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Fishing Report For Week ending 30th October 2004 The cold weather has arrived. It snowed quite heavily on Thursday and Friday. It has also been cloudy for the last few days although this morning the clouds are only scattered. This week there was an interesting meeting updating the research being done by the Roaring Fork Conservancy into the formation of anchor ice and its effect on fish habitat and food. Essentially the consultants have concluded what fishermen have always known, viz., that if the water flows from Reudi are too low in particularly cold weather and hence the water temperature is permitted to fall to the point where anchor ice forms, the consequence is a diminution in the biomass. The anchor ice breaks free and scrapes the invertebrates off the rocks and from the surface of the river bed. Although the study has not been conducted over a sufficient period, it is the view of the consultants that it can take up to 2 years for the biomass to regenerate to original levels. The obvious solution is for the water flows to be increased during the coldest months. It was suggested that 60cfs might be a good target. However, given the competing interests in a drought year the necessity to balance various competing interests means it is not an easy task. Still the general impression left was that there is a desire to take the research into account and to attempt to regulate the water flows so as to permit greater flows in the colder months. More information is available on the Roaring Fork conservancy website (http://www.roaringfork.org/). The hunters are out in force so make sure you have some orange on. Frying Pan Current Flow: below the Dam 70 cfs. (if you want more up to date figures check out current readings on our "Links" page) The water in the Pan has been running at 80 for the past week until 28 th when it dropped to 70. The snow and rain has increased the flows into the Pan a little. Taylor Creek is flowing a little higher than usual. As always, the mysis shrimp is working for the first half mile below the dam at Reudi Reservoir. Pete reported good fishing on the Frying Pan during the snowfall. There were 3 to 4 inches of snow on the ground and it was still snowing like crazy and cold (28 degrees). Before noon the toilet bowl produced some nice fish on size 16 and 18 mysis shrimp. Of course, the best time to fish this spot is at the break of day. In the afternoon the crew headed to the bridge pool and slayed them on blue-winged olives, sparkle baetis, sparkle body bwo's, emergers and dries. Recommended Flies: baetis #20 and smaller; mathews sparkle dun #20; sparkle baetis emerger #18; brooks sprout baetis #20; barrs blue wing olive emerger #18 and #20; AK's parachute Olive quill #20; dark olive pheasant tails and olive biot emergers, size #20 and #22; midges, size #20 and smaller. Roaring Fork Current Flow: near Emma 300 cfs. (if you want more up to date figures check out current readings on our "Links" page). The Roaring Fork continues to fish well. The water flow is slowing a little but not enough to be noticeable. Recommended Flies: same as the Frying Pan. Red quills size 14 and 16; elk hair caddis #16 and smaller for the adult and a prince nymph #16 and #18 for the emerger; carrot nymph #18; red copper john #20; gold ribbed hare’s ear #16 and #18; 20 incher stone #14; Blue Wing Olives #20; egg patterns #10 - #18; streamers #10 (on some days); autumn splendor #4 - 8; bead head pops bugger olive #6. Colorado River The weather change brought the wind onto the Colorado. One of Ed's favorites is "cast and blast". Ducks and fish in the one trip. In the windy conditions this week, small fish taking tiny baetis along the bank but not having saltwater rods, it was very hard to cast. On one trip the crew resorted to spinning gear with great in the deeper water. Recommended Flies: Bead head pheasant tails #16, 18; Blue Wing Olives #18,20; bead head prince nymph red #12 - 16; stimulators #10 - 14; egg patterns #10 - #18; |
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