Fryingpan River Report 10-22-17

October 22, 2017

UPPER FRYINGPAN
                          
FLOW: 86 cfs

WATER CLARITY: Clean, cold and a bit mossy up top. Much cleaner water can be found only a mile downstream.

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: PMD dries, emergers and nymphs, BWO dries, emergers and nymphs, midges, mysis shrimp, small caddis.

THE LOW-DOWN : Fall is now here in the Roaring Fork Valley, and the Fryingpan River has breathtaking colors and perfect flows.  Green Drakes are pretty much done, but we are still seeing excellent numbers of PMDs and especially Blue Wing Olives (BWOs).  

The cooling trend has shortened up the hatch periods, but we are still seeing plenty of bugs aloft and on the water in the afternoons.  We are mostly throwing nymphs in the mornings and focusing on the suberb dry fly activity into the afternoons.

The river is loaded with fall BWO nymphs, so bring along your pheasant tails and RS2s to play around with until the hatch gets rolling!  Mysis shrimp are always a food factor in the upper reaches, and if you see risers in the morning, they're probably focused on small dark and light midge adults.

HATCHES: PMDs, BWOs, midges, caddis and mysis shrimp at the very top.

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES:  Sparkledun Pink PMD 16-18, Melon Quill 16-18, CDC Comparadun BWO 20-22, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Roy Palm’s Special Fryingpan Emerger 22, Colletts Para BWO 20-22, HOH CDC Thorax BWO 20-22, Befus Para Emerger 18-22, Biot Wing Midge 20,22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 22-24, CDC Transitional Midge 22, Bill’s Midge Emerger 20-22

NYMPHS:  Split Case PMD 16-18, Juju PMD Nymph 16-18, Chocolate Thunder 20-22, Split Case BWO 20-22, Epoxyback Baetis 20-22, Tungsten Hoover Baetis 20-22, Bat Wing Emerger BWO 20, Bling Midge 20-22, Flashdance Midge 20-22, TC Candy Cane Midge 22, Tim's Mysis 16-18, Will's Epoxy Mysis 16-20

STREAMERS:  Sands' Stingin Sculpin 8, Articulated Goldie 4, SlumpBuster Natural 8

HINTS:  There's no need to be on the upper Fryingpan at first light, let the water warm up a little first.  

MIDDLE RIVER FRYINGPAN

WATER CONDITIONS: Perfect!

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: PMDs, Midges, BWO nymphs, emergers and adults, ants

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

THE LOW DOWN: Stronger hatches seem to be happening up high on the Pan, but that is not a universal truth.  Good numbers of BWOs are being seen, with fleeting numbers of caddis and PMDs at this point.

Don't overlook the improving streamer fishing, especially in the afternoons.  Small and natural flies work best, and play around with your retrieve until the fish start to react positively.

HATCHES: Pale Morning Duns (pink to yellow) 14-18, Midges 20-26, BWOs 18-22

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES: Sparkle Stacker PMD 16-18, Perfect PMD 16-18, Melon Quill 16-18, Royal Stimulator 14-18, Sparkle Flag PMD 16-18, CDC Comparadun PMD 16-18, Befus Para Emerger BWO 18-20, CDC Wing BWO 18-22, Parachute Adams 16-20, Bill’s Midge Adult 20-22, Brooks Sprout Midge 18-20

NYMPHS: Slow Guy PMD Nymph 16-18, San Juan Worm 10, Guide’s Choice Hares Ear 16-18, Tung Teaser 14-18, Flashwing Black (or gray) RS2 20-22, Electric Caddis 16-18, Zebra Midge Red 18-20, Black Beauty 20-22

STREAMERS:  Skully Bugger Rust/White 4, Bonefish Deep Minnow 6-8, Bread n Butter Bugger 6-8

HINTS: Move around and cover a lot of water.  There are plenty of wide-open miles in the middle Fryingpan that don't get a ton of pressure because of the walking distances involved.

LOWER  FRYINGPAN:   

WATER CONDITIONS: Clean and beautiful

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, caddis, Ants, BWOs, sculpins

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10

THE LOWDOWN: As we always say, it's warmer closer to town, so it can sometimes be a bit "buggier."  Try some hopper dropper fishing on the lower reaches, it is a fun way to fish this section as we head into fall.  As with the middle section, the streamer fishing is steadily improving as we cool off.

 HATCHES: Midges, Caddis, BWOs

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES:  Baby Boy Hopper 10-12, Yellow Humpy 14-18, Flag Adams 14-18, Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Goddard Caddis 16-18, Chubby Chernobyl 10-12, Sparkledun BWO 18-20, Morgans Midge 18-22

NYMPHS:  San Juan Worm 10, Buckskin Caddis 14-18, Diamond Caddis 14-18, Ultra Bling RS2 Gray 18-20

STREAMERS:  Slumpbuster Black 6-8, Wooly Bugger Olive 4-8, Autumn Splendor 4-8

HINTS: As most anglers seem to prefer the elbow to elbow fishing up under the dam, enjoy a little solitude down low!

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