Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado Fly Fishing Report 18th June

It been great weather for fishing over the past week. It was a little colder and in fact last night we got some snow on the higher peaks. The cold slowed down the river a little during the earlier part of the week so that the conditions were excellent. The rain and snow over the past 2 days has put the river up a little but above Carbondale, the Fork is great.

The Pan is its usual pristine flow at this time of the year. Perhaps a touch shallow in places because of the low flow so the fish are concentrated in the deeper slower flows. However the fishing has been excellent and the current cloudy and colder conditions are making for some excellent dry fly fishing.

We are certainly in the quiet time after the closing of the lifts on the ski slopes. A lot of the locals have left town for a holiday. Its amazing there are so few people fishing at the moment. We see a respectable number over the week end but during the week the rivers are very quiet. With excellent conditions and hungry and not very discerning fish, we are now getting into some of the best fishing times of the year.

If you have a mind to come up give us a call at the shop and check the weather. It changes daily at the moment but save and except for a period of very hot dry weather which will kick up the flow in the Fork the fishing is excellent and there are always great places to fish higher up despite the conditions lower down looking a bit daunting when the Crystal dumps its color into the flow.

The coming week is auspicious for another reason. Harry, one of our guides who is featured regularly in these reports has taken off a few days to get married. We wish Harry and Suzanne all the best for the future and trust that fortune smiles upon them. All best wishes from us all at Frying Pan Anglers.

The flow has remained at 92cfs for the past week as the Bureau fills up Ruedi for the summer. The recent spate of wet weather is welcome and will assist in the filling of the dam. Consistent wet weather will not cause any problems for the Pan. But in the event of a quick heavy downpour there is the likelihood that one or more of the tributaries like Seven Castles creek will blow out for a few hours. So if you see dirty water coming down the Pan after heavy rain, it does not mean the fishing won't be excellent above the offending tributary. If you are coming up, the best thing is to check with the shop and get an update on the weather.

The fishing has been excellent with great midge and BWO dry fly fishing in the early to mid afternoon. On Sunday for example after about 1pm mid river the fish were taking midge emergers until the BWO's started appearing. They then switched across to feed on the BWO's. Earlier in the day they were taking a black RS2's #20 behind an FPA sparkle baetis #20. Then as they started on the emergers on the surface the best combination was an FPA special midge emerger #20 with a #20 parachute Adams behind it. The combination worked very well in the pocket water.

While fishing on Saturday, there were a number of 6 – 8 inch rainbows caught. So it is evident that someone has been introducing young rainbows into the river. They will make great food for the big browns at the moment and in time will provide fun for the anglers.

Recommended Flies: : The fish can easily be spotted in the deeper slower water. Look in the seams as the fish are preferring the slower water to conserve energy but are feeding on the edge of the faster water as the food is washed by. They are also in the slower pools taking adult midges off the surface. Fish midges deep and then if they start coming off fish closer to the surface with emergers when the fish start rising in the water column. Watch until they are poking their heads out of the water to take the midges off the surface before switching to dry patterns. Try WD-40's #20 , red and black chironocones #20, brassie's #18 - #22, midge larva patterns #18 - #22 and garcia's rojo midges # 18 - #22. When the fish are taking midges off the surface, try and identify the size of the midges floating by and match the size. Carry a range of emergers both black and gray, some with a trailing shuck. Also carry dry patterns such as the z-wing real midge, suspended midge and any similar dry black and gray patterns in sizes from #20 through to #26. This week they also took black RS2's #20 when fished 36 inches behind a sparkle baetis.

The baetis nymphs are moving about in the water so try a nymph down deep with a midge for variety. Try a small FPA sparkle baetis, icebreaker or a pheasant tail. Try sizes #18 - #22. In addition, some BWO's are coming off. So take along a few emergers dry patterns as well just in case. Try a parachute Adams with a midge emerger behind it.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 350cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

With the rain and snow over the last few days the flow has picked up above 450cfs for a time and now has settled back a little to 441cfs. The fishing has been good the higher up one moves to get to the clearer water. The stoneflies are starting to roll around in the water so as the fish move into the riffles and feed on them, try a variety of stonefly nymph patterns.

The midges are working well as are sanjuan worms, streamers and baetis patterns. BWO's are about lower down when the fishing conditions are acceptable. The better fishing remains above the confluence with the Crystal at Carbondale however earlier in the week with the spate of cold weather and before the latest rains came, the conditions picked up so that Ed reported good conditions lower down and into the Colorado for a short period. However it has been raining again and the Crystal has picked up its flow as a consequence. The color deteriorates below Carbondale when the melt is mixed with some rain which washes additional material into the water. The best thing is to ring the shop and check the conditions. Just because the river looks dark at Glenwood doesn't mean that we haven't got excellent fishing higher up.

Recommended Flies:Use the same flies as the Pan. (See our report for the Frying Pan). In addition use bwo's, streamers, stone flies such as the 20 incher and golden stones, san juan worms and egg patterns. Generally try midges. Try larva and pupa patterns until the fish are moving under the surface then try emergers. For variety try bead head caddis patterns with the stone flies.

The Colorado is now dirty so long as the Crystal continues to put color into the Fork at Carbondale. If it is cold for a few days the Colorado will clear up for a little. So if you are in the area, make the journey up valley to at least Basalt to experience the difference in water color.

Recommended Flies: midges, larva, pupae, dries and emergers; bwo's - nymphs emergers and dries; 20 inchers size #10 - #14; streamers #6 and #8 and smaller and try egg patterns.