Colorado ·
Frying Pan River Fly Fishing Report - June 14, 2026
FRYING PAN RIVER
ReportJUN 14 — 21, 2026
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Flow
—CFS
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Water Temp
—
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Weather
42–78°F
Partly Cloudy
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
USGS real-time gauge data was unavailable at report time; per current guide reports, the Frying Pan is running approximately 110 CFS near Ruedi with crystal-clear water and a gauge height of ~1.47 ft — ideal low-and-clear conditions for technical wade fishing throughout the Holy Water and mid-river sections. Water temperature is holding around 40°F, keeping fish active and hatches firing on schedule.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Black Zebra Midge (TBH) #20
#20
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22–24
#22–24
Olsen's Quilldigon - Olive - Barbless #22–24
#22–24
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20–28
#20–28
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Tailwater Sowbug - Rainbow #10
#10
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge (Chironomidae) | #20–26 | High — emergers and adults keyed on all day; 'Midgezillas' up to #18–20 appearing | All day; peak midge clusters 10am–2pm |
| Blue-Winged Olive / Baetis | #18–22 | Moderate–High — duns on overcast windows, first spring baetis waves building | 11am–3pm; best on overcast breaks ahead of afternoon clouds |
| Pale Morning Dun (Ephemerella) | #18–20 | Low–Moderate — early emergence building through June; fish starting to key on PMD nymphs | 9am–noon on warmer sunny mornings |
| Caddis (Hydropsyche) | #16–18 | Low — first scouts appearing; evening dry fly activity picking up on mid-river runs | 5pm–dusk along mid-river runs and lower Fryingpan |
| Mysis Shrimp | #18–22 | Steady — year-round tailwater staple flushing through Ruedi Dam; key food source for trophy fish | All day in upper Holy Water section near dam |
| Sculpin / Baitfish | #4–6 | Opportunistic — large rainbows hunting structure; effective on overcast days and low-light periods | Early morning and evening; cloudy midday windows |
Best Time Window
- 9am–noon: PMD nymphs building in riffles + early BWO duns on warmer mornings — prime technical nymphing window
- 11am–3pm (especially overcast): BWO dun hatch peaks with any cloud cover — best dry fly opportunity of the day; Sunday afternoon clouds could fire a strong rise
- 5pm–dusk: Caddis scouts emerging on mid-river and lower Fryingpan runs — switch to a CDC caddis dry and work the evening rise along current seams
Guide's Tip
From the benchThe Frying Pan is a presentation fishery first and foremost — the fish here have seen every pattern in the book, so your drift matters far more than your fly choice. Fish from the bank whenever possible to avoid spooking fish on the low, clear flats, and use the longest, lightest tippet you can manage (6X–7X for midges and BWOs). With Sunday's forecast showing a slight chance of afternoon showers, watch for overcast windows between noon and 3pm — that cloud cover will be your best trigger for a BWO rise, and it's worth pausing your nymphing to scan for heads. Keep an eye out for bright, polished patches of riverbed in slower sections — those are active spawning redds, and giving them a wide berth protects the fishery we all love.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Mountain Whitefish
