BWO dry fly action.

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!

As we move closer to summer and the river settles down try stimulators, caddis and larger nymphs down to #16 particularly mid and lower down the Pan.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 2800cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The Fork has now settled under 3000cfs for a week so much of the material in the river at that level will have been washed out and moved further downstream. So provided the Fork doesn’t get much above these levels the fishing will now be getting strong. We had good reports higher up towards Aspen particularly when the cold evenings slowed the flow a little.

The river is still a tough proposition for floating at the moment but the fishing conditions are good. A float will be fast a furious requiring big flies, strong casting skills and quick reactions.

Wading along the edges identifying the fish lying in protected areas is productive and as the water remains relatively clear the fish will be feeding in the seams between the faster and slower water, deep down, or behind structure in the river.

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.

If you are going to float try bigger flies such as stone flies, streamers or big dries. In the current high flows, a well placed worm pattern will also work well.

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.