Cooking up a Good Time on the Fryingpan
by Karen Christopherson
The Fryingpan - a favorite fishing river of so many. Why? Combine a beautiful Colorado river, with good access and gold medal status and this is the result. The river was named, according to legend, for a fryingpan left in a tree to mark the spot of a fallen comrade in a fight with Indians. This area hosts legends of mining and the frontier of early Colorado, and current legends of growth and wealth. But this river seems to have escaped most of the recent insanity near Aspen, and hopefully much of it will be preserved forever.
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| Red rock and green trees |
Gold Medal Waters
The Fryingpan, or "Pan" as nicknamed, originates east of Aspen in the Hunter Fryingpan Wilderness. Its journey flows northwest to Ruedi Reservoir, which dammed the river in 1968. Below the reservoir, the river travels another 14 miles before converging with the Roaring Fork at Basalt. The portion of the river from the dam to its confluence with the Roaring Fork has been designated as Gold Medal.
The river travels through a gorgeous canyon, having carved its way through the Maroon Formation - a red sandstone that is on the order of 250 million years old. The contrast of the red sandstones and evergreen pines and firs makes for a tranquil setting.
The tailwaters below the dam are famous for the big boys, pigs, hogs, giants, monsters - whatever you want to call them, there are some BIG trout in here. Bring your mysis shrimp flies and be prepared for crowds. Anglers stand within feet of each other to tempt the huge fish. If this isn't your idea of a fun day fishing, move downstream. You don't have to go too far to find some nice areas to fish. And, don't forget the fishing upstream of the reservoir - smaller stream fishing and less crowds.
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| Looking for the big boys |
Surprisingly good access
Fortunately, there is quite a bit of public access along this river which is located in a part of the state renown for wealth and privacy (i.e. Aspen). Portions of the river are on forest land, some on state land and others have access rights through the Division of Wildlife. Along the 14 miles from the dam to Basalt, some 8.5 miles provide public access to fisherman.
But, figuring out the access isn't that easy. Some is signed by DOW, and some is posted as "no trespassing". Some easy access to find - you can fish in the town of Basalt, at Strawberry Rock (2.6 miles upstream to the DOW sign), and 2.1 miles downstream from Ruedi Dam. There are other access points. One of the easiest ways to determine access is to get the map "Fishing Map and Guide, Fryingpan and Roaring Fork Rivers" which will show you the public access on both the Pan and the Fork. NOTE You can buy this map online - see below. Plan your strategy ahead of time!
Four types of fish
Although the dominant fish in the Pan is Brown Trout, there are also Rainbows, Cutthroats, and an occasional Brookie. Year-round hatches mean you can fish in winter while your friends go skiing. A warm day in winter can be the same as a cold day in summer. The fish might be acting a bit different, but don't dismiss winter fishing.
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| A nice Brown (photo courtesy Bill Hadley) |
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| Fun with pumpkins in the fall (photo courtesy Bill Hadley) |
Other rivers
One of the best things about this area is that you can also fish several other rivers. You'll probably drive along the Roaring Fork on your way to the Fryingpan, and there's also the Colorado and Crystal Rivers, not to mention all of the area small mountain lakes and streams. You can keep yourself busy with a variety of fishing while your friends or family go hiking, biking, shopping, touring, 4WD'ing, or soaking (in the hot springs).
Resources/Other Info:
Buy
an ebook '50 Colorado Tailwaters' - includes the Frying Pan
Buy a paperback or ebook on The Colorado River: A Fly
Fisher's Guide by Al Marlowe and Karen Christopherson which
includes color maps and info on the Colorado and its main
tributaries (Blue, Eagle, Fraser, Roaring Fork, Fryingpan and
Fraser). The book is over 170 pages and includes info on
access, flies, hatches, and more.....available from
Barnes and Noble Or
on Amazon
- A list of stores and guides can be found on the regional page for Aspen. The page for northwest Colorado lists stores and Guides in Glenwood Springs
- After a day of fishing, why not relax in the hot springs at Glenwood. For more info see their website
- See the website for White River National Forest
Rules for the Fryingpan
- Catch and release for the section from the Ruedi Dam downstream to the Roaring Fork for all fish except Browns. Maximum size for Browns is 14", limit=2. Artificial flies and lures only. All Brown Trout over 14" must be returned to the water immediately
- State regs on the river above the reservoir.
Where to stay?
- There are forest service campgrounds near the reservoir and private campgrounds along Hwy 82. There are numerous motels, B&B's and condos in Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and Aspen. In Basalt try the Taylor Creek Cabins
How to get there?
- Take Hwy 82 to Basalt (from Aspen or Glenwood Springs) and then follow Rd 105 to the east. There are signs for Ruedi Reservoir.
- In the summer, you can access the Fryingpan over Hagerman Pass from the east. Take Road 105 from Leadville past Turquoise Lake and follow to Ruedi Reservoir. This is not an easy trip. Alternatively, you can take Hwy 82 over Independence Pass (south of Leadville) which will take you to Aspen. The road is paved and offers some spectacular scenery.