Fryingpan River Report 10-26-18

October 26, 2018

UPPER FRYINGPAN (Mile Marker 8 to Ruedi Reservoir)

FLOW: 50 cfs 

WATER CLARITY: Clean, clear, cold

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Green drakes, PMDs, craneflies, caddis, midges, BWOs, mysis shrimp

THE LOW-DOWN : Flows have dropped to 50 CFS, and with the cool and rainy weather we've been experiencing, it's been nothing short of dry fly nirvana most afternoons.  As most of you know, the reason many of us live here is because of the seemingly never-ending summer hatches on the Fryingpan.  This year is no different, as we look forward to fishing green drakes and PMDs until the end of the month and continued BWO hatches into early winter.

Guides have never seen such strong green drake hatches in October, perhaps the higher September flows prolonged this hatch this time around.  PMDs are still thick in some sections and practically non-existent in others, and we are seeing large (size 18) BWOs hatching alongside the green drakes.

You'll see some small cream-colored caddis up there, although the fish don't seem to be on them.  Non-hatch periods have been nymphing well with the usual suspects like pheasant tails and RS2s, and don't forget the small streamers!

HATCHES: Green drakes, BWOs, PMDs, sporadic caddis, midges, mysis shrimp 

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES:  Parachute Adams 12, Irresistible 12-14, CDC  Comparadun BWO 20-22, Sparkledun BWO 20-22, Roy Palm’s Special Fryingpan Emerger 22, Befus Para Emerger 18-22, Sparkledun PMD 16-18, Flag Dun PMD Emerger 16-18, Challenged PMD 16-18, Biot Wing Midge 20,22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 22-24, CDC Transitional Midge 22, Pearl and Elk Caddis 18, EC Caddis 18

NYMPHS:  Split Case BWO 20-22, Epoxyback Baetis 20-22, Tungsten Hoover Baetis 20-22, Bat Wing Emerger BWO 20, Halfback PMD Emerger 16-18, Pandemic PMD 16-18, 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:  Slumbuster 6-8, The One Sculpin 4-6, Tim's Autumn Splendor 4-6

HINTS: Hatches are thick in one spot and "not so much" in others, move around until you find 'em!

MIDDLE RIVER FRYINGPAN (Mile Markers 4 to 8)

WATER CONDITIONS: Perfect flow and clear 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWO nymphs and adults, caddis, midges, golden stonefly nymphs, sculpins

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

THE LOW DOWN: Better hatches will be found upstream, but the solitude of the middle river lures plenty of in-the-know anglers.  Hatches are primarily BWOs and midges as we slide in to autumn.

There are a multitude of good streamer spots on the middle river, focus on the edges of public and private water.  Small and understated streamers are usually best, but don't count anything out until you've tried it.

HATCHES: BWOs 18-20, Midges 20-26, Caddis 14-20

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES: Perfect Baetis 20-22, Hackle Stacker PMD 16-18, AK's Melon Quill 16-18, Ethawing Caddis 14-16, Lawsons EZ Caddis 14-16, Skittering Zelon Midge 20-22, Bill’s Midge Adult 20-22, Brooks Sprout Midge 18-20

NYMPHS: Flashwing Black (or gray) RS2 20-22, RIP PMD 18, Tung Split Case PMD 16-18, Red or Lime Copper John 16-18, Zebra Midge Red 18-20, Black Beauty 20-22, Top Secret Midge 20-22

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

HINTS: Fish a whole mile of river, you'll fish many different water types and get shots at a lot of fish!

LOWER  FRYINGPAN (Basalt to Mile Marker 4)

WATER CONDITIONS: Perfect flows and clear.  If we get a hard rain, you might see a little color below Mile Marker 4.

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWO nymphs and adults, caddis larva, pupa and adults, golden stonefly nymphs and adults, green drake adults and nymphs, PMD nymphs and adults, cranefly larva, sculpins, midges.

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10

THE LOWDOWN: As we start to see the colors change and the pumpkins magically appearing up and down the Fryingpan, the fishing on the lower river remains pretty good.  Hatches are sporadic now, but we feel you can get away with larger flies on the lower.  Believe it or not, the hopper-dropper fishing can last until the first flakes fly, and even later.

HATCHES: BWOs, caddis, midges

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES:  Morgans Midge 18-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Collett's BWO 20-22, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Goddard Caddis 14-16, Hatching Midge 20-22, Sprout Midge 22-24, Craven's Charlie Boy Hopper 6-10, Chubby Chernobyl 8-12

NYMPHS:  Red or Lime Copper John 14-18, Jerome Baetis 20-22, RIP Midge 20-22, Medallion Midge 20-22, Ultra Bling RS2 Gray 18-20, Desert Storm Midge 20-22

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

HINTS: A day on the lower river could change your whole attitude about the Fryingpan.  It feels like a freestone versus a tailwater.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=09080400

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