Fly Fishing - Frying Pan River, Colorado: Spring Fishing Trip

troutdawg · Location: Denver

Frying Pan River Winter Trip March, 2009

http://www.vimeo.com/3479831
Our Frying Pan Video....check it out, it's a nice bit and a longer piece is on the way.

When it's late February, you're ready for a break from the slopes or in search of great fishing...where do you go? None other than the Frying Pan River near Basalt Colorado.

What makes this place so unique is the fact that it's a year round gold medal fishery located right in our backyard. Well, sometimes that backyard has a lot of snow in it, but every so often you get lucky enough to hit it just right and Wham! Perfect weather, few crowds, epic hatches and most importantly.....awesome fishing!

Everyone it seems caught a fair amount of fish which averaged anywhere between 15-30 fish days, that's a good day for anyone during the Summertime, but for Winter Wow!!

Time for a beer break, yes the snow was cold enough to keep my Alaska Pale Ale's cold but the warm weather out evened it all out.

Todd didn't have any problems catching fish, than again he never does. This is one of many fine Rainbows he caught fishing the lower section on Friday. Casey also with a very nice Bow that put a good fight to his 3wt, I bet you'll get that 5 weight back out again fishing that Honey Hole I told you and Todd to hit. These guys got an extra day on us and had a few stories to tell at the Cabin Friday night. These guys tore it up on Friday and from their expressions that night, I think everyone was eager to hit the water early Saturday for more incredible fishing.

Double Trouble!
First was 2 nice browns Doubled up by Troutdawg and Nick! Than 20 minutes later we had our what 3rd or 4th double of the day with another nice Brown and Bow. Gotta love doubles on a day like this.

The boys getting into more fish in the upper section. Nick when he wasn't filming didn't seem to have a problem getting into some action and landing a few betweem takes. In the backdrop Steve was also catching a bunch of fish and landing this nice Rainbow on a secret fly and though it looks smaller in the picture it actually was a really nice fish and took a bit to come in.

Click here for our Exciting Video from our Pan trip and some incredible footage of some Pan Bows Rising to the occassion! Our Video was also shot by fishing pal Nick Clement from Reelescape Films during our unbelievable weekend of fishing! Check it out and stay tuned to more videos on the way.

The Guys at our midnight Fly Tying Round table, boy can that Casey tye some flies! We definitely got a lesson in tying and a few new variations to tryout over teh weekend. Nick also getting after a few risers we chased towards the Castles area on our last night there. What a night it was, we had the entire area to ourselves and plenty of fish to cast to. Too bad yours truely took a slippery step and went down on the water, yep I got a little wet and froze my tail off for short period before resisting the Risers and headed back to the car to change.

Yes I was a little lucky as well and lost track of how many fish each day. a good thing to have happen and and I always seem to get dialed into to atleast a few trout from time to time. I did loose a very nice fish on Sat and though it's par for the course in this big fish water, I'm still thinking of Nemo that got away due to my rusty winter skills.....hmmm kind of reminds me of buddy from last June (now lives in Minn) that missed a butte of a beast that slipped through the legs and our net was too small to grab it OUCH!

The Majical Mysis from my buddy Brian Yamauchi...it's sick!!
Can't wait to get back to the Pan and continue that 3-4x a year and hopefully be able to hit it about 5x this year if I'm lucky enough. You either love the Frying Pan or hate it, how again would someone dislike it??? Oh yeah it has a few people, well I'm sure after your 25th take on the day all is forgotten.

jjmcmullen · Location: Carbondale, CO

Looks like good times on the "Pan".

I love the fly tying session pic!

For anyone who doesn't know, the Frying Pan runs into the Roaring Fork ... and IMO the Roaring Fork is as much, if not more, fun than fishing the Pan. Between the Fork, the Pan, the Crystal and the Colorado ... there is no shortage of fun and productive water to fish in this valley.
I've been living here for the last 14 years and it's some of the best fly fishing I've ever experienced.

saltydog003 · Location: Hampden, Maine

I GOTTA learn how to make\tie that mysis shrimp!

troutdawg · Location: Denver

Glad you liked the post, it was a great trip indeed and yes, we had some good times tying a few and that Mysis is one sweet pattern...here fishy fishy!

mnflyangler1 · Posted: Sun 04/19/09 7:25 pm Post subject:

That is one of the best looking mysis pattern I have ever seen.

liphooked · Location: Australia

Some nice fish you guys have caught,good looking river,also a good method for cooling your beer,when we are hunting in the high country we leave our coolers out at night for the frost to cool everything down.
cheers & good fishing.

cfly · Location: Maine-Cape Cod-Fl Keys

I grew up in Basalt and miss fishing the Pan and Fork floats - but holly shit that Magical Mysis is sick!!!!!! would have love to have that in my box when I was guiding the upper pan.