Arkansas River - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

ArkAnglers's Tip of the Week

Winter weather has descended on the valley but the week's forecast is sunny and warm, perfect for mid-November fishing in the Salida area. 11AM to 3PM is your best window of opportunity. The river near and below Salida is going to offer your best opportunities in the coming weeks. Expect fish to be almost exclusively in deeper winter water this week, seeking slow to walking speed current moving in a consistent direction. Colder temperatures will cause a drop in trout metabolism and fish will be a lot less likely to aggressively chase down food. Work deeper water slowly and methodically, relying on multi-nymph rigs with a fair amount of weight to ensure your flies achieve the appropriate depth for where fish are holding. Prepare for subtle takes. Midge and caddis larvae are key before lunchtime, with midge pupae and baetis nymphs the primary forage after lunchtime. Heavy anchor nymphs are a good way to minimize the need for split shot in sinking your rig, and golden stonefly nymphs are good choices all winter. 4x and 5x leader and tippet are appropriate choices. Find warm, sunny, well-lit areas to fish when possible, as the thermal energy can make a massive difference in fish and fish food activity. It's important to note that the fall brown trout spawn is still underway and in some areas it's clear where fish are set up on redds. We recommend taking the time to try and spot these spawning areas so that you can avoid them and let fish actively engaged continue about their business undisturbed. Plenty of fish are in pre or post spawn mode and will eagerly take a fly elsewhere! Avoid wading through spawning areas at all costs.

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