Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado Fly Fishing Report 18th June

The past week has not been too hot but it has been warm enough to keep the rivers up. There was an occasional thunderstorm but nothing drenching. The warm weather has caused the Pan to inch its way back up by 12cfs for the week to 135cfs. The Fork has made a more emphatic move, and is currently running at 1,340cfs at Basalt.

The Bureau has been later than usual in raising the water level in the Pan and at the moment there is no hint that it will occur soon. But that could change at any time now. The Fork, while running high is actually quite fishable the higher up one goes. There were some good days fishing this week from the boat with streamers as evidenced by the following photograph.

Jeff Hardee caught this 20" rainbow on a float with Cameron on the 28th May. He took it on a yellow streamer #6.

Independence pass has recently opened and in the process of opening they reportedly cleared up to 8ft of snow from the road. So there is still a lot of snow high up to melt and come down.

We are getting busier by the day. The start of the holidays last week marked by Memorial Day has already brought a number of visitors to town and camping up along Reudi. Most of the pull-offs now have one or two cars through the day so the activity is starting.

While the Fork is running fast it has maintained its level sufficiently to afford some good fishing in the quieter areas up higher. The fish have to feed. With the lower level the water color has been generally good. However it is likely to vary so please ring the shop at your convenience to get an up to date report on the condition of the rivers if you are coming up.

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

The warmer weather of the last few days has gradually pushed up the flow a little in the Pan from tributaries, but the color remains excellent. It is only a matter of time before the Bureau raises the level which will be welcome. There have been a number of blue herons along the bank making short work of the fish in the shallow water. A little more flow and depth would serve the fish well and spread them out more.

Harry, Cameron and Barry all reported good dry fly fishing on BWO's towards the Dam but more nymphing lower down. Mid-river the best results were in spotting the fish on the edges in the shade and fishing to them with #18 and #20 gray RS2's and sparkle baetis patterns behind a #20 thorax bead sparkle baetis. In addition towards evening when the midges started coming off they took midge emergers including the special emerger and the black polywings #20 and #22.

Recommended Flies: The fish can be spotted in the deeper slower water or on the edges in the shade. 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, black polywings #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. 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.

The baetis are coming off well particularly in the wet cloudy weather higher up. Try a small FPA sparkle baetis, a thorax sparkle baetis, the icebreaker 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. So take along a few dry patterns such as a parachute Adams, Matthews sparkle baetis, biot BWO, the extended body BWO and the grizzly Adams. Take sizes from #18 - #24.

Closer to town the fish are taking stones flies.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 1340cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

The Flow has picked up since last week but the Fork is still good higher up. There will be fish right along the edges behind cover as they have to feed. So you might try spotting them on the edges in the shade at the widest parts of the river higher up. However if it warms up quickly again, the flow will rise further. So give us a call at the shop to get the latest report.

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. Use caddis in the shade in the afternoons when the caddis start flying around. Try dries as well as emergers. Generally try midges. Try larva and pupa patterns until the fish are moving under the surface then try emergers.

The Colorado is now dirty and in Flood. Good for whitewater rafting. Come up to the Pan if you are in the area and want to wet a line.

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.