Fryingpan River Report 3-3-2020

March 3, 2020

UPPER FRYINGPAN (Mile Marker 8 to Ruedi Reservoir)

FLOW: 83.5 CFS 

WATER CLARITY: Low and clear winter conditions, although spring is in the air!

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Mysis shrimp, midges

THE LOW-DOWN : Winter is slipping away and spring-like conditions are on our doorstep here in the Roaring Fork Valley. Evening temperatures are warming up, which tends to affect our rivers more than daytime temps.

We are not seeing blue winged olives yet, but they'll be around soon. BWO nymphs are working well, in addition to variations of midge larva, pupa and adults. Really warm days offer up early midge hatches, cooler ones see midges hatching around noontime for a few hours. Mysis patterns are a daily food source up below the dam, give Will's or Tim's a try!

Tailwaters like the Fryingpan require stealth and perfect presentation, so we strongly suggest light tippet, small bugs, and soft presentations. Short and sweet drifts always trump hero-casting!

The flipside to small flies and tippets is the streamer action, which can actually be quite good on overcast days. Keep your streamers on the small side and cover a lot of water- trout tend to eat the streamer the first time they see it, not the tenth.

HATCHES: Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES: 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, Tungsten Hoover 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 and low flows

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

THE LOW DOWN: The middle Pan is your answer to the crowded river blues. As of late, there has not been another fisherman in sight. 

Midges are the main food source to be found. With lower flows, no need for a larger attractor fly, two flies in #18-22 range seems to be the ticket.

No need to rush to the upper, there is plenty of good fishing in this section..

HATCHES: Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES: 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, 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

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 yet icy in the shaded sections, ice has melted on this section a little since last week.

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges.

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10

THE LOWDOWN: *See Middle Fryingpan

HATCHES: BWOs 18-22, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES:  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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