Fryingpan River Report 7-5-19

July 5, 2019

UPPER FRYINGPAN (Mile Marker 8 to Ruedi Reservoir)

FLOW: 700 CFS until further notice

WATER CLARITY: High water, exercise caution!

OVERALL RATING: 1 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, BWO adults and nymphs, mysis shrimp, random PMDs here and there

THE LOW-DOWN : Flows have dropped, they are now sitting at 700 CFS. To be frank, the fishing is going to be challenging for the next few days as they try to balance the level of Ruedi Reservoir with the high inflow coming in from the upper forks of the Fryingpan River.  

As we see the Fryingpan at higher flows, there are some silver linings to be found. You know we always preach the gospel of skinny, non-beaded and non-flashy nymphs for this river, but right now you can toss that out the window.  Bust out those beaded pheasant tails, Copper Johns and the like during these higher flows!

Be prepared with both midge and BWO adults, and you just might see a PMD or two. We've seen a few spinners this week, so they must be hatching here and there. In the mornings nymphing with small midge patterns seems to be most productive, then switching to baetis patterns in the afternoon. We've seen BWOs hatching until 4 and 5 o'clock recently!

Mysis shrimp are always a factor when flows increase in the upper reaches, so be sure to have a few of our Tim Heng's and Will Sands' mysis patterns in your box.

Hunting around the upper river with a small streamer can be a lot of fun, you just might turn the biggest fish in the run with a well-presented streamer.  Try adjusting your retrieve until the fish give you some positive feedback, and seek out shady areas versus those with bright sun.

This is going to be a big water year around here, there are forecasts for Ruedi becoming full by early July. You couldn't have two more vastly different water years from last year to this one!

HATCHES:  Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 20-26, mysis shrimp 16-20, a few oddball PMDs

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES:  Melon Quill 16-18, Sparkledun PMD 14-18, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Collett's Para BWO 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:  BH Pheasant Tail 14-18, San Juan Worm 10, Red Copper John 16-18, 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: High flows.

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, BWOs, Midges, random PMDs

OVERALL RATING: 1 out of 10

THE LOW DOWN: The middle Pan is running high and fast. Fishing some larger patterns then our usual sizes #20 and #22 could bring success. Princes, worms, caddis, and stones would be a few patterns to consider. 

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

HATCHES: Caddis 16-18, BWOs 18-22, Midges 20-26, a few oddball PMDs here and there

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES: No Hackle PMD 16-18, Adams 14-18, Peacock Caddis 16-18, Ethawing Caddis 16-18, Parachute Adams 18-22, Hackle Dun Baetis 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: 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: Blown out

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, PMDs, BWO adults and nymphs, golden stoneflies, craneflies, midges.

OVERALL RATING: 1 out of 10

THE LOWDOWN: Almost un-fishable at this point, but the river will eventually drop. The lower Pan has been yo-yo-ing with water clarity, in the lower stretches we are able to throw larger flies and heavier tippet. 

Stones, worms, and princes have been great lead flies while trailing small baetis patterns.

For hatches, we are seeing BWOs, Caddis, and a few midges. 

HATCHES: Golden Stoneflies 6-10, Caddis 16-18, BWOs 18-22, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES:  Egg Laying Golden Stone 8, Rogue Foam Golden Stone 6-8, Pink Lady PMD 16-18, Yellow Sparkledun PMD 14-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18, Elk Hair Caddis 16-18, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Sparkledun Baetis 18-22, 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:  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: This will be the first section to see some bigger bugs, try using stoneflies as an attractor.

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

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