Frying Pan River
253cfs/below Ruedi Reservoir
Conditions- The fish have been awfully happy lately up on the Frying Pan. Water levels are ideal for nymph and dry fly fishing. Fishing pressure is very high – even on weekdays – but as we like to say, ‘You’re on a world famous fishery at the peak of the green drake hatch. If it isn’t busy, then something is terribly wrong.’ That being said, the lower river below MM4 has been seeing very little fishing pressure, good hatches and great dry fly ops. The majority of the green drakes are hatching along the upper river now. In addition to the usual light tippets frequently used on the river, hopping or slightly twitching your drake as it enters the trouts feeding window is an often used trick of the guides. In addition to green drakes, PMDs, red quills and BWOs are of equal importance and often are of more importance than masking hatches of drakes. With such a plethora of insects hatching, the toughest part of the fishing is often dialing-in what the fish are feeding on at any given time. And this my friends is the joy of fly fishing and why fisheries like the Frying Pan are held in such high regard. Evenings present cooler temps, more shade, less crowds and willing risers to rusty spinners, caddis and midges.
The Frying Pan is world renowned for it hatches but it does have its issues. Colorado Parks & Wildlife has recently acknowledged what long time guides and anglers of the river have long known; there’s simply an overabundance of small brown trout in the river. We need your help. How? Anglers are very strongly encouraged to keep their daily limit of two brown trout under 14″ inches. In the near future, regulations are hopefully going to be updated with a significantly increased daily limit. In this day and age, where we taught generations the virtues of catch and release angling, is it possible to teach them the virtues of responsible harvest? I hope so.
From the Colorado Parks & Wildlife:
An extremely abundant fish in the Fryingpan and most often caught by anglers. Due to high densities in most the
river, harvest is encouraged for Browns ≤14” to relieve competition for resources and increase growth for other
trout. Harvest of Brown Trout under 14 inches is encouraged, because in many locations, like “Old Faithful”, where Brown Trout average less than 10 inches and 94% of the fish are under 14 inches.
Flies-
Dries: Hen Wing Drake, Drake Comparadun, Para. Drake, Flag Dun Pink, Sparkledun Pink, Melon Quill, CDC Rusty Spinner, Comparadun Adams, CDC Biot Comparadun, Mole Fly, Roy’s Special Emerger, Almost Dun, Wild Turkey Emerger, Para Quill BWO, Hackle Dun BWO, Foam Elk Hair Caddis (tan/brown), Egg Laying Caddis, Rubberleg Stimi (yellow)
Nymphs: Winged Drake Emerger, Poxyback Drake, Split Case PMD, Poxyback PMD, Halfback Emerger PMD, Barr Emerger PMD, Swiss Straw Everger, 2Bit Hooker, PTs Olive, Split Back BWO, Epoxyback Baetis, BTS Baetis, CDC RS2s, Mayhems, Foam Wing RS2, Foam Back Chocolate, Polywings, Medallion Midge, Bling Midge, Miracle Midge, Jiggy Mysis, Epoxy Mysis, BTS Mysis
Streamers: Bubble Guppy, Thin Mints, Sculpzillas, PSLs
