Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado Fly Fishing Report 18th June

The 1st of March arrived bringing some lovely weather. A few fishermen about, crowds on the ski slopes. Ideal Colorado weather being in the mid 60’s and very pleasant on the river. When we awoke on 2nd March it was as if we had been transplanted elsewhere. It was 26degrees and snowing. 14inches of snow on the slopes and cold!! Typical spring weather. It is predicted to be cold and snowy for the next few days and then warming up against later in the week.

The past week certainly was welcome with warm weather melting a lot of snow and clear blue skies. Later in the week the extent of the warmth was evident in the colored water running into the Pan at the 4 mile mark. But this latest spate of cold will slow that up for a while. The flow in the Fork also picked up during the week with the flow getting in the mid 300’s.

Both the Fork and the Pan are fishing well now when the sun is out and it warms. As it cools down again during the week things will slow a little but as the days lengthen and we approach spring the fish will start moving about a little more.

Dress in fully fledged sub-zero clothing and don’t take any chances on the cold. The days are warming quickly now, so your will be able to peel off the layers as the day progresses. However over the last week the changeable weather meant that if you took a chance when going out early you could easily be caught in a snow shower as the day progressed. So don’t be caught out. No matter how well you dress, standing for a few hours in the near freezing waters, particularly in the shade will test your clothing. So take care and enjoy some excellent winter fishing.

The coming week will slow things down a little with some more cold weather and some snow. During the past week, the warmth near the 4 mile mark had colored water running into the Pan on Thursday afternoon. We will get a little more of that when it warms again and run-off proceeds. But that should be gone as soon as the lower elevations melt off.

The fish remain in the quiet sections of the river or on the edges where the flow is slower. It will be a little while before they venture into the current to take baetis and larger bugs drifting by. It is a matter of trying to spot them lying down on the deeper section and fishing too them unless they are up on dries. When the sun comes out the midges are much in evidence and as the days progress the baetis will be getting more active.

Look for the wider areas of the valley floor where the sun can reach the water. As the days lengthen and the temperature warms extra layers of clothing are quickly stripped away. But make no mistake, it is still cold in the shade.

The fish have been taking dry and emerger midge patterns well into the afternoons up near the dam. The increased flow will begin to spread the fish out in the river and as we move closer to spring the baetis nymphs will start to move about more in the water. The increased flow will wash some of them about and the fish will start to feed on them.

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.

Now that we are moving into the latter part of winter and the baetis nymphs are starting to move about in the water, try some small nymph patterns such as pheasant tails down deep. The increased water flow will be spreading the fish out more and washing some of the small nymphs about in the increased flow.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 343cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

As the days lengthen and the edges melt off we are getting a few more fishermen on the Fork lower down. Travis and Chris have been floating and having some success on streamers.

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. As the days warm and lengthen, the baetis nymphs will start to move about more in the water. The flow will pick up in the river and with it a lot of nymphs and insects stirring from their winter slumbers will be washed along to the feeding fish.

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. Try small baetis nymph patterns such as pheasant tails #18 - #24. Also try princes, brassies, copper johns and eggs deep down. As the days lengthen try streamers for some variety.

Colorado River

The water in the Colorado remains generally clear at the moment. There have been quite a few craft on the Colorado as the weather has warmed up and the flows remain clear. Try midges, streamers if floating or alternatively nymphs and eggs deep down. The baetis will be moving about more now, and as it a touch warmer than the Fork the bug activity will start a little earlier particularly where the sun shines.

Recommended Flies: BWO nymphs; midges emergers and dries during the hatches, eggs and princes, 20 inchers size #10 - #14; streamers #2 - #8.