Rising Water
There was about two feet of visibility at The Narrows north of Buena Vista on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Italic text = most up to date and pertinent fishing conditions. The rest of the text is general tips and info on the Arkansas River that is consistent between all my Fishing Reports that some readers may want to skip.
Overview:
The water has been rising over the last few days creating some clarity issues throughout the river. But it should level out and clear up again before runoff really begins. With that said, the river certainly isn’t unfishable. So, get out and fish.
In my opinion, you can’t do much better than the Arkansas River. Its first 152 miles is the longest stretch of Gold Medal fishing in Colorado. Which means it probably has more fish than any other river in the state. The Ark’s wild brown trout may outnumber rainbows 10 to 1, but the rainbows can often be of trophy size. With different types of water from meandering meadows to swift pocket water to deep pools, there is something for every angler on tons of public lands. It also offers some of the best whitewater in the world and you should expect fast and technical rafting and not a lazy drift.
Weather:
As I write this, we are having a spring storm. Snow up high and rain and snow in the valley. It’s a fairly decent storm and isn’t helping the clarity issues we’ve already been seeing. Most days have been pretty nice lately and we should be back up into the 70’s in Salida and downriver of Salida later this coming week.
The weather in the Arkansas Valley is some of the best in the state. Known as Colorado’s “Banana Belt” it is characterized by sunny days and a rain shadow created by the numerous 14,000-foot peaks on the west side of the valley. So, the summers are cool, and the winters are much warmer and drier than the rest of the mountains. It is hands down the best winter fishing in the state. Most of our snow, less than what a city like Chicago or Boston would get, falls between March and May. Most of our rain falls as daily thunderstorms during what we call “monsoon season” in July and August.
Water Temperatures:
Water temperatures throughout the river will be lower this weekend due to the colder air temperatures and lack of sun from this storm. Likely topping out in the low 50’s in Salida on downriver and 40’s upriver of BV. The current releases of reservoir water making its way into the river may cool down the river even further.
The relationship between trout and water temperatures is critical but it’s important to understand many nuances that affect that relationship. Generally speaking, trout need a specific amount of dissolved oxygen to maintain their metabolism. If the water is too cold or too hot then the oxygen levels will be affected, which will affect their metabolism, which will affect how readily they will feed. With that said, it’s important to understand that water temperature is not consistent throughout a river from upriver to downriver or from shallow to deep. The Arkansas cover thousands of feet in elevation change over the 152 miles of its trout water. So, the temperature will be drastically different at mile 1 than mile 152. Likewise, the Arkansas is known for its greatly contoured riverbed. Deep pools and pockets broken up by fast moving tumbling riffles and whitewater can provide plenty of cold well oxygenated refuge even on the hottest summer afternoon. Because of this, if the Arkansas ever sees temperature related fishing restrictions, then we have a very serious climate problem on our hands.
Flows:
The current flow at the Wellsville gauge is 838 cfs and has doubled in the last three days. Which is not very typical for this time of year. Lake Fork Creek is running at 350 cfs when it usually runs under 10 cfs. This flow is due to some maintenance work at Turquoise Lake. in addition, Lake Creek out of Twin Lakes is running at 180 cfs which is not a small flow for this time of year. All of this water makes it into the Arkansas close to Leadville and so it will affect virtually the entire river. In addition, the major spring storm we are now seeing will affect flows as it melts in the warmer weather we expect next week. Also, the upper portions of the Arkansas River basin that most affects the trout waters peaked around 117% of median Snow Water Equivalent according to the National Water and Climate Center earlier in April. Additionally, the Colorado River basin peaked above 100% so we should see a decent water year. Beyond that, the US Drought Monitor has had the Upper Arkansas portion of the basin mostly free of all drought conditions for at least a year. The National Weather Service projects that we should see equal chances of normal precipitation through monsoon season this July and August.
The Arkansas is a freestone river, and its headwaters are undammed. However, the flows are augmented at times, mainly from the Fry-Ark Project that moves west slope water via pipeline into Twin Lakes and then into the Arkansas through Lake Creek. As much as 20% of our water can come from the west slope. This spares the river of the high temperatures that can cause trout to struggle, and it doesn’t freeze throughout most of its length in the winter. Look to the Arkansas when other rivers are too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer.
Clarity:
Clarity has been greatly reduced the last couple days as the flows have dramatically increased. Yesterday we had about 18 inches in the morning on our float from Salida to Rincon. Not good, but not unfishable either. We’ll see what happens after this current storm moves out, but I wouldn’t expect gin clear conditions again until late summer or fall. As we start to see snow melt making its way into the river, clarities will be better in the afternoon and worse in the mornings. Snow melt surges usually make their way into the river first thing in the morning after melting at higher elevations the previous afternoon.
Trout use their sense of sight heavily when feeding. It is much more important than their sense of smell. So, having the right water clarity is critical to fishing success. Like most high mountain rivers, the Arkansas is pretty clear. But the clarity is not consistent like it is on many tailwater rivers. Typically, the fall, winter, and spring, can be pretty low and clear, but any weather event that can raise the flows will affect the clarity. If the water is a little off-color then the fishing can be easier, but if it is reduced to under a foot of visibility you might as well stay home. Run-off in late May and early June will almost certainly destroy the clarity to unfishable levels throughout most of the river. But an afternoon thunderstorm in July or August may only effect specific sections below affected feeder drainages.
Habitat:
As the water flows increase the habitat is changing. The fish are frantically looking for new holding spots and as a result they may be more focused on jockeying for position than they are on feeding. Which is one reason why such an increase in flows can be very detrimental to the trout during this critical spring season. They should be gorging themselves on the plentiful mayflies and caddis instead of wasting energy dealing with the higher flows. Look for them in super shallow water up against the shore. Don’t underestimate how shallow or how close to structure they will sit. They’ll likely be touching structure with a fin and may not move far for your fly.
Trout habitat in the Arkansas is generally characterized by the cobble and boulder strewn riverbed. The only part of the river that doesn’t have a lot of boulders is Hayden Meadows. Hayden is known for its grassy and cut banks. Downstream from there the river is fairly steep and rocky creating many whitewater rapids and tons of pocket water. The many canyons the river flows through are known for their larger pools that provide shelter for both Browns and Rainbows and rocky banks that the Browns love. Rocky velocity shelters are key for this Brown trout dominated fishery.
Food:
Blue Wing Olives are still dominating our trout’s diet. We really haven’t seen them feeding on very much caddis yet and the colder water temperatures we are seeing right now will certainly knock back the caddis activity. But the awesome spring Blue Wing Olive hatch we normally see is still going strong. Midges are also a decent food source for them as well right now.
Generally speaking, the Arkansas has mostly small insects. In the summer, the trout will find some larger Golden Stoneflies and Grasshoppers, but they likely eat more small Mayflies and Midges than anything. Historically, the Arkansas has been known for its sky darkening clouds of Mother’s Day Caddis, but as the overall variety of insect life has increased the caddis hatch has become a bit smaller and more localized. Small mayflies like Pale Morning Duns in the summer and Blue Wing Olives in the Spring and Fall are just as important as the Mother’s Day Caddis at this point. Also, there really aren’t any vertebrates in the Arkansas other than the native White Sucker and non-native Rainbow and Brown Trout. The native Yellow Fin Cutthroat Trout is now extinct. So, while the trout will often eat other trout, insects are the main dish on the menu.
Suggested Flies:
As much as some anglers just want to catch trout on caddis, it’s just not happening much yet. Fortunately, there is plenty of other flies you can use. Fast sinking small mayfly nymphs will work like size 18 olive Micro Mayflies, size 18 Gasolinas or size 18 olive Spanish Bullets. These heavy flies should be rigged under a yarn indicator or sighter or as a dry-dropper with a high floating dry fly like the best-fly-ever-created Chubby Chernobyl or a size 14 black foam caddis. If you are seeing fish sipping Blue Wing Olives on the surface, you could put on a size 18 Extended Body BWO or olive Gulper Special with a lightly weighted or unweighted emerger like an 18 olive RS2 or Barr’s Emerger. Streamers could also be a great option right now because I believe the fish get very aggressive as they jockey for new positions in the rapidly rising water. Flashy wooly bugger variations work best for me. Big articulated streamers don’t seem to give any advantage on the Arkansas. All flies can benefit from plenty of flash and hotspots in the off-color water.
My philosophy on fly selection is based around the fact that I’m trying to catch trout instead of tricking them into thinking, “Oh look, there’s a Hesperoperla pacifica! I must eat it.” Trout don’t think like that, humans do. Trout recognize any number of characteristics of a fly and instinctually strike or simply strike because something hit them in the nose, and they are willing to take the chance that it might be an easy meal. So, I am more focused on figuring out what characteristics bring a strike and not what characteristics look more like a bug. With that said, understanding the natural food a trout is consuming is an important starting point.
Rigging:
Springtime can be a bit windy around here so be careful to resist the temptation of rigging with extremely long and light leaders. The longer and lighter that your leader is the harder it will be to cast into the wind. I suggest starting with a leader in the range of 7.5-foot 3x nylon and then add tippet as needed.
I always prefer a rigging style that is versatile. The Arkansas River is ever changing and requires a variety of approaches to consistently catch fish. I’m not a “Dry Fly Angler” or a “Streamer Junkie” or a “Euro Nympher” I’m a trout fisherman who likes catching as many trout as I can in various conditions all year long, and as a result I want one rigging system with one rod that can be adjusted to utilize the best aspects of all styles of fly fishing. Having multiple types of rods and lines and systems is cumbersome and not practical around here. If you want to read specifics of my particular rigging system, click here.
Sections:
Hayden Meadows now has plenty of water but is also dealing with some clarity issues and cold-water temperatures. The gauge is not reporting any data, but I suspect it’s probably in the 400 cfs range. Approximately 9,500 feet in elevation.
Granite is similar to Hayden right now but has more velocity shelters and rocky edges the fish can take advantage of as the water has risen. Also, if you find that Hayden is too off-color Granite may be clearer due to the influx of always clear water coming in from Lake Creek. The gauge here is also not working right now, but it should probably be around 500 cfs. Approximately 9,000 feet in elevation.
Below Granite to Buena Vista can be a wonderful section at these flows. Especially if you like pocket water. The Milk Run from BV or Johnson Village to Nathrop or Ruby Mountain could be a good float option. Currently 726 cfs. Approximately 8,000 feet in elevation.
Brown’s Canyon could be a great place to float right now if the clarity is good. There is plenty of water right now and the armada of rafters haven’t arrived just yet. The river is no longer crossable at Hecla Junction. The only way in is a seven-mile hike from Ruby Mountain to the north. Currently 871 cfs. Approximately 7,500 feet in elevation.
Big Bend and Salida is a good all-around section to float or wade fish right now. There is plenty of access and the low-head dam that had been in this section for decades is finally gone! If you float past the boat ramp at Salida you should still take caution in the new Scout Wave. They had to spend another quarter of a million dollars to fix it so that it si safe for the thousands and thousands of boaters that float through it each year. We haven’t seen what the most recent round of improvements will look like at higher flows. Scouting may be helpful. I will say it was fine at 500 cfs in a 14-foot raft last time I did it. Currently 903 cfs. Approximately 7,000 feet in elevation.
Upper and Lower Bighorn Sheep Canyons are certainly the most popular sections on the river this time of year, if not all year. Floating this section could be really productive right now. In the afternoons, look for the possibility of trout feeding on BWO’s in the many large foamy eddies and foam lines found around the many bluffs in this section. Bighorn Sheep Canyon also has the most Rainbows in the river. The Salida East Recreation Area is back open with a brand-new pothole-free entrance. Thanks, CPW! Currently 838 cfs. Approximately 7,000-6,000 feet in elevation.
Pleasant Valley would be a great place to float, but if you know where you’re going it could be a good place to walk/wade, too. There is lots of private property in this section. Currently 838 cfs. Approximately 6,500 feet in elevation.
The Royal Gorge is beyond the limits of the Gold Medal designation and is a little harder to access on foot since the road doesn’t follow the river there. It also has the biggest whitewater (class IV-V) on the river. Therefore, it doesn’t get as much fishing attention. That doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of fish there, but there will likely be a few less anglers in this section. Currently 744 cfs. Approximately 5,500 feet in elevation.