Fryingpan River Report 5-23-21
Posted on 23 May 2021
May 23, 2021
UPPER FRYINGPAN (Mile Marker 8 to Ruedi Reservoir)
FLOW: 121 CFS
WATER CLARITY: Cold and clear, flows increased recently
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Mysis shrimp, Blue Winged Olives, Midges
THE LOW-DOWN : As we continue through spring, the Fryingpan has been fishing increasingly well. As you see, the flows are on the low side, so we're all being as gentle as we can with the fish we catch.
The upside is that the dry fly fishing on the Pan has been top-notch for a few hours, midday usually. There's midges hatching as well as a handful of BWOs. The streamer fishing has been productive especially on cloudy and stormy days.
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 sizes of bugs and transition accordingly.
HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives, Midges 20-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Harrop's CDC Biot Emerger BWO 20-22, Lawson's No Hackle BWO 20-22, Roy Palm's Special Frying Pan Emerger 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: Chocolate Thunder 20-22, Ultra Bling RS2 Grey 20-22, Killer Mayfly Olive/ Brown 22, Jigged JJ Nymph BWO 18-20, Maggot Midge 20-22, Rojo Midge 20-22, Neon Nightmare 20-22, 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, Grease Monkey 4, Baby Gonga Rust/ Black 8, Crispy Critter 4, 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: Midges, Caddis and a few BWOs
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
THE LOW DOWN:
The middle Fryingpan is fishing pretty darn well. Good midday hatches can be found and the fish receive less pressure than their cousins upstream.
If you fish a whole mile of river, you'll be fishing many different water types, too.
HATCHES: Midges 20-26, Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-20
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Lawson's EZ Caddis 16-18, Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, No Hackle BWO 18-22, Roy's Special Fryingpan Emerger 20-22, 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 and low
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, BWOs, Caddis, Golden Stoneflies
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
THE LOWDOWN: 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: Midges 20-26, BWOs 18-22, Caddis 16-18, Golden Stones 6-10
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Missing Link Caddis 14-18, Pearl and Elk 16-18, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, Rogue Golden Stone 6-8, Morgans Midge 18-22, Hatching Midge 20-22, Sprout Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stone 8-12, Bead Head Prince 14-18, Chocolate Thunder 20-22, 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
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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