Fryingpan River Report 11-29-20

Posted on 29 November 2020



November 29, 2020

UPPER FRYINGPAN (Mile Marker 8 to Ruedi Reservoir)

FLOW: 45 CFS 

WATER CLARITY: Cold and clear about a mile downstream from the dam, pretty off-color in the top mile

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Mysis shrimp, midges

THE LOW-DOWN : As we creep closer to wintertime, the Fryingpan has still been fishing pretty well. As you see, the flows are on the low side and will probably stay that way while we keep dealing with drought conditions here.

The upside is that the dry fly fishing on the Pan has been top-notch for a few hours, midday usually. There's still BWOs hatching plus the usual midge suspects, and the streamer fishing has been productive.

The upper mile is still running off-color, but the clarity improves dramatically downstream a mile or so. The Toilet Bowl is still under a voluntary closure, there is abundant signage asking anglers to refrain from fishing due to low oxygen and food content flowing through the dam currently.

The best hatch times have trended towards midday, and it has slowed down a bit after 3 or 4, depending on the day. As always, give those redds a wide berth and politely educate anglers you may encounter walking on or fishing over these crucial reproduction areas.

Crowds are still slightly thick for this time of year, but plenty of spots can be found if you move around. It's match the hatch time, so pay attention to the waves of different bugs and transition accordingly.

HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES: No Hackle BWO 20-22, Befus' Para Emerger 20-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Bill's Midge Emerger 20-22, Skittering Z-Lon Midge 20-22, Biot Wing Midge 20,22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 22-24, CDC Transitional Midge 22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, Hatching Midge 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22

NYMPHS:  Split Case BWO 20-22, Epoxyback Baetis 20-22, Maggot Midge 20-22, Rojo Midge 20-22, Neon Nightmare 20-22, Lil Foamy 18-20, Bling Midge 20-22, Flashdance Midge 20-22, TC Candy Cane Midge 18-22, Money Midge 20-22, T Midge 20-22, Medallion Midge 20-22, Tim's Mysis 16-18, Will's Epoxy Mysis 16-20

STREAMERS:  Slumpbuster 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 FRYINGPAN (Mile Markers 4 to 8)

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear flows

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Sculpins, Midges

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10

THE LOW DOWN: 

The middle Fryingpan is fishing pretty darn well. A good mix of midday hatches can be found and the fish receive less pressure than their cousins upstream. Try to match the hatch if you see bugs aloft or give a hopper-dropper rig a try. 

If you fish a whole mile of river, you'll be fishing many different water types and possibly different hatches, too.

HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES: Collett'e's Para BWO 18-22, CDC Winged Baetis 20-22, Sparkledun PMD 14-18, Melon Quill 16-18, Skittering Zelon Midge 20-22, Bill’s Midge Emerger 20-22, Brooks Sprout Midge 20-22, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24, Hatching Midge 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22

NYMPHS: Red or Lime Copper John 14-18, Flashwing Black (or gray) RS2 20-22, Jerome PMD Nymph 16-18, Zebra Midge Red 18-20, Black Beauty 20-22, Maggot Midge 20-22, Kingrey's Cap'n Hook 20-22, Medallion Midge 20-22, Bead Wing Midge 20-22, Rojo Midge 20-22, Cat Poop Stone 8-12

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: Clear 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

THE LOWDOWN: The lower river is fishing pretty well right now and has a bit more diversity in hatches, due to lower elevation. Excellent hopper-dropper water for another few weeks, believe it or not!

The fish in the lower Fryingpan are not as paranoid as their cousins up under the dam- this makes for terrific beginner water where the fish will still eat bigger flies with not-so-perfect drifts.

HATCHES: BWOs 18-22, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES:  Befus' Para Emerger BWO 20-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Chubby Chernobyl 10-14, Morgans Midge 18-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Collett's BWO 20-22, Hatching Midge 20-22, Sprout Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24

NYMPHS:  Spanflex Stone 8-10, Cat Poop Stone 4-6, 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, San Juan Worm 10, Cat Poop Stone 6-10

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

HINTS: Great section to work small streamers, just keep moving!

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

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