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Fishing Report For Week ending 20 th February 2005 Weather wise, last week was all over the place. It started off particularly cold but then came the cloud cover and some snow. Wednesday was great skiing and not so inviting on the river. As I look out the window now, the snow is coming down again. So it has been great for the snow pack. As a consequence of the good snow, the visitors to the valley have preferred skiing so the river has been quiet. The fishing was patchy during the week. For those intrepid souls venturing out there were some midge hatches on the Frying Pan but generally the best reports were from the Roaring Fork. Frying Pan Current Flow: below the Dam 75 cfs. (if you want more up to date figures check out current readings on our "Links" page) With the warmer weather as a result of the cloud cover, there were hatches of midges during the week around midday from mid-river towards Reudi. Mid-river, whether or not there was any surface activity the fish were taking #12 stone fly nymphs. The #12 20 incher worked. Harry continues to recommend the sparkle baetis #20 and a special emerger #22 down deep. The baetis are now moving about in the water and will do so for the next 2 months. Also try the streamers which emulate the small emerging brown fry. Closer to Basalt, the fish were taking stonefly nymphs in the pocket water. Recommended Flies: The fish are still in the deeper holes so take your time to look at the river structure. However the warmer weather is bringing the fish to the surface with a few midge hatches. In the next few days with the ice moving in the river, it will dislodge a few clinging and crawling nymphs so fish deep with nymphs. With the young fry beginning to emerge, try streamers near the bottom in the deeper slower holes. Look to see if any midges are hatching as they did later this week. This week the midges were a little larger so we suggest trying #18 and smaller. Try parachute midges or adults; put an emerger dropper behind the parachute; also try small emergers; olive biot emergers, size #18 - #22 and black special emergers #18 - #22. It there is no surface activity try dark olive pheasant tails size #20 and #22; midges, size #20 and smaller both red and black lava and pupa patterns - disco midges red and black sizes #20 - #24. Remember that the baetis nymphs are now beginning to move about and will do so for the next 2 months. Roaring Fork
Current Flow: near Emma at Basalt 221cfs. (if you want more up to date figures check out current readings on our "Links" page). The fishing has again been best closer to Basalt. Bigger midges are still working (red and black size #16) as well as prince nymphs. Brad had good success below Snowmass creek on red and black midge pupae #20 to #24. Fish with plenty of weight seeking slow and deep drifts to get down to the fish. With the fry emerging, streamers down deep are working as well. Merle reported good fishing below Basalt with a #14 lite-brite prince trailing a #18 red copper john. Try the 20 incher, prince nymphs and hare's ears. Recommended Flies: same as the Frying Pan. In addition try the prince nymph #14 and #16 and #18; carrot nymph #18; red copper john #18 and #20; superfloss olive #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 is better in the afternoon. The fish responding to pink san juan worms and eggs. Also fish deep with nymphs, streamers and eggs - stone fly nymphs sizes #8 through #12. The 20 incher is always productive. Try sizes #8 - #14 tungsten. 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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