Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado Fly Fishing Report 18th June

We certainly had a variety of weather this week. In the early part high winds and high temperatures send the run-off skyrocketing so that by midweek the flow in the Fork hit 2000cfs. Then a spate of cold weather with some snow on the higher elevations really put the brakes on bringing the flow rapidly back to lower levels for a day or so. With the flow now at 1320 we are back at last weeks levels and the Fork for the moment, though running high is quite fishable. In point of fact, the Fork above Basalt is actually lower than it was last week because during the week the flow in the Pan picked up by 120cfs with the increased release, so the reading at Basalt actually includes that additional flow from the Pan. However with the prediction for warm weather over the next few days the flow will pick up again as the run-off from the higher elevations gathers pace again.

The Pan as mentioned, increased in flow this week to currently be running at 256cfs. That is a nice flow and greatly welcome. The Bureau certainly picked the correct time to raise the level this year doing so mid week so that by weeks end the Pan has settled down, the water had cleared and the fish were beginning to spread out. We don't know what the intentions of the Bureau are this year with flows, but certainly at the moment the level is excellent until the possible lift in flows in July in response to possible calls on the river.

We received an absolutely delightful letter this week from Kurt and Karl Holloway with some lovely photos. We have reproduced the letter in full together with the accompanying photographs to share with you:

"Kurt, my son and I had a great time at Taylor Creek Cabins and fishing the Frying Pan River during the week of May13, 2007. The attached photos are of Kurt and Barry, our guide, taken on May 14th with a beautiful rainbow trout. We also hiked up the trail along the Rocky Fork Creek to find numerous pools created by the beavers and spent the day fishing for cut throat trout. We each caught 3.

Perhaps the highlight of the trip was driving east on 82 just outside of Aspen and continuing up to the Weller Lake trail head. The trail was closed due to beaver activity partially washing out the bridge, however Kurt and I negotiated the beaver pool by tight rope walking across the beaver dam to get to the trail. We were rewarded by a magnificent view of the lake and snow covered mountains. Kurt also caught a 15" cut throat in the lake.

For those who might be interested in booking the Taylor Creek Cabins we advise that we are fully booked for July and only have a few days left for August and September.

The introduction of additional flows this week from Ruedi put the levels at weeks end up to 256cfs. It was a welcome and a timely release. The additional flows have caused the fish to spread out more so that now they can be found on the edges in the shade where the water is a little deeper now affording more protection from the stalking herons.

The release during the week gave the river a few days to settle down so that weeks end, the fish were feeding well in the quieter side channels and in the deeper slower water. Midriver the fish were taking chironicones in the faster water and gray rs2's fished down deep. There were a lot of hatches including a few PMD's in addition to midges, bwo's and a few caddis. While the fish were adjusting to the new flows, they tended to stay down and did not take much off the surface so nymphing was the most productive approach.

Recommended Flies: With the higher flows the fish are now spreading out and will be found in the shade and on the edges out of the fastest flow but where they still feel relatively safe while they feed. Try baetis and midges while nymphing and with the few PMD's starting to come off try an emerger if you see them.

For baetis try a small FPA sparkle baetis, a thorax sparkle baetis, the icebreaker, the anatomical or a pheasant tail before they start to rise. Try sizes #18 - #22. In addition, when the BWO's start coming off try RS2's and other emerger patterns behind a dry. It doesn't hurt to try the emergers behind the nymphs if the fish are staying down in the higher water. For dries, use parachute Adams , Matthews sparkle baetis, biot BWO, the extended body BWO and the grizzly Adams. Take sizes from #18 - #24.

Midges come off during the day and in the evenings so try WD-40's #20 , red and black chironocones #20, brassie's #18 - #22, midge larva patterns #18 - #22, black polywings #18 - #22 and garcia's rojo midges # 18 - #22. Carry a range of emergers both black and gray, some with a trailing shuck. Try the gray loopwing emergers #20 - #22, the special emerger and gray RS2's #18 - #22. 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.

With the PMD's and a few caddis coming off try emergers as well. In the evenings or in the shade, the caddis will be coming down to the surface so try a dry for variety. The fish are hitting strike indicators so it won't be long before a stimulator with emergers behind will work well. Try if for variety.

Closer to town the fish are taking stones flies.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 1320cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The flow hit 2000cfs at Basalt earlier in the week making the river unfishable as the high winds and warm weather sent the run-off downstream. However with the advent of the cold weather mid-week and some snow in the high country, the flow dropped significantly. The flow below Basalt has been augmented by the increased releases from Ruedi so that even though the flow above Basalt is below last weeks level at the moment, the increased flow from the Pan has brought it back up below Basalt.

There was a lot of traffic on the Fork today with a lot of boaters and rafters just enjoying the high flows. The cold weather has also slowed down the flow from the Crystal over the last few days, so that although high the river has been quite fishable. However in this coming week as the weather warms, the flow will increase again, so the current pleasant conditions lower down will be in jeopardy.

So if you are coming up, give us a call at the shop and we will be happy to give you an up-to-date reliable and accurate report on the current river conditions.

Recommended Flies: Use the same flies as the Pan. (See our report for the Frying Pan). In addition use baetis nymphs and emergers, bwo's, streamers, stone flies such as the 20 incher and golden stones, san juan worms and egg patterns. Use caddis emergers and then dries as the day progresses.

For the past couple of days the color in the Colorado has been passable but it won't last with more hot weather coming. Mostly, good for whitewater rafting in the coming week. It is better to come higher up on the Fork and onto the Pan as the week progresses and the run-off flows pick up again. So if you are coming up, give us a call at the shop and we will be happy to give you an up-to-date reliable and accurate report on the current river conditions.

Recommended Flies: caddis dries and emergers, 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. The drakes will be starting soon.