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Fishing Report

Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO

Flow: 40 cfs below Ruedi Reservoir

Short and Sweet: The upper miles of the Fryingpan are fishing well this week. Ice abounds in the middle and lower river. 10 a.m. until 2 or 3 p.m. is the time to be on the water.

In Depth Report: The shrimp are just pouring out of the dam right now, so be sure to have a few different looks to your mysis patterns. Try a Sand’s epoxy mysis, Heng’s mysis or the Motown mysis patterns this week behind an egg or ahead of small, dark RS2s or pheasant tails. Egg colors are varying from yellow, orange and chartreuse, utilizing “peg egg” systems and yarn eggs.



We are still seeing strong baetis and midge hatches mid-day; 7x tippet is a must when casting to these rising fish. Nymphing with 6x will help you get more hook-ups, go short and simple on your nymphing rigs with the clear and low water conditions. Small and red midge nymphs will produce, along with black or gray size 22 RS2s, plain size 22 or 24 pheasant tails, and the Chocolate Thunder is working nicely right now.

The best dry flies this week will be Bill’s Midge Emerger in size 22 and Collett’s parachute BWO, size 20-22.



Hot Flies: Tims Mysis 18, Sands Epoxy Mysis 18, Motown Mysis 18, Flashtail Mini Hot Egg 18, Peg Eggs 4-6mm, Pheasant Tail 22-24, RS2 22, Chocolate Thunder 22, Tungsten Hoover Baetis 20, Poxyback Baetis 22, TC Red Midge Larva 22, Foam Wing RS2 22, Bills Midge Emerger 22, Fryingpan Emerger 22, Colletts Parachute BWO 22

Flow: Ideal wade fishing abounds!

Short and Sweet: Fishing is improving greatly this week on the Roaring Fork. Beware of ice dams giving way, always fish where you can escape quickly from the water and in an area you can see upstream for a good distance.

In Depth Report: The upper Fork (Basalt down to Carbondale) is pretty hot this week. There aren’t any hatches to speak of, but the nymphing has been top-notch. Lead your nymph rig with an egg or small stonefly, follow these with Rainbow Warriors, prince nymphs, or gray RS2s. Egg colors are varying from chartreuse to yellow and orange, you can also have some luck on the larger diameter peg eggs right now. Fish your flies heavy and deep, as trout takes are pretty subtle right now. Set the hook on the slightest hesitations of your strike indicator. The lower Fork (Carbondale down to Glenwood Springs) is also fishing pretty well, most of the same flies will work downvalley this week also. Additional flies to consider are red Copper Johns, Black Beauties and Jujubee midges. The softer water holds more fish this time of year, because trout don’t have the energy to fight the current all day.

Hot Flies: Cat Poop 6-8, Chartreuse, Orange or Yellow yarn eggs or peg eggs, Rainbow Warrior 18-20, Prince Nymph 18, red Copper John 20, Jujubee midge 20-22, Black Beauty 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20-22

Flow: 1,200

Short and Sweet: The Collie is back in shape this week, and wade fishing opportunities are terrific in Glenwood, South Canyon and Newcastle. Keep an eye on the overnight temperatures, because on the warmer mornings the fishing has been hot!

In Depth Report: Eggs are the most important thing on the menu on the Colorado right now for the fish and anglers alike. Carry a wide assortment of peg and yarn-style eggs in chartreuse, green, yellow and orange. Play around with sizes and depth until you find the fish. Similar to the Roaring Fork, these fish will be hunkered down in the softer water, not out in the middle of the current. Your other lead fly right now should be a stonefly nymph, fished heavy and deep. Egg patterns should be followed by sparkle-wing RS2s, prince nymphs, Freestone Emergers, Medallion Midges, D- Midges, or the ever-popular Rojo Midge. Newcastle bridge, South Canyon, and around Two Rivers is the place to be.

Hot Flies: Cat Poop 6-8, Yarn and peg eggs 12-16, Rojo Midge 20-22, D- Midge 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20-22, Medallion Midge 20-22, Sparkle-wing RS2 18-22, Prince Nymph (plain or beaded) 16-18

This report is provided every week by Taylor Creek Fly Shops in Aspen and Basalt. Taylor Creek can be reached at (970) 927-4374 or taylorcreek.com.


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