Anyone been to the Fryingpan or the Taylor Rivers

[AaronJasper]

any of you guys been there? any suggestions for flies? we are going there in april in search of the giant trout that we see in all of the pictures!!
any info will be of great assistance.

[Troutbum from Griswold]

I fished it last July. We hit multiple rivers during the trip and it was the best of all of them. Lots of big fat rainbows. Most fish on nymphs. I didn't go to the Toilet Bowl because it was just way too crowded. However, that is where the BIG HOGS are found.

[AaronJasper]

how big were the fish in the toilet bowl ? i heard there are quite a few 8- 12 pound fish there. they said if you stay there long enough you will get one. is that is that true?/

[Troutbum from Griswold]

So I have heard. I spoke to a guide a the Somerset show who used to fish the Pan a lot. He stated that he has seen fish 30inches in there and were just absolute PIGS!!!! Like I said, I caught a lot of nice fat fish. Biggest were 17-18 inch range. Great fish but nothing of that size. However, according to reports and things I have read, their in there.

[Mike.K]

Aaron I talked to a guy who caught a 30" bow their, he pulled 14 flies from the fishes mouth. Its like fishing a stocked trout pond he said. The fish get hooked every day and break you off a lot. Just go to the pond Torrey likes to fish in Seymour, same thing, different scenery.

[AaronJasper]

haha mike thats a good one! i wont stoop that low. you need to make a bread fly imitation to fish there!

[TightLines]

I fished the frying pan this past year and the fishing was pretty decent. The toilet bowl was packed and if you like fishing miscis shrimp with 3 BB's in deep churning currents below a damn outflow you'll catch big fish. Not my cup of tea. The rest of the "public" water fishes decent with nice 14-19 inch fish caught regularly on nymphs and dries alike. The downside is that of the 14 or so miles of river, only 3 plus is public and it's all cut up in different sections from 100yds to 1/2 mile long. It's crowded and the fish are heavily pressured.

However, if you want great fishing, some crowds but nothing overwhelming, and nice 15-20" rainbows on the dry fly, your best bet is the Roaring Fork south of Aspen. The best section is near the confluence with Woody Creek. There is a nice parking lot nearby, a cool cafe with Fat Tire on tap and great, public fishing for more than 5 miles. Another favorite spot is Eagle Creek. Also, the guys at Taylor Creek Fly Shop are great. They know their stuff, won't over sell you crap you don't need and are a far better shop than any of the others. I've been to all in that area and the only one I patronize is theirs. They also have the best guides around in my opinion.

Due to the constant reminder of "NO TREPASSING VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED", I won't make a trip back to Colorado specifically for fishing. If I'm there for business I won't forget my fly rod but you won't see me spend my money in that state again if I can avoid it. I have fished the state often, but it's just not my cup of tea.

[AaronJasper]

jay, are there that many big trout in there? what were the biggest ones that you saw? did you hook any of the big ones? and where is the 12.5 pound rainbow?

[TightLines]

Master Jasper, there are some pigs in the Frying Pan. I've hooked them too but never landed anything over 22 inches. I hooked what had to be a 30 incher and I did it on a dry fly. The good news about these boys is even the big ones will sip dry flies and emergers. The downside, 7x is the rule and I am not as skilled as you at landing 30 inchers on 7x.

[AaronJasper]

i dont think anyone can be skilled at landing 30" trout on 7X. i think it is an act of god when you land a fish that big on such a light tippet. can you see the big fish that are in there?