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

Another week of very hot weather and the Bureau raised the Pan quickly mid-week to keep pace with the inflow at Ruedi but as of Saturday evening they have started dropping it again. Ruedi is almost full at the moment hence the need to retain control of the level. However the rate of inflow has been dropping over the last few days indicating that the melt in that area has passed its peak. Consequently, the Pan is back to 568cfs and should be dropping at the same pace as the inflow. The water conditions in the Pan are good now though the flow is high making access to some of the narrower section difficult.

The Fork has continued to flow at a peak around 4690cfs over the last 3 days but drops down by the afternoon as the previous days melt in the high country passes its peak at Basalt around midday. There is still no prospect of floating on the Fork at the moment but with the peaks remaining consistent now, it is evident that the melt has passed its zenith so it is a matter of patience before the river drops enough to make is worthwhile.

The coming week promises more hot weather so the melt will continue apace. So look at our links to the flows or call the shop to get an indication of the levels of the river if you want to make some plans.

With Ruedi nearing capacity and the inflow up to 800cfs earlier in the week, the Bureau increased the flows in the lower Pan quickly during the week so that they peaked on Saturday morning around 620cfs. However the rate of inflow has been slowing over the last few days, so the Bureau began dropping the Pan again on Saturday evening so that it is now 568cfs. The higher flow has made accessing narrower parts of the river more difficult, especially if you are unsteady on your feet. However the fishing is still good and the colored water permits one to use a stronger tippet. Both Cameron and Harry had clients out during the week and the were having good success on mercury baetis nymphs#20, drake nymphs and attracter patterns such as the prince.

The coming week promises great fishing as the level is dropping from the spike during the week. The tributaries to the lower Pan, though still running high are clear.

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 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 - 4690cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The ongoing hot weather last week kept the levels high in the Fork, but they did not approach the previous weeks highs confirming that it appears to have passed its peak and is now settling down.

The river continues to flutuate about 1000cfs a day as the previous days melt high up reaches Basalt around midday on the following day. So if you have a mind to wade fish, the levels drop into the evenings each day. The river also tends to clear a little as the mlet from higher up slows down.

The flows are still very high and dangerous for floating but keep an eye on the levels as they should start to drop soon and will give us some excellent fishing through to the end of the season. The snow pack means that floating from high up the Fork will be a worthwhile proposition later into the year than normal.

As the river drops wade fishing along the edges will be good as the water will have cleared and the fish will be feeding somewhere.

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. But frankly we don't recommend it. It is just too dangerous. 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 check in with the shop to get an uptodate report if you are coming up later in the week.