FLOW: 285 CFS

WATER CLARITY: Visibility is increasing as our flows are being bumped back down. Up top should be back to clear and cold, if still slightly higher than you may be used to.

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Mysis shrimp, Midges, Sculpins

THE LOW-DOWN: The release from Ruedi Reservoir is on its way down after last week's dramatic spikes. Flows have dropped by approximately 100cfs/day, now to be held at 285cfs until further notice.

Blue winged olive and midge hatches are happening midday, and will continue to improve with stabilizing water levels. Pay attention to the hatches -- they tend to come off in waves and you need to roll with the changes. Like always, the hatches can be thick in one spot and next to nothing in others, so sometimes you have to move around.

If you're struggling and seeing others whacking fish, keep your rigs short and sweet and try some "drab" nymphs like skinny plain pheasant tails and RS2s on fluorocarbon 6x tippets. Keep your drifts short and sweet too, the fish will not tolerate seeing your fly line or butt section of your leader. Downstream dry fly presentations are practically a "rule" to stay effective. Be sure to ask about some of our custom Fryingpan patterns you can't get anywhere else.

Fishing on the Pan from 6 until dark can be quite productive, oftentimes we see another midge hatch near dusk under the dam.

Though flows are decreasing, the water is still high, making for potentially dangerous wading. Watch your step, bring your staff, and when in doubt stick to the banks.

Mysis shrimp are a year-round food factor, and don't forget your box full of streamers for low-light periods or any time it's breezy or stormy.

HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 18-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:  

DRIES: No Hackle BWO 20-22, Befus' Para Emerger BWO 20-22, Improved Sparkle Dun BWO 20-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, No Hackle BWO 20-22, HOH Hanging Midge Grey/Black 20-22, Mole Midge 20-22, Roy Palm's Special Frying Pan Emerger 20-22, Bill's Midge Emerger 20-22, HOH CDC Midge Adult 22-24, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, Hatching Midge 20-22, Morgan's Para Midge 20-22

NYMPHS: CDC RS2 Grey/Black 20-22, BMW Foam Top RS2 Grey/ Black 20-22, Killer Mayfly Olive/ Brown 22, Jigged JJ Nymph BWO 18-20, 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, Tim's Mysis 16-18, Will's Epoxy Mysis 16-20

STREAMERS: Cousin It Sculpin 6, Baby Gonga Tan/Yellow 8, Autumn Splendor 8, Carlton Banks White/Olive 4

HINTS: Hatches are thick in one spot and "not so much" in others, move around until you find 'em!

MIDDLE FRYINGPAN (Mile Marker 4 upstream to Mile Marker 8)

WATER CONDITIONS: Visibility is increasing as flows decrease, but tributaries can add some color from here down. 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Sculpins

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10 

THE LOW DOWN: For those who get bummed out seeing other anglers, here's a hint: the middle river has the same hatches without the crowds! Another benefit of fishing the middle river is the plethora of public access. What is private is clearly marked, and the rest is there for you to explore.

HATCHES: Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES: CDC Biot BWO 20-22, Uber-Realistic BWO 20-22, Mole Fly Baetis 20-22, Harrop's CDC Biot Dun BWO 20-22, Harrop's CDC Thorax BWO 20-22, Mole Fly Midge 20-22, HOH Hanging Midge 20-22, 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: 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, Bead Wing Midge 20-22, Rojo Midge 20-22, 

STREAMERS:  Tungsten Double Mint 8, Beldar Lemon Drop 8, White Zuddler 8, Hansen's Meal Ticket 4

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 upstream to Mile Marker 4) 

WATER CONDITIONS: Visibility is increasing as flows decrease, but tributaries can add some color in this stretch.

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Hoppers, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Sculpins

OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10 

THE LOWDOWN:  Caddis and BWOs are on the scene on the lower and middle Fryingpan, and we're beginning to see some smaller hoppers along the banks! If Euro or Czech nymphing is your thing, the lower Fryingpan is ideal. 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. Dry dropper rigs can be deadly in this section of river.

If the crowds of people upstream are thick, come explore some lower Fryingpan access spots!

HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, Blue Winged Olives 20-22, Midges 20-26

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS: 

DRIES: Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Yellow Humpy 16-18, Goddard Caddis 16-18, Mole Fly Baetis 20-22, CDC Comparadun BWO 20-22, HOH CDC Biot Dun, HOH Biot Emerger, Pearl and Elk Caddis 16-18, Lawson's EZ Caddis 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Harrop's CDC Biot Dun BWO 20-22, CDC Comparadun BWO 20-22, Morgans Midge 18-22, Hatching Midge 20-22, Sprout Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Spent Midge 22-24, HOH CDC Midge Adult 24 Sparkle Flag PMD 16-18, Morris May PMD 16-18 

NYMPHS: Jigged Iron Lotus 16-18, Purple Perdigon 16-18, 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:  Home Invader 2, Grease Monkey Natural 4, Double Dirty Hippy 4

HINTS: Great section to Euro Nymph and work small streamers, just keep moving!

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

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