Arkansas River - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

ArkAnglers's Tip of the Week

The river through and below Salida will offer the most consistent productivity through February as it gets a good amount of sun exposure during the day and air temperatures are usually warmer than in other basins. Warmer weather is in the forecast this week, though a breeze may prompt anglers to work a little harder to find sheltered areas to effectively target. Midday/afternoon fishing will be productive in typical winter water once the slush subsides, typically after ~10AM. 10AM to 3PM is your best window of opportunity for productive fishing, when air and water temperatures are warmest and the angle of the sun will positively impact fish behavior in the river. Expect fish to be almost exclusively in deeper winter water for the next few months, 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 the primary forage after lunchtime. In addition, expect increased molting activity from resident golden stonefly nymphs making them much more vulnerable to predation. #10-14 light colored golden stonefly nymph imitations are perfect for imitating this behavior, and since heavy anchor nymphs are a good way to minimize the need for split shot in sinking your rig, 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.

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