September 29, 2026

Fryingpan River Fishing Report, Week of September 28, 2026

Fryingpan near Ruedi is 119 cfs at 10:15 a.m., provisional, with no temperature on that reading (USGS 09080400).

Fryingpan River near Ruedi, week of September 28

Update, Oct. 1: the flow dropped. The gage below Ruedi fell from about 117 cfs to about 69 cfs between 11 a.m. and noon today. Ruedi is still going down.

Conditions

  • Flow: USGS 09080400, Fryingpan River near Ruedi, read 69 cfs at 6:15 p.m. MDT on Oct. 1. It held between 122 and 127 cfs from Sept. 22 to Sept. 29, swung between about 59 and 161 cfs on Sept. 30, and sat at 117 cfs this morning before the drop. Provisional. This gage does not publish water temperature.
  • Downstream: USGS 09085000, Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs, read 490 cfs and 15.7 C (60 F) at 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 1.
  • Closures: No Fryingpan closure on the CPW 2026 weather and drought closures list. CPW lifted the lower Roaring Fork afternoon closure Aug. 19 and the Crystal River closure Sept. 23.
  • Weather: NWS Grand Junction has clear, dry weather near Ruedi through Sunday, with highs in the mid 70s and lows from about 36 to 40.
  • CPW reports: No new CPW conditions report for the Fryingpan this week.

How to fish it

About 70 cfs is low tailwater flow. Fish will see you sooner, so go light, move slow, and keep a low profile. The water is cold near the dam. Brown trout are heading into spawning season. Stay off redds and leave paired-up fish on gravel alone.

Access

Much of the Fryingpan road runs past private water. Fish posted public stretches only. Special regulations are common on this river, so read the exact section in the current brochure before you keep a fish.

Safety

Slick, uneven bottom and cold water. Use a wading staff, wear a belt on your waders, and do not cross where you cannot see bottom. See our Colorado safety page and the cold-water checklist.

Regs

Check CPW fishing regulations and Colorado eRegulations for the exact water you plan to fish. We do not print bag limits.

Plan it

Last week: Fryingpan report, week of Sept. 24. Background: Fryingpan prep. Build the day in Trip Builder.

Updated Oct. 1, 2026 (first posted Sept. 29). Sources: USGS 09080400.