October 08, 2026

Fryingpan River Fishing Report, Week of October 8, 2026

This is a dated weekly report built only from official gages and Colorado Parks and Wildlife notices, checked the evening of Oct. 8, 2026. It is not a bite report. We have no verified catch information for this water this week, so we do not guess at one. Re-check the linked sources the morning you go.

Fryingpan River below Ruedi, week of October 8

The release from Ruedi dropped to about 68 cfs for four days, then went back up to about 118 cfs on Oct. 6 and has held there.

Conditions

  • Flow: USGS 09080400, Fryingpan River near Ruedi, read 119 cfs at 8:15 p.m. MDT on Oct. 8. It ran 66 to 70 cfs from Oct. 2 through Oct. 5 and rose on Oct. 6.
  • Ruedi Reservoir: Colorado DWR RUERESCO, Ruedi Reservoir, read 38,768 acre-feet at 8:15 p.m. on Oct. 8, down from 39,450 on Sept. 30. The daily average elevation was 7,682.64 ft on Oct. 7.
  • Water temp: The Fryingpan gage does not report water temperature. We have no official number.
  • Closures: The Fryingpan is not on the CPW closures list (linked from the CPW fishing page). The lower Roaring Fork closure ended Aug. 19.
  • Stocking: Not on the CPW trout stocking report as of the Oct. 2 update.
  • Ice: No CPW ice notice. Open water.

Reading the numbers

Releases changed twice in a week, so check the gage the morning you drive; the river you read about may not be the river you find. At about 119 cfs there is more water over the slots than at 68. We have no catch reports this week.

Access

Fish public stretches only; much of the lower valley is private. Special regulations apply on parts of the Fryingpan, so read them for your stretch.

Safety

A release change can raise the river while you are standing in it. Keep an exit in mind and do not cross on rising water. Wear a life jacket on any boat, kayak or paddleboard, tell someone your plan and return time, and Clean, Drain, Dry between waters (how to clean your gear). See Colorado Safety Essentials and our cold-water shoulder-season checklist.

Regs

Read CPW rules and regulations, the CPW fishing hub and Colorado fishing eRegulations for the exact water before you keep a fish. We do not print bag or size limits. Our Colorado fishing laws page explains where to look.

Plan it

Last report: Fryingpan, week of Sept. 28. Background: Fryingpan prep. Build the day in the Trip Builder. VCO merch is made to order and ships from Grand Junction (VCO merch).

Sources for this post