April 2, 2018

UPPER FRYINGPAN

FLOW: 88 cfs

WATER CLARITY: Low and clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWOs, Midges, mysis shrimp

THE LOW-DOWN : Late winter is transitioning to early spring around here. It hasn't been too cold at all, and the fishing has been excellent on the upper river.

Cloudy days have yielded much better hatches than the bright ones, but keep in mind the majority of the Fryingpan doesn't get much sun this time of year because of deep canyons.  This means there is always some shady sections despite bright and sunny conditions. 

The egg bite is pretty much done, fish are focused on baetis nymphs, midge larva and pupa, and mysis shrimp. There are daily midge hatches and we are now seeing a few BWOs start to hatch. Throw a small streamer on your last few casts of the day!  Beware of crossing Baetis Bridge with your vehicle, people have been getting stuck back in there!

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

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES:  CDC  Comparadun BWO 20-22, Sparkledun BWO 20-22, Roy Palm’s Special Fryingpan Emerger 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:  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:  The weather is not a big factor on the upper Fryingpan, as the water temperature is the same every day of the year!

MIDDLE RIVER FRYINGPAN

WATER CONDITIONS: A little icy on the edges in stretches that don't receive sunlight.

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWOs, Midges

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. 

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: BWOs 18-20, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES: Parachute Adams 20-24, Skittering Zelon Midge 20-22, Bill’s Midge Adult 20-22, Brooks Sprout Midge 18-20

NYMPHS: Flashwing Black (or gray) RS2 20-22, 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: 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, a few icy spots in the shady zones.

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWOs, Midges

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."  Be sure to cover a lot of water.

HATCHES: BWOs, Midges

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES:  Flag Adams 18, Morgans Midge 18-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Collett's BWO 20-22

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

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

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