Arkansas River - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

ArkAnglers's Tip of the Week

With our dwindling snowpack, we do not anticipate any more significant snowmelt impacting the quality of the river. In other words, summer has arrived early and great fishing can be had NOW. We do see some precipitation in the forecast the next few days, which is a very welcome shift that will help cool down the valley a bit and bring some much needed moisture to the region. Flows have temporarily elevated slightly as outflows are adjusted down Lake Creek and Clear Creek, offering a little more comfortable flows for boating for the near future. Wading is exceptional throughout all river basins and floating is technical but very possible in Bighorn Sheep Canyon. Cooler weather is in the forecast for the foreseeable future, and we're already seeing water temperatures drop back to a comfortable range for resident fish. We are now seeing yellow sally stoneflies, golden stoneflies, red quills, pale morning duns, and various summer caddis hatches below town. Hayden Meadows is beginning to offer green drake hatches as well. The lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon have also seen sporadic trico hatches. Combined with an early emergence of seasonal grasshoppers, these are all producing outstanding dry dropper fishing and are creating great dry and double dry opportunities at times. Sallies average a 14-16, golden stones a 10-12, red quills a 12-14, pale morning duns a 16-18, and tricos a 22-24. Wet and dry imitations alike need to be in the arsenal to take advantage of the growing mass of food below Salida.

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Water Flow Data

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