Fryingpan River Tactics: Mastering Low Water and Murky Flows

It is October 21, and if you are standing on the banks of the Fryingpan River right now, you know exactly what I am talking about. We are sitting at 45 CFS, and thanks to some technical shifting at the dam, the water in the upper four miles has got a bit of a mocha stain to it. Don’t let that scare you off. In my thirty years of Aspen area fly fishing, I have learned that the fish don’t leave; they just get a little more methodical about their menu. The sediment in the water can actually work in your favor if you know how to play the game. When the visibility drops, those big rainbows and big browns stop being quite so leader-shy. I have been reaching for my favorite Sage fly fishing setup and keeping my tippet game strong, favoring patterns that push a little water or show a bit of profile. While the caddis hatches are largely getting ignored by these notoriously spoiled trout, the Blue Winged Olives and midges are the real show. If you catch those windows at first or last light, the surface activity is as good as it gets. I’ve seen a few lingering PMD spinner falls early, but the main event is definitely the BWO emergence. Whether you are stripping sculpins or dead-drifting a mysis imitation, you need to be precise. If you are looking to get away from the banks, we have been running some scenic float fishing trips on the lower sections of our local rivers. While the Pan is mostly a wading game, our new Clackacraft drift boat is the perfect tool for hitting the Roaring Fork or the Colorado River stretch below Glenwood Springs. Speaking of the Fork, from the stretches near Basalt down through Carbondale, the water is crisp and the bite is consistent. If you are planning a bachelor or bachelorette party and want something more memorable than a bar stool, a day of driftboat fishing with the team is the best way to see the Roaring Fork Valley. I have been putting clients on trophy trout all season using my Hardy fly fishing reels, and the confidence that gear gives you when a massive brown decides to head for the logs is irreplaceable. Don’t wait for the ice to set in. Give us a call at Aspen Angling Company, and let’s get you out on the water before the season closes. I know every riffle by name, and I am ready to show you why this is still the best place on earth to hook a giant.