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So with a good start to the ski season, a good start to the snow pack for next years run-off and with the weather not so cold as to make the fishing too uncomfortable we have had something for everyone. The midge dry fly fishing was certainly good during the past few week as well a fishing pupas and emergers deeper down. Over the coming week there is a prediction of some more snow without the weather getting too cold, so it might be more of the same. Good skiing, additional snowpack and good fishing. Dress in fully fledged sub-zero clothing now and don’t take any chances on the cold. So take care and enjoy some excellent winter fishing. Frying Pan Current Flow: below the Dam - 87cfs. (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)
The snow tended to stick more to the ground this week than last week although is was still wet and tended to settle quickly. The midge fishing both dry and nymphing was quite good and the cloud cover kept it a little warmer. The coming week promises more of the same with cloud cover through most of the week, some more snow and temperatures during the day in the 30’s. The fish are now down deep or in the slower parts of the river below areas of aeration. The fish will continue on the redds closer to the dam well into January so take care of those areas.Recommended Flies: With the cold of winter having arrived, the principal hatch is now midges. They will come off during the day, particularly if it is sunny. So try WD-40's #20 , red and black chironocones #20, brassie's #18 - #22, midge larva patterns #18 - #22, copper johns #18 - #22, black polywings #18 - #22 and garcia's rojo midges # 18 - #22. Try the gray loopwing emergers #20 - #22, the FPA special emergers, biot emergers both with and without the trailing shuck 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 #28. As the cold weather intensifies the midges will tend to get smaller, so be prepared to fish very light leader and very small flies. In addition try egg patterns down stream but keep off the redds. Shortly the only spawning fish will be near the dam as the rest of the river gets too cold.
The snow this week was slightly wet and from Basalt down it actually rained and drizzled rather than snowed. The moisture consequently kept the flow in the Fork in the mid 300’s for most of the week. With the expectation of more snow the flow might get a little higher if the temperatures hover around freezing during the days. The principal hatch at the moment is midges which are coming off in the mornings as the day warms up. The fish will take small nymphs and midge emergers when nymphing during the day. With the arrival of the colder weather and snow things have started to slow down. The big fish are now moving to the deeper slower parts of the river. So concentrate on nymphs such as princes and copper johns, various midge patterns and egg patterns. Recommended Flies: Overall the best results on the Fork are from nymphing now that the cold weather has arrived. Use midge emergers and tiny nymph attracters. See some of the patterns we have mentioned for the Pan. If you are nymphing deep down, use plenty of weight and pick where the fish are protected behind structure or deeper down in the slower water. Also try princes, brassies, copper johns and eggs deep down.
The water in the Colorado remains clear at the moment. It is not as cold as the Fork yet so try midges but generally try streamers if floating or alternatively nymphs and eggs deep down. Recommended Flies: BWO nymphs; midges emergers and dries during the hatches, eggs and princes, 20 inchers size #10 - #14; streamers #2 - #8. |
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