Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado Fly Fishing Report 18th June

We are now up to 60” of snow for the month of January. It is also starting to warm up. Today was 38degrees in Basalt and a lot of the snow on the ground is starting to melt a little. It is predicted to get cooler over the next few days with highs in the low 20’s midweek and some more snow on the way.

Saturday was a beautiful day but a bit of cloud was starting to move in today ahead of the change which is a day or so away. We had another ice dam break on the Fork this week and a smaller one on the Pan. It has been dangerous on the Fork this year, and with more cold temperatures on the way it is possible that more ice dams will build up and give way when the weather warms again. So be careful when wading on the Fork.

This week we had the X Games in Aspen so there was quite a bit of traffic down valley with quite a few fishermen on the river on Saturday enjoying the day. The ski slopes were certainly busy. However generally, it is now quiet on the river during the week and will remain so until the days lengthen a little more and spring break is upon us. So there will be some good opportunities to get out onto the river uninterrupted. 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.

The increased flow has cleared the Pan of some ice on the edges, but the flow did cause an ice dam to break in the lower section and as a result there was quite a flow of colored water for a day or so. I suspect that the increased flow was confined to the center of the flow because of the frozen sides and as a result it picked up a lot of material which had lain on the bottom since the blowout last Summer. It certainly cleared a lot of material and that is excellent for the coming season.

Overall the increased flow is excellent for the fish at this time of year. With the coming cold this week and some additional snow it will still be prime winter fishing. Access to the roads near the dam depends on the Forest Service clearing the road.

As the days begin to lengthen look for the wider areas of the valley floor where the sun can reach the water. It is a month since the shortest day, and already it is noticeable that the sun passes above some of the taller peaks rather than falling behind them in the middle of the day or early afternoon. It has been quite warm and pleasant in the sun, but as soon as it goes down, it gets cold. 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 this month so take care of those areas.

Recommended Flies: 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.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 246cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

Travis reported some excellent fishing during and week and was on the river when one of the smaller ice dams broke. He made his way out safely because he was aware of what was going on as larger chunks of ice suddenly started moving in front of him in the river. It is a time to be careful. He reported that the fish were strong and aggressive and were not particularly selective provided he had a good drift.

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.

Colorado River

The water in the Colorado remains clear at the moment. Try midges, 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.