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River guide · Colorado

Fly Fishing the Frying Pan River

The Frying Pan is a Gold Medal tailwater that runs 14 miles from Ruedi Reservoir down to Basalt in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley, with Fryingpan Road following the entire stretch and ample public water. Cold, clear, stable releases below Ruedi Dam produce exceptionally large rainbow and brown trout, especially in the 'Toilet Bowl' plunge pool just below the dam. The fishery is famous for trophy rainbows that gorge on mysis shrimp flushed from the reservoir, supplemented by dense midge and Blue-winged Olive hatches. A celebrated late-summer Green Drake emergence brings the biggest fish up to dry flies.

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The best time to fly fish the Frying Pan River is Year-round. Key hatches include Mysis Shrimp, Midges, Blue, Pale Morning Dun. 11 fly shops near the Frying Pan River can outfit your trip.

Fly shops near the Frying Pan River

Shops and guides that fish the Frying Pan River. See all 122 Colorado shops →

Frying Pan AnglersGone Fishing ColoradoSOPRIS FISHING OUTFITTERSCrystal Fly ShopAlpine AnglingAspen Trout Guides,Inc.Aspen Flyfishing IncGlenwood Springs OutdoorsColorado River OutfittersFly Fishing OutfittersFly Fishing Outfitters
11 fly shops shown

Species on this water

RedfishTarponTrout

Nearby towns

BasaltCarbondaleAspen

Rivers nearby

Roaring Fork RiverCrystal RiverColorado RiverEagle River
Hatches & seasons

When & what to fish on the Frying Pan River

River typetailwater
Best seasonYear-round; especially fall & winter
AccessFryingpan Road follows the river the entire 14 miles from Basalt to Ruedi Dam, with public water and parking pull-offs along the way.
Key hatches & timing
  • Midgeyear-round
  • Blue-winged OliveMar–May, Sep–Oct
  • Pale Morning DunJun–Aug
  • Green Drakemid-Jul–Aug
  • CaddisJun–Aug, evenings
  • Mysis Shrimpyear-round subsurface staple
From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the Frying Pan River

Step-by-step tying recipes & videos for these patterns.

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Gear up

Gear up on the Frying Pan River

Everything you need before the next trip — rods, lines, leaders, and fly-tying materials.

Shop the gear Flies that work

The flies that work on the Frying Pan River

Find the most effective patterns for where you're fishing — and learn to tie them yourself, step by step.

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Updated June 2026