December 16, 2024
UPPER FRYINGPAN (Mile Marker 8 upstream to Ruedi Reservoir)
FLOW: 64CFS
WATER CLARITY: Clear but sometimes a bit mossy
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Mysis Shrimp, Midges, Sculpins
THE LOW-DOWN: The Pan's flow was cut in half, down to 66 CFS, and "summer fishing" is old news. Tiny bugs (think 20 and smaller) and careful presentation are the way. If you've been up recently, you may notice quite a bit of moss getting in the way of your fishing just under the dam; avoid the annoying snags by trying some of the downstream sections.
Blue wing hatches are still great, even with the lower flows, and tend to continue into November. Otherwise, midges are your best bet.
Pay attention to the hatches -- they tend to come off in waves and you need to roll with the changes. Like always, the hatches can be thick in one spot and next to nothing in others, so sometimes you have to move around.
If you're struggling and seeing others whacking fish, keep your rigs short and sweet and try some "drab" nymphs like skinny plain pheasant tails and RS2s on fluorocarbon 6x tippets. Keep your drifts short and sweet too, the fish will not tolerate seeing your fly line or butt section of your leader. Downstream dry fly presentations are practically a "rule" to stay effective. Be sure to ask about some of our custom Fryingpan patterns you can't get anywhere else.
Mysis shrimp are a year-round food factor, and don't forget your box full of streamers for low-light periods or any time it's breezy or stormy.
HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 18-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: No Hackle BWO 20-22, Befus' Para Emerger BWO 20-22, Improved Sparkle Dun BWO 20-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, TC Custom Pink No Hackle PMD 16, HOH Hanging Midge Grey/Black 20-22, Mole Midge 20-22, Roy Palm's Special Frying Pan Emerger 20-22, Bill's Midge Emerger 20-22, Hatching Midge 20-22
NYMPHS: Barr's Emerger and Barr's Black Back Emerger 20-22, Stott's Good Carl 20, Stott's Juggernaut 20, Dorsey's Mercury RS2 Gray 20-22, Skinny-tied Pheasant Tail 20-24, Killer Mayfly Olive/Brown 22, Jigged JJ Nymph BWO 18-20, TC Candy Cane Midge 18-22, Tim's Mysis 16-18, Will's Epoxy Mysis 18-20, Craven's Mysis 16-18
STREAMERS: Borski's Bonefish Slider, Tim's Autumn Splendor, Tungsten Thin Mint, Swim Coach
HINTS: Fryingpan fish will not tolerate hero casting or laying line and indicators over them, they'll shut down and stop feeding. Be stealthy and present your offering with minimal line on the water whether dry fly or nymph.
MIDDLE FRYINGPAN (Mile Marker 4 upstream to Mile Marker 8)
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Sculpins
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
THE LOW DOWN: For those who get bummed out seeing other anglers, here's a hint: the middle river has the same hatches without the crowds! Another benefit of fishing the middle river is the plethora of public access. What is private is clearly marked, and the rest is there for you to explore.
Like in the rest of the system, Drake activity has been impacted by lowered flows, but BWO activity should still be strong on the right day.
HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 20-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: CDC Biot BWO 20-22, Mole Fly Baetis 20-22, Harrop's CDC Biot Dun BWO 20-22, Harrop's CDC Thorax BWO 20-22, Adams 10-12, Parachute Adams 10-12, HOH Hanging Midge 20-22, Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, Outrigger Yellow Sallie 16
NYMPHS: Prince Nymph 14-18, Murder, She Wrote 20-22, Barr's Emerger PMD 16-18, Mercury Pheasant Tail 16-20, Tim Heng's BLM 16-18, Flashwing Black (or Gray) RS2 20-22, Zebra Midge Red 18-20, Tungsten Frenchie 16
STREAMERS: Tungsten Double Thin Mint, Dali-Lama, Skully Bugger, Tim's Autumn Splendor
HINTS: Keep moving if you're mid-river, there's going to be quiet zones and others with more activity the more you explore. The middle river can surprisingly hold more stones and caddis than you'd think.
LOWER FRYINGPAN (Basalt upstream to Mile Marker 4)
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Sculpins
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
THE LOWDOWN: BWOs and midges are about all you'll see here these days.
Paying attention to what each fish is eating will help eliminate the mystery, and like the upper Pan, the waves of hatches will change frequently, and you've got to adjust.
Euro-nymphers will be quite pleased with the lower Fryingpan, there is a ton of access and these fish aren't as picky as the perfect-presentation-required fish upstream.
If the crowds of people upstream are thick, come explore some lower Fryingpan access spots!
HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 20-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Mole Fly Baetis 20-22, Harrop's CDC Biot Dun BWO 20-22, CDC Comparadun BWO 20-22, Morgans Midge 18-22, Hatching Midge 20-22, Sprout Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24 Sparkle Flag PMD 16-18, Morris May PMD 16-18
NYMPHS: Jigged Iron Lotus 16-18, Purple Perdigon 16-18, Red or Lime Copper John 14-18, Jerome Baetis 20-22, Ultra Bling RS2 Gray 18-20, Tungsten Split Case PMD 18, Jerome PMD Nymph 16-18, Cat Poop Stonefly 6-10, Prince Nymph 10-18, Stott's Good Carl 20, Tungsten PMD Trigger Nymph 16-18, Tungsten Redemption PMD Nymph 16-18, Murder She Wrote Rust 20-22, Hare's Ear and Guide's Choice Hare's Ear 14-18, Magnymphico 16-18, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Jigged Hot Orange Bead Soft hackle Pheasant Tail 16-18
STREAMERS: Home Invader, Carlton Banks, Skully Bugger, Dali-Lama
HINTS: Fish in the lower river tend to ramble and migrate around, so keep searching if you're not feeling the love.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=09080400
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