Fryingpan River Report 8-27-20

August 27, 2020

UPPER FRYINGPAN (Mile Marker 8 to Ruedi Reservoir)

FLOW: 300 CFS 

WATER CLARITY: Low and clear

OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Green Drakes, Blue Winged Olives, Pale Morning Duns, Caddis, Craneflies, Mysis shrimp, midges

THE LOW-DOWN : The Grizzly Creek fire has not affected the Fryingpan, yet the smoke is pretty thick on certain days if the wind is not in our favor. Keep an eye on the Garfield and Eagle County websites for the latest information on road openings and closures.

Fishing has been pretty steady on the upper Pan, and after a few weeks of fish ignoring the drakes, they are starting to eat them. This year has been a "wave" year, as we are seeing a wave of PMDs, then a wave of drakes, then a wave of small yellow craneflies, then a wave of smaller PMDs, and so forth. It pays to match the hatch the best you can and pay attention to what the fish are keyed in on.

If you aren't feeling the love from the fish, be sure to move around and find the hatches, which are generally noon to 4 or so. Sometimes the drakes don't hatch until later in the day!

HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Green Drakes 10-12, Pale Morning Duns 14-18, Caddis 16-20, Craneflies 16-18, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES: HOH Spent Drake 12, BDE Drake 12, TC Sparkledun Drake 10-12, No Hackle BWO 20-22, Befus' Para Emerger 20-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle PMD 16-18, Melon Quill 16-18, Cranefly Adult 16-18, 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, Tungsten Split Case PMD 16-18, Thorax PMD Nymph 16-18, 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: Green Drakes, Blue Winged Olives, Craneflies, PMDs, Golden Stones, Sculpins, Midges

OVERALL RATING: 7 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: Green Drakes 10-12, Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Pale Morning Duns 14-18, Caddis 16-18, Craneflies 16-18, Golden Stoneflies 8-12, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES: HOH Green Drake Cripple 12, TC Sparkledun Green Drake 12, 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: Green Drakes, Blue Winged Olives, PMDs, Golden Stones, Craneflies, Caddis, Midges.

OVERALL RATING: 8 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.

HATCHES: Green Drakes 10-12, BWOs 18-22, Caddis 16-18, PMDs 16-18, Craneflies 16-18, Golden Stones 8-12, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES:  Befus' Para Emerger BWO 20-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Chubby Chernobyl 10-14, Sparkledun PMD 16-18, Cranefly Adult 16-18, 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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