Hatch-chart pattern list
Best Flies for Frying Pan River (Colorado)
The Frying Pan River in Colorado is primarily a wade fishery. It is a tailwater fishery for Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout, with the most reliable window in April, May, June. The patterns below are matched to the hatch chart we publish for this water. They are not a live report of what other anglers caught this week.
What's hatching now
Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Frying Pan River hatch chart. August is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.
| Month | Insect | Size | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO, RS2, Sparkle Dun |
| Midges | #20-26 | Griffith's Gnat, Zebra Midge | |
| July | Green Drake | #10-12 | Green Drake Paradrake, Extended Body Drake |
| Pale Morning Dun | #14-18 | PMD Sparkle Dun, PMD Cripple | |
| September | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO, RS2 |
| October Caddis | #6-10 | Orange Stimulator, October Caddis |
Nymphs
Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.
Dries
Dries and terrestrials for the Frying Pan River. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.
Streamers
Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.
Setup
5X and 6X fluorocarbon on nymphs, 5X on dries unless the fish are on Tricos, then 6X or 7X. Start lighter than your home river. One small tungsten and a long tag often beats a 3.5mm bead in clear water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.
FAQ
- What flies work on the Frying Pan River?
- Start with BWO Sparkle Dun and BWO Parachute, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Frying Pan River does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.
- When is the best time to fly fish the Frying Pan River?
- The editorial window we list is April, May, June, July, August, September, October. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.
- Do I need a guide on the Frying Pan River?
- Colorado has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.
- Where can I see live flow for the Frying Pan River?
- Open the Frying Pan River river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.
- Is this a report of what's working now on the Frying Pan River?
- No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.
Related
Frying Pan River
Access, hatch chart, USGS gauge.
Colorado
Trip planning for this region.
BWO Sparkle Dun
Dry
BWO Parachute
Dry
Sparkle Dun
Dry
Miguel Vasquez — Frying Pan Anglers
Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing
Blue Quill Angler
1532 Bergen Pkwy, Evergreen, CO 80439
Bucking Rainbow Outfitters
Steamboat Springs, CO
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Open the river guide, then its fly list.
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