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Fishing Report For Week ending 9 th January 2005 The snow is back! We have had a lot of it in the last week and it continues to fall. For most , in Colorado fly fishing goes on hold when the snow arrives. Excellent for the skiing and excellent for the water table. Because the snow has been so good, most of the fishermen have preferred skiing. The temperature has actually been quite pleasant so it would still be great to get out for some great Colorado fly fishing on the Frying Pan or the fork. But it is good for the local businesses to get the benefit of the good skiing conditions. The thought for this week is that a hungry trout will eat what is available whatever those knowledgeable texts say they ought to do. Local fisherman and biologist Bob Gilmore came into the shop the other day reporting a great day. He had run out of flies and wanted to get some more – clousers!! Yes, they were tearing into the saltwater patterns! Trout don't read books. The tungsten eyes got the fly down to the fish and the color emulating a light colored streamer was sufficiently attractive. Bob loves Colorado fly fishing and knows how to fish so don't dismiss the story as beginner's luck. But it does emphasize the point that trout will do whatever it takes to prove you wrong. Actually with the small brown fry starting to hatch the trout small streamers will get their attention. Then yesterday another young fisherman came into the shop. He had run out of flies. They were smashing them off on the Fork. He wanted to replace them. He wanted callibaetis nymphs! Generally they are a lake pattern because the callibaetis prefer still water. But again, just proving that with trout accept the unexpected and embrace it as part of life. It will probably keep snowing for a while, but if you are in the area, drop by and wet a line. The fish are always up to something. Frying Pan Current Flow: below the Dam 74 cfs. (if you want more up to date figures check out current readings on our "Links" page) The water flow in the Pan stayed at the 74/75 mark all week. It has not been too cold this week so the river is flowing strongly without any significant ice. There is a lot of snow about. The fishing is quite pleasant with the milder temperatures. It is still cold so dress well. This morning the fish were lying very low in the water. It is necessary to get the fly right down to them so use plenty of weight. If your fly is not catching on the bottom from time to time you are not fishing low enough. Cast accurately. The fish won't move much laterally so you have to be very accurate and careful if you want the fish to be interested. Midge lava were working – red and black both being productive. Recommended Flies: Look to see if any midges are hatching. If so try parachute midges or adults size #20 and smaller; put an emerger dropper behind the parachute; also try small emergers; 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 both red and black lava and pupa patterns. Use lava first down deep. If the fish are prepared to move up in the water column try the pupas – disco midges red and black sizes #20 - #24; egg patterns #10 - #18. Let the fly drift full length and rise on the swing. Often the fish will take it at that point as it emulates the lava rising to the surface. Roaring Fork
Current Flow: near Emma at Basalt 225cfs. (if you want more up to date figures check out current readings on our "Links" page). Although the flow is currently around 225 it was a little higher for most of the week. Ed continues to advise both midges, emergers and eggs.- eggs, #18, and midges, #16 & #18 and smaller. In addition as the small brown fry are starting to emerge streamers down low will get results. Recommended Flies: same as the Frying Pan. In addition 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;; egg patterns #10 - #18; streamers #10 (on some days); autumn splendor #4 - 8; bead head pops bugger olive #6. Colorado River
On the Colorado fly fishing continues to be a little slow this time of year. Try the patterns recommended above. Fish deep with nymphs and eggs - stone fly nymphs sizes #8 through #12. The 20 incher is always productive. In view of the emergence of small fry, try streamers in the seams between the faster and slower water down low. Try sizes #6 and #8 and smaller. Recommended Flies: Bead head pheasant tails #16, 18; Blue Wing Olives #18,20; bead head prince nymph red #12 - 16; egg patterns #10 - #18; streamers #6 and #8 and smaller; |
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