The Frying Pan River is a fly fisherman's paradise during the winter months
I walked up the snow clogged road and scanned the river looking for a decent stretch to fish. On this chilly January day the mercury wouldn’t get much higher than 22 degrees and until the sun hit the water it was pointless to even attempt to fish. As the sun had crept to the canyon floor the air temp increased enough to keep all the appendages warm enough to fish. As I waded through knee deep snow on the bank I kept my eye to the river looking for actively feeding fish, which luckily the river Pan keeps her trout nice and lively even on some of the chilliest days, so finding a feeder was no problem. As I crept up to a couple of big browns casually eating what I can only imagine was for them a late lunch, I found it difficult to take the time to get the right cast and as I placed my first cast I could already see I was off target as a nice rainbow took my midge instead of the big brown and gave me a decent little fight. I slipped the bow into the water I looked up and grinned as one of my buddies slipped through the knee deep snow to get to the river. It was just another winter day of fishing on the Frying Pan and fish were coming willingly to the net.
The Frying Pan River runs for 14 miles from the base of Ruedi Dam and has been designated as a ‘Gold Medal’ fishery by the state of Colorado. During the summer months the road following the Frying Pan becomes inundated with anglers intent on fishing this legendary water. This is one reason that in my personal opinion winter is the best time to fish the Frying Pan, you have good midge hatches, smaller crowds than the summer and you have the chance of sight casting and hooking up with the fish of a lifetime here.
Access during the winter can be extremely dicey throughout the canyon and though there is some really nice fishing access a little lower in the canyon, I highly recommend hitting the upper stretches directly below the dam, even on weekends the crowds are small enough that you can find some prime real estate and get into some nice trout. There is ample parking and you still have access to the Frying Pan along the river road directly below the dam. I recommend taking a good four wheel drive vehicle since the road to the river is extremely steep and plowing is not always done regularly below the dam. I have been stuck one too many times taking the wrong vehicle during the winter, so play it safe and take the off-road vehicle.
Most of your catch here will be browns with the occasional feisty rainbow and they do tend to get fairly large from the protein-full mysis (freshwater shrimp) that are flushed from Ruedi Reservoir on a regular basis. It is not uncommon to see 10 pound brown and rainbow trout cruising the waters near the base of the dam, seeing them is easy though getting them on the line is another matter. The insect hatches here can be amazing and it isn’t uncommon to see fish rising to emergers and tiny midges during the warmer parts of the day so don’t be afraid to change your game as conditions on the river dictate. I recommend the following flies for a winter outing on the Pan; #22-#26 Dorsey’s Top Secret Midge, #22-#26 Mike’s Midge (black or red), #22-#26 black beauties, #22-#24 Craven’s Jujubee Midge (red or black), #18-#20 Dorsey’s Mysis, #18-#20 Epoxy Mysis, #22-#26 blood midge, #24-#28 Griffiths Gnat.
Lodging is easily found in the Roaring Fork Valley, but since there are ski resorts in the area the accommodations during the winter season can get booked easily so plan your trip accordingly. The Frying Pan can be reached on a day trip from Denver, but I highly recommend hitting it a couple days in a row to get your fill. As warmer climes arrive, this river will be alive with anglers, so take the time this winter to hit the Pan when you won’t need to worry about hitting the guy next to you with your backcast. Basalt is a true fly fishing town with two quality fly shops, Frying Pan Anglers and Taylor Creek Fly Shop so if you need the daily low down check either one out. There are even a couple of taverns and restaurants that don’t mind anglers wearing their waders and boots into their establishments, so getting a bite and a drink easy after a day on the water.
I have always been a big fan of hitting the river in the dead of winter and there is nothing like standing near the edge of a river while snow falls around you, it’s just you, the river and the fish. With small crowds, prolific hatches and the chance to hook up with a trophy sized trout the Frying Pan River is a must visit winter destination for every Colorado angler.
Directions
To get to the Frying Pan River from Denver take I-70 west to Hwy 82 South at Glenwood. Follow 82 S for approximately 20 miles to the town of Basalt. Take Two Rivers road to Frying Pan Rd. and follow the signs to Ruedi Reservoir. Parking access will be located at the base of Ruedi Dam.
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The Frying Pan River is a fly fisherman's paradise during the winter months
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