Upper Fryingpan: Below Ruedi Dam
Upper Fryingpan: Below Ruedi Dam — Fishing Report for April 24, 2026
Quick Stats
Flow: 78 CFS | Trend: Stable | Fishability: Prime | Weather: Mostly Sunny, High 59°F
The Bite
April on the Fryingpan is bucket-list fishing, and today's setup is close to ideal. Flows are holding at 78 CFS — just a tick below the ideal range but well within fishable territory — and the water should be running gin-clear given the stable dam releases and dry conditions. With a light snow year across the Colorado headwaters basin, runoff pressure has been minimal, and the upper catch-and-release section is benefiting from that stability. Expect this window to hold through the weekend before Sunday's rain and snow showers add some variability.
Today's mostly sunny skies are a slight wildcard for the BWO hatch — Baetis prefer overcast, cool afternoons, and full sun can delay or suppress the emergence. That said, April hatches on the Pan are dense enough that even a partially cloudy afternoon should trigger surface activity. Watch for fish to start keying on emergers and cripples in the 12–3 PM window, particularly in the slower tailouts and along current seams. If the sun stays strong and the surface stays quiet, don't force the dry fly — the subsurface game with Mysis and RS2 nymphs will be productive all day regardless.
Friday pressure will be real, especially near the Toilet Bowl and the first few pools below the dam. Walk downstream. The fish get less educated the further you go, and the canyon rewards the angler willing to put in the steps.
What to Fish
- Sparkle Dun BWO #20-22 — Top dry fly when fish are visibly rising; let it ride the seam drag-free through the tailout
- Barr's Emerger BWO #20-22 — Excellent in the film during the hatch window; fish it just below the surface in slower water
- Dorsey's Mercury RS2 #22-24 — The workhorse nymph; fish it on 7X fluorocarbon as a dropper or solo on a tight-line rig
- Mysis Shrimp #16-18 — Anchor pattern for morning nymphing; dead-weight it along the bottom in deeper runs
- Scud (orange/pink) #16 — Effective near weed beds and slower edges; pairs well as a trailer behind a Mysis
- San Juan Worm (red) #14 — Always worth having on the point; especially useful in any off-color water below tributary confluences
Tactics & Rigging
For the morning, rig a Mysis Shrimp on the point with an RS2 trailing 14–16" above it on a standard two-nymph setup. Use 5X fluorocarbon to the anchor and drop to 6X or 7X for the RS2 tag. Fish the deeper slots and mid-column runs with a natural drift — let the current do the work. Strike indicator depth matters here; set it so the Mysis is ticking the bottom without dragging.
When the BWO window opens in the afternoon, switch to a single dry or a dry-dropper: a Sparkle Dun or Parachute BWO on 6X with a size 22 RS2 or Barr's Emerger dropped 14–18" below on 7X. Focus on the slower tailouts and the soft water along current edges where fish can hold and sip without burning energy. Presentations need to be precise — these fish see a lot of flies. A drag-free drift of even two feet in the right lane is worth more than a sloppy cast to a rising fish.
Access & Logistics
Friday crowds will be concentrated near the dam and the Toilet Bowl — expect company in the first quarter mile. Parking at the lower pullouts along Fryingpan Road gives access to less-pressured water and is worth the walk. Wading is generally easy throughout the upper section at 78 CFS. Barbless hooks are required — check your rigs before you fish. Always verify current regulations with CPW before heading out, as rules can change.
Stop by Fryingpan Anglers for flies, local intel, and to support the shops that keep this fishery healthy.
Looking Ahead
Saturday looks nearly identical to today — mostly sunny and 60°F — so the window repeats, though Sunday's rain and snow showers could shift conditions heading into next week. A mixed-precip event may add slight color to lower reaches, but the upper tailwater section should stay clear; cooler temps and overcast skies Sunday could actually improve the BWO hatch quality if flows hold steady.