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Fishing Report For Week ending 27th November 2004 It has been snowing heavily for the last 3 days. You may have noted on the national news that a major rock slide took out I70 in the Glenwood Canyon. As a consequence intrepid adventurous souls coming from Denver for Thanksgiving were forced to come over Cottonwood Pass. It was passable before the snow came, but now it will be closed for the winter. The skiing is great and the season has started off with a bang. The fishing has been excellent over the past few days. On Thanksgiving Day some of the boys took a postman’s holiday solely in the interests of research, you understand. Here is the report – "We got to the banks of the Frying Pan later than usual, about 2:00. There were plenty of midges emerging, but the fish weren’t very active on the surface. So we opted for drifting emergers. It took a while before we convinced the fish that we were serious, but things got hot around 3:00. The fish were holding in pods in very shallow water, but they didn’t seem to mind our intrusion. We were able to land a dozen fish between 12 and 20 inches before it was time to head home for dinner." Overall, the weather has put down all but the keenest fishermen. Sunday saw little traffic on the rivers, but the fish are still active. Now is the time for those great uninterrupted days. Just dress warm and carry a thermos of hot coffee. Frying Pan Current Flow: below the Dam 69 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 68-70 for the past week. As always, the mysis shrimp is working for the first half mile below the dam at Reudi Reservoir. On the sunny days there are still mid-morning hatches of baetis. However the colder weather will call for midges and nymphs. It has not been very cold so there has not been much accumulation of ice as yet. Merle had some great fishing this week. On Friday his client exhibited the spirit which made the West great and made it over Cottonwood Pass for some great fishing in the snow. They landed about 30 good fish. The order of the day was eggs with nymphs. They got into some great fish. Thursday on the Pan was also good with midges. Generally it was necessary to get the fly down deep in the water. The smaller browns were most active. The best patterns were size #20 - #24 black midges with a bead head to get enough weight. Recommended Flies: If the bugs are coming off try baetis #20 and smaller; mathews sparkle dun #20; sparkle baetis emerger #18; brooks sprout baetis #20; barrs blue wing olive emerger #18 and #20; and olive biot emergers, size #20 and #22. If the bugs are not coming off then try dark olive pheasant tails size #20 and #22; midges, size #20 and smaller; egg patterns #10 - #18. Roaring Fork Current Flow: near Emma 263 cfs. (if you want more up to date figures check out current readings on our "Links" page). The Roaring Fork has been excellent. The fish are feeding on eggs and stone fly nymphs - the 20 incher stone fly nymph, #10 and #12, was very productive. Both Ed and Dave reported good fishing all week. They also advise that midge emergers are working as well as the red copper john, #16 and #18. Recommended Flies: same as the Frying Pan. In addtion try the prince nymph #16 and #18; carrot nymph #18; red copper john #20; gold ribbed hare’s ear #16 and #18; 20 incher stone #10 - #14; Blue Wing Olives #20 (if the bugs are coming off); egg patterns #10 - #18; streamers #10 (on some days); autumn splendor #4 - 8; bead head pops bugger olive #6. Colorado River The fishing on the Colorado has slowed a little. Fish deep with nymphs and eggs. I like the stone fly nymphs sizes #8 though #12. The 20 incher is always productive. It will be opening up where Grizzly Creek spills into the Colorado. It has been closed for the spawning browns, so it could be great in those first few days. Recommended Flies: Bead head pheasant tails #16, 18; Blue Wing Olives #18,20; bead head prince nymph red #12 - 16; egg patterns #10 - #18; |
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