Hey fisher, talk to me about the frying pan river... I've been googling guides and lodging and everything I read on the net is very intriguing - of course I know they sugar coat everything to get you to spend the cash. Is that river and the roaring fork as good as the hype? 10 + lb bows and browns common?
Either way I don't think a guide is in the works for me, simply too expensive. I like figuring things out for myself anyway. It would help to have some non-biased views though.
Any info is appreciated bro.
The pan can be a great river....there are tons of fish, many quite large. However, the 10 pounders you hear of aren't that common. I would say 16"-20" is pretty average for the upper stretch, with 12"-18" more common farther down. I always catch fish there, the hardest part is finding a stretch to yourself.
The fork is pretty sweet, not quite as many fish as the pan but they don't receive nearly as much pressure, so its generally easier fishing. Average size is maybe 12"-16", with 20"+ definitely possibly. 8+ pounders are caught every year during the spring and fall spawns....
These are my observations, but I've only fished about a half dozen times at each place. The roaring fork is about 5 miles from my house, the pan about 15-20, so I will be spending more time at both (I just moved to the area a year ago, but I had fished both rivers on the past). There are some other really great spots in the area that don't get as much publicity, but can fish just as well... Personally, I'm partial to the smaller streams and spend much of my time there.
You won't need a guide at either place, just stop into one of the fly shops and ask what's hatching, what patterns have been working, etc. If I didn't answer all your questions, feel free to ask more
