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With the arrival of some colder weather the increased flow in the Pan last week was most timely. A few more visitors in town and a few more skiers on the slopes and we have had a few more fishermen on the river. The snow fall has been excellent for the water catchment as well so all around we are fortunate. Over the next week the temperatures will remain colder with highs in the high 20’s and the promise of more snow. Snow is now starting to build up on the edges of the waterways so be careful when approaching the edges of the rivers. There has been minimal anchor ice in the Pan so far because it has not been too cold and the flow has generally kept the river clear. These are ideal conditions for winter giving the fish the best chance for next season. 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. We trust that you will all travel carefully over the holidays and we wish you all the best for Christmas. Frying Pan Current Flow: below the Dam - 97cfs. (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page)
The fishing has been good though the weather has been getting a little colder over the past few days. The coming week promises more snow and temperatures in the high 20’s for the most part. The fish have been taking dry and emerger midge patterns well into the afternoons up near the dam. Elsewhere 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 over the past week and the colder temperatures are building up the snow and ice on the edges of the Fork particularly higher up above Basalt. Furthermore the colder weather has dropped the flow a little lower. The snow and ice will continue to build up with the forecast for more snow and temperatures remaining below freezing for the next week. The principal hatch at the moment is midges which are coming off in the mornings as the day warms up and some sun can get onto the water. The fish will take small nymphs and midge emergers when nymphing during the day. The big fish are now in 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: 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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