The Fryingpan below Ruedi Dam is a cold-water trout fishery with its own rules

The Fryingpan River flows out from the base of Ruedi Dam, east of Basalt, and runs down to meet the Roaring Fork. The stretch below the dam is one of Colorado’s best-known trout waters.

This is a “tailwater,” which means the river here is fed by water released from deep in Ruedi Reservoir. That water stays cold and steady through the year, which helps trout grow large and lets people fish in seasons when other streams are too warm or too icy. The stretch from the dam down to the Roaring Fork is designated Gold Medal water, a state label for streams that grow strong numbers of big fish.

Like other Gold Medal stretches, the Fryingpan below the dam carries special rules. Fishing is limited to artificial flies and lures, and there are restrictions on which trout you may keep and how many. The water just below the dam is a popular, crowded spot, so expect company on a nice day.

The lower Fryingpan runs close to the Eagle-Pitkin county line on its way down toward Basalt, and anglers often fish the whole Ruedi-to-valley run, so it is worth knowing as part of the local water. Check the current Fryingpan River regulations in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing brochure on the CPW website before you fish.