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Report for the Roaring Fork Valley--Updated 7/18/10. The peak of our dry fly season is right now!

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ROARING FORK RIVER (Updated 7/18)   LOWER RIVER: (Glenwood to Carbondale):  Has dropped to 1100 in Glenwood Spring and gin clear.  Float fishing on the Lower Roaring Fork continues to be very good, with more fish looking up during the day at these levels!  The PMD's and Yellow Sallies have been hatching in great numbers, along with the big yearly emergence of golden stoneflies occurring over the past week.  Green Drakes have finished in the lower river, bug there is no shortage of bugs whatsoever.  Nymph fishing with appropriate PMD, Yellow Sally, and stonefly nymphs/ emergers has been excellent, and fishermen who can give good clean drifts with adult versions of the same bugs will also be rewarded with some very good dry fly action.  Dry fly fishing is best during the afternoon hatch and evening egg-laying sessions of numerous caddisflies.  BOOK YOUR FLOAT NOW--IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LOVE TO THROW DRY FLIES OUT OF A BOAT!

MIDDLE AND UPPER RIVER (Carbondale to Aspen): 600 cfs at Emma and only 250 cfs at Maroon Creek this morning, and gin clear.  Both are ideal levels for these sections of river, with tons of eager fish looking up for dry flies.  The best Green Drake hatches are between Catherine's Store and Woody Creek right now, but don't forget the other food sources that are often more abundant (caddis, PMD's, Yellow Sallies).  PMD spinnerfalls and trico hatches can provide dry fly opportunities in the morning--and now is the time to also be throwing large golden stone adult imitations since they are hatching and laying eggs.  Why use a strike indicator if you're nymphing, when you can use a big dry fly (or the Edible Indicator pattern)? You can successfully fish dry flies from morning til nightfall above the Crystal and catch fish if you are observant and adjust your fly selection to what is going on at different times of the day!

Catch of the Week:
21 Inch Brown on a #16 ParaWulff Patriot
 
Two-Week Fishing Forecast 
It doesn't get much better than right now on the Roaring Fork for wade or float fishermen up and down the valley!
 
Hot Fly Patterns

GREEN DRAKES, SIZE 10-12, DRIES:  Colorado Drake, Biot Hairwing Paradrake, Royal Wulff, H & L Variant, Challenged Drake, Green Drake ParaWulff; NYMPHS:  Crown Jewel, Poxyback Drake, Stalcup's Drake Emerger, Green Drake Crawler, Robo Pheasant Tail, Trina's Bubbleback Emerger, Yeager's Drake Nymph.  PMD'S, SIZE 14-16, DRIES:  Zelon Cripple, Sulpher Parachute, Para-Wulff Patriot, Red Quill, Royal Wulff Cripple, Hatch Matcher, Pink Albert, Rusty Spinner; NYMPHS:  Improved Barr's Emerger, Sulpher Emerger Nymph, Sparkle Biot PMD, BTS PMD emerger, Juju PMD, Pheasant Tail;  YELLOW SALLIES, SIZE 16, DRIES:  Headlight Sally, Barrett's Hairy Sally, Slow Water Sally; NYMPHS: Red Tag Sally, Kyle's BH Sally, North Fork Stone, Yellow Prince.  CADDIS, SIZE 14-18, DRIES:  Hi-Vis Caddis, TCF, Foam Caddis, Mother's Day Caddis, Ethawing Caddis, Garcia's Mini-Hot Peacock Stimulator; NYMPHS:  Caddis Crawler, Electric Caddis, BH Electric Rockworm, Lime Serendipity, Litebrite Caddis Pupa, Bead Diving Caddis, Z-wing Caddis Pupa, CDC Peacock Pupa, Peeking Caddis, Fried Twinkie, Prince.  STONEFLIES, SIZE 8-12, DRIES:  Swisher's PMX Stone, Trina's Dog Puke, Trina's Cat Vomit, Edible Indicator, Fat Albert, Para-Triple Decker, Sparkle Stimulator, Foam Para-Stimulator, Gorge Stone; NYMPHS: 20 Inchers, Thurmanator Golden Stone, Flexi-Girdle Bugs in all sizes and colors, Tungsten Biot Stone,  GENERAL ATTRACTOR NYMPHS: Copper Johns, Mexican Flag, Flashback Prince, Wire Prince.

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FRYING PAN RIVER--(Updated 7/18):  An ideal summer level of 164 cfs.  Green Drakes are hatching on the lower river, and they will stick around on the Pan until late September (the Pan boasts the longest Green Drake hatch in the country).  Drake fishing on this river can be an awful lot of fun when they're on it, but you should also be prepared to encounter selective feeding behavior when other food sources at present at the same time if fish have been stung a few times on big Drake patterns.  There will usually be other bugs hatching at the same time as Drakes (which are usually about 11 AM until 3 PM), and those bugs are PMD's, caddis, BWO's, and craneflies (very underrated hatch).  Try to pay close attention to what fish are keying in on at the time, and don't be afraid of riffles and pockets where fish will seek refuge from fishermen at these levels.

Fish will often prefer low-riding Drake dries or Drake nymphs during the hatch if they've been caught a few times on some of the standard fare--so try both if you're getting short strikes.  The PMDs usually start after lunch, and if you're attentive you will notice PMD duns hatching well into the evening--often as late as 7 PM.  The spinnerfalls in the morning and at dusk continue to be thick, with tons of rising fish right before dark.  Take advantage of our evening lightening round special guide trips to get you into this fantastic dry fly fishing, when you can often find practically every fish in your section of river rising and feeding aggressively.  There are also a lot of caddis laying eggs in the evening to get the fish looking up, and caddis larva and emergers can be fished effectively any time of day. BWO's continue to be an important food source mid-summer, especially in high-traffic areas of the upper river.  A well-stocked fly box, and adapting to feeding patterns are the essential keys to your success on the Pan--you need more than "a couple flies" when you stop at a shop to pick up some bugs for the Pan these days (and light 6X & 7X tippets are also par for the course).

Mornings on the Pan are most effectively fished with nymph rigs, and you will probably want a midge pattern behind that PMD, Caddis, or Drake nymph, since midges are the only thing hatching in the morning.  Fish can still key in on midges at any time, any place on this river, so if you are finding a lot of rising fish who keep snubbing your offerings, then try to take a good look around at what's coming off.  If you can't see anything, chances are that very small midges are coming off and you may want to try the smallest flies in your box.  Also pay attention to the fish--are you seeing tail rises or are the fish actually feeding on the surface?  If their mouths are not penetrating the surface, then your fly probably should.

Catch of the Week:  20 inch cutthroat on a rusty spinner

Two-Week Fishing Forecast:  Awesome--let's go! 

Hot Fly Patterns:  GREEN DRAKES, SIZE 10-12, DRIES:  Challenged Drake, Fanwing Drake, Para-Biot Hairwing Drake, Dry Ice Drake, Drake Spinner; NYMPHS:  Poxyback Drake, Crown Jewel, 20 Incher, Stalcup's Emerger, Drake Crawler. PMDS, SIZE 16, DRIES:  PMD Quad, Biot Comparadun, Hatch Matcher, Hackle Dun PMD, Moof's Sparkle Dun, Extended Body PMD, Zelon Cripple, Para Biots, Pink Albert, AK's Quill Bodies in Pink & Rust, Rusty Spinners; NYMPHS: 2 Tone PMD Nymph, Improved Barr's Emerger, Kolanda's BTS, CDC Loopwing Emerger, Juju PMD, Sulphur Emerger Nymph, Halfback Emerger, Pheasant Tail.  CADDIS, SIZE 14-18,  DRIES:  Mother's Day Caddis, Stalcup Caddis Adult, Para-Biot Emerger, Crippled Caddis, Foam Caddis. NYMPHS:  Buckskin, Caddis Crawler, Electric Caddis, Peeking Caddis, Translucent Pupa, Z-Wing Pupa;  BAETIS, SIZE 18-22, DRIES: Para Biot, Comparadun Biot BWO, Stalcup's Hackle Dun, Para-Biot Emerger, BWO Quad, Moof's Sparkle Dun, Blue Dun No-Hackle, Williamson's Paracripple; NYMPHS: Batwing Emerger, BTS Black and Olive, Pheasant Tails, Sparkle RS2, Poxyback Baetis, Solitude Emerger Nymph, Killer Mayfly Nymph, Bubbleback Emerger, Micro Mayfly, BWO Emerger Nymph, Barr's Emerger, WD50's.  CRANEFLIES, SIZE 16.  MIDGES, SIZE 20-28, NYMPHS:  Pulsating Biot Emerger, Wine BMW, Juju Midge, CDC Loopwing Emerger, Zebra Midges, Improved Biot Midge Emerger, Poxythread Midge Larva, UFOs; DRIES: Stalcup's Emerging Midge, Stalcup's Midge cluster, Roy's Special Emerger, Trailing Shuck Midge, Trico Quad;  MYSIS SHRIMP, SIZE 16-18 near the dam.

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COLORADO RIVER FROM GLENWOOD TO RIFLE (Updated 7/18):  3000 cfs in Glenwood with great clarity conditions.  It's been a lot of fun on the Colorado the past few weeks, and there's still some great fishing down here.  But the action is best now during the mornings and on cloud covered afternoons when water temps are cooler.  It's the dog-days of summer down here, and if you're out on a very hot day, the action will most likely be slower, and you need to make the time to appropriately revive fish--the stress of being caught on very warm days can be lethal on trout that are not properly released this time of year.  Your main food sources now are caddis, PMD's, stoneflies, and fish are now starting to turn on to hoppers.

Two-Week Fishing Forecast
Good fishing during the cooler parts of the day--please revive fish properly to minimize stress at these warmer water temperatures.
 
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PICTURED ABOVE:  Green Drakes are here--book your trip now for some of the best dry fly fishing of the season.

SPECIAL REPORT ON FISHING REGULATIONS REVIEW FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS: The DOW is currently gathering public comment on fishing regulations for the next 5 year period, which of course have significant impacts on our local fisheries.  An important concern on the Colorado River locally is extending the length of closures on spawning area tributaries like Canyon Creek and Grizzly Creek, to give post-spawn fish time to leave and go back into the river.  Currently, too many of these big, beautiful, wild fish end up in fish tacos because of the killing sprees that occur immediately after these areas are re-opened.  We feel the I-70 corridor to be the most vulnerable local area at risk in coming years because of the population boom of people moving here from other areas who just aren't educated enough about catch and release, selective harvest, or who are expoited by commercial interests who profit by selling bait and encouraging bad, unsustainable behavior.
 
The DOW is soliciting comment, and if you shoot us an e-mail through the link at the top of this page, we will forward you an e-mail form so you can forward your concerns directly to them.  We encourage you to agree with these recommendations and pass them along with your comments:
  • Extend closures in tributaries that are spawning areas from May 15th until June 15th to give these big brood fish time to leave after reproducing.
  • Add Mitchell and Elk Creek to the list of local tributaries that are closed to protect spawning fish.
  • ELIMINATE THE USE OF BAIT ON THE COLORADO RIVER BETWEEN GLENWOOD SPRINGS AND SILT--Flies and lures only in this special stretch of the river.
  • Treble hooks should be eliminated on all Colorado rivers--keep them in lakes and reservoirs where they can be of use for warmwater species or youth (or in warmwater rivers in Eastern Colorado).
  • Barbless hooks should be required on Gold Medal streams--optional in other areas.  If 10 year olds can land countless fish on barbless flies, then adults can also fish barbless in these special areas.
  • Bag and possession limits for trout are probably fine as they are now.  However, fishermen who's sole purpose is to catch and kill should be required to stop fishing once they reach their bag limit.  This will prevent the possiblity of mortality of fish caught and released after they have caught their limit, especially in the event that they are fishing with the deadlier tackle types common with catch and kill fishermen.
  • Liquid scents and scented lures should be banned from all fly/lure waters.
  • Support all legislation that decreases the spread of non-native species from one body of water to another
  • Oppose rule changes that threaten carp populations in still waters, whether it is additonal rods, chumming, spearfishing or bowfishing.  The lakes and reservoirs with the biggest and most opportunistic pike, bass, crappie, and other game fish are the lakes and reservoirs that have significant populations of carp.  The gamefish need the carp minnow to feed on.  Without them, the pike cannabalise each other and eat more trout, and the crappie never get bigger than your hand.  Try catching a carp with a fly--you will get a new appreciation for their intelligence (certainly more noble than a lot of human beings out there).
  • Oppose efforts by the DOW to eliminate pike and smallmouth from rivers like the Yampa, or reservoirs. There are trout in practically every body of water in this state.  Pike and bass are a novelty in Colorado that provide trout anglers with unique experiences, and these species shouldn't be persecuted. 


 
 




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CRYSTAL RIVER  (Updated 7/18):  312 CFS at Redstone.  Levels are perfect now for dry fly fishing and wading.  A lot of pocket water has become more exposed than it was a couple weeks ago, and fish are looking up for attractors such as Humpies, Wulffs, Stimulators, Drakes, and Caddis.  More fish are looking up during the day now, and of course dry fly fishing peaks in the evenings before dark.  Nymphing the deeper runs can also be deadly now with pheasant tails, copper johns, and princes.  More remote areas are fishing much better than the usual obvious pullouts and fishing holes.

Locating the fish is usually more important than fly selection early in the summer because the fish are hungry and will eat almost any properly presented fly.  Covering water is especially important to your success this year, as is releasing your catch--the DOW has put in fewer fish and will be putting in fewer fish throughout this summer than they did last year (when they stocked a ton of fish) because of increased demands upon the Crystal River hatchery by other jurisdictions.  The Crystal does depend a fair amount on stocking because of smaller insect populations and an abundance of fish harvested through a typical summer.  Please practice catch and release, and politely encourage catch and release or selective harvest to fellow anglers by spreading the word.  Beaver Lake and McPhee Pond are fishing very well right now--make sure you are stocked up with damselflies and callibaetis because fish are keying in on both.

Special Report
Crystal Fly Shop has partnered up with the historic Redstone Inn for special, all inclusive pricing for lodging and fishing packages. Includes trips done on their private water at the Preserve, as well as float and wade trips on the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan, or Colorado.  The Inn is also a perfect place to stay if you are headed over McClure Pass to fish at popular Bar ZX ranch, where we are also happy to guide you.   Call for details.
 
HIGH COUNTRY LAKE AND CREEK REPORT (Updated 7/18):  Avanlanche Creek is fishing very well, as are pretty much all of our local high country creeks and lakes.  The snow is gone and access is perfect for anywhere you want to go.  Be prepared for mosquitos, and start your hikes early in the day to avoid afternoon lightening if you plan on being exposed at high altitudes.
 
 
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BAR ZX RANCH NEAR PAONIA--ALSO KNOWN AS LAMPTON LAKES (Updated 7/1):  Pictured above, Bar ZX Ranch has a well earned reputation for offering an exciting private water fly fishing experience--it is probably the premier stillwater private fishery destination of its type in Colorado.  We are the closest fly shop to Bar ZX, which is about an hour and 15 minute drive over McClure Pass towards Paonia.  Located at the foot of the fabulous Ragged Mountain Range, Bar ZX offers tranquility and beauty as you fish over 25 lakes and ponds that have have almost every trout known to mankind inhabiting them--and many over 10 or 15 pounds! Crystal Fly Shop hosts guide trips to Bar ZX, which is not only a great place for kids and family, but also offers stillwater challenges to experienced anglers as well.  Picnic and restroom facilities, along with drive up access that makes waders unneccessary, help make the ranch a very pleasant experience.

Fishing at Bar ZX tends to be best early (right now!) and late in the season when water temperatures are cooler than they are in August.   The ranch tends to be a popular place during spring runoff, but offers great fishing later in the season as well.  These lakes offer huge rainbows, browns, cutthroat, brookies, and more, along with some fabulous terrestrial style fishing with hoppers and beetles.  The bigger fish will sometimes make you earn it with stillwater patterns like callibaetis and scuds presented properly.  Overall, this is a controlled, yet wild environment that guides and anglers find extremely satisfying and well worth the rod fee.  Access is limited to 12 rods per day.  Call us for availability and to make your reservations.  

HOT FLY PATTERNS FOR LAKES AND PONDS EVERYWHERE:  CALLIBAETIS, SIZE 14-16, DRIES:  Quigley's Hackle Stacker, Organza Callibaetis Spinner, NYMPHS:  Poxyback Callibaetis Nymph, Pheasant tails.  HOPPERS, SIZE 8-12:  Fat Albert, Godzilla Hopper, Para-Triple Decker, Chernobyl Ants, Trina's Carnage Hopper.  BEETLES, SIZE 12-16.  SCUDS, SIZE 14-18 in olive, amber, and orange. STREAMERS IN ALL SIZES AND COLORS.

 

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