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Dentry: Flows slow early for ardent anglers

Published June 7, 2006 at midnight

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As promised, river fishing is burbling along on an advanced timetable this year. Water flows remain high in places, but runoff's peak is past.

Rivers are starting to clear up around the edges. A few are downright lazy, for early June. Snowpacks that were average to above average in April have lost heft because of a dry May.

"It's dropping like a rock," said Mike Gillespie, snow survey supervisor with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. "Things are a month ahead of schedule."

Gillespie ciphered up a new batch of stream flow forecasts Tuesday and apologized for some "bad news." Well, maybe it's bad news for whitewater boaters and some water users.

But river anglers should find the tidings seductive. They are about to wade into summer streams a month earlier than usual.

Since mid-April, Colorado has turned from a blue/green state into a red state on NRCS water and snowpack maps. That is, from water-rich to something like mid-July.

From a statewide snowpack of nearly 100 percent of average in early April, snowfields have dwindled to 16 percent of average.

Rivers have been falling, prompting noticeable glee in fly fishers at middle reaches of the Colorado River, for example, who are fishing the famous salmonfly hatch in low, clear currents instead of sitting out the usual murky deluge.

Gillespie foresees rapidly shrinking streams since so much high-country snow has vaporized or run off early.

"I think the flows are going to drop pretty quickly, compared to a normal year, when we think of June as a high flow month," he said. "By July, we'll probably be well back down to base flow levels."

Because of the rapid melt, his flow projections for June and July have retreated steeply from those he forecast earlier in spring.

For example, the Colorado River near Dotsero drops from a previous forecast of 97 percent to 72 percent of average flow predicted for June-July. The White River loses big time, with 100 percent plummeting to 50 percent of average.

Gillespie's projection for the Yampa River at Steamboat Springs plunges from 98 percent previously to 54 percent for June-July. The South Platte River will flow into Antero Reservoir at 70 percent of average and into Cheesman Reservoir at 67 percent.

The lowest remaining mountain snowpacks stand at 4 percent of average in southwestern Colorado, 6 percent at headwaters of the Rio Grande and 7 percent in the Gunnison and South Platte basins.

The stream flow predictions see water coming down the Rio Grande at only 43 percent of average in June-July, while the upper Gunnison River should register 53 percent. The Animas River, in Durango, is expected to shrink to a meager 35 percent of average.

What all this water gone under the bridge will mean to fishermen later in the summer remains to be seen, depending on rainfall. Moderate low flows can benefit insects and dry fly fishing. But very low flows and steamy currents can kill trout.

For now, the best river fishing strategy appears to be one that starts soon. Here are some river highlights:

• Colorado River. Flows have fallen to 860 cubic feet per second (about half of average) and off-color at

Pumphouse, where salmonflies have been buzzing. The big stoneflies also have turned up from Parshall to Hot Sulphur Springs, but not in force.

• Arkansas River. Flows fell, then stepped up again, owing to a rise in releases from Twin Lakes. The current measured 2,300 cfs Tuesday, about the same as two weeks ago. The river is clearing up along edges, stoneflies and caddis are hatching. For safety, anglers are advised against wading.

• Rio Grande. A fly fisher brought the first adult pteronarcys (salmonfly) of the season in to the Rio Grande Angler in Creede on Tuesday. Owner Kevin Leggit said the big stonefly hatch should be perking "within the next week." The Rio is 2,120 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap, clearing along the edges. Cutbacks in reservoir releases will trim another 400 cfs today.

• Frying Pan River. Heavy releases from Ruedi Reservoir ended Sunday, bringing flows down to a steady and eminently fishable 289 cfs. Blue-winged olive mayflies are hatching, but nymph fishing is best.