Stabilized Flows and Good Clarity

Just upriver of the Rincon Recreation Area on Sunday, May 5, 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 flows have stabilized, and decent clarity has returned after last week’s sudden rise in flows due to an unexpected release of water from Turquoise Lake. The higher flows have made float fishing a little easier since there aren’t quite so many exposed rocks to maneuver around. While the caddis has been knocked back due to the flows and resulting colder water temperatures, the fish are still feeding on Blue Wing Olive nymphs and emergers as well as the duns on afternoons without wind. The streamer bite is picking up as well. 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:

This week looks to start out sunny but windy and then end with some afternoon rain chances. Expect milder temperatures compared to the last week. Remember, just because the forecast calls for rain doesn’t mean it’s going to rain all day. We often see all four seasons in a day this time of year. It’s a rare day in this part of Colorado that doesn’t include at least some beautiful sunny and warm conditions. Lastly, the next full moon is May 23rd.

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 have certainly been down since the water rose last week. I have been floating downriver of Salida all week and we have barely reached 50 degrees by lunchtime and rarely topped out above 55. Upriver water temperatures will obviously be much lower with the cold water coming from the 10,000 foot in elevation Turquoise Lake.

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 653 cfs. Still fairly high for this time of year. Some of that flow is coming from some low elevation snowmelt and some of it is coming from Turquoise Lake, some 300 cfs worth. Both Lake Creek out of Twin Lakes and Clear Creek are showing fairly low flows that aren’t impacting the Arkansas much. The chances for rain on Thursday and Friday may have a small impact on flows going into the weekend. 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:

Water clarity has improved and stabilized over the last week. We’ve got at least two feet of visibility everywhere I’ve been from Buena Vista to Cotopaxi. I would compare the visibility to what we normally see in monsoon season and not the gin clear conditions we often have in the spring. Honestly, you would think the clarity we are seeing now should help the fishing. As we start to see snow melt making its way into the river, clarity will be better in the afternoon and worse in the mornings. Snow melt surges usually make their way into the river at some point 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:

Now that the flows have stabilized, the trout have settled into new holding positions. Look for them in shallow water up against the shore and they will avoid much of the main channel of the river. I often think of the Arkansas as two small creeks once the water has risen. There is one 5-10-foot-wide creek on one side and another 5–10-foot-wide creek on the other. Also, you should be exploring up into side channels around islands as even small side channels now have water and fish in them. 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 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.

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 size 18 olive Gulper Special with a lightly weighted or unweighted emerger like an 18 olive RS2 or size 18 olive Barr’s Emerger. I have also caught a few fish recently on larger stonefly patterns like size 10 gold 2 Bit Stones and any dark Pat’s Rubber Legs. A large Pat’s is a good all-purpose fly that especially works great when clarity is poor. Wooly bugger variations work best for me on this river, like a Bighorn Bugger or Thin Mint. Black Crystal Wooly Buggers with a bright red bead are a great option when clarity is poor.

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.

Float Fishing:

The current flows should make float fishing accessible throughout all sections of the river. There are also far fewer exposed rocks and so you can focus more on fishing and a little less on maneuvering around. This is a good time to float Brown’s Canyon if you have the skill to run the rapids. There will be far fewer boaters since the commercial outfits haven’t yet started their seasons.

Boating on the Arkansas is really whitewater rafting and not drifting. Whitewater rafts outfitted with custom fishing frames are the norm here and this river is way too rocky and technical for hard sided drift boats. No section of this river at any time of year is appropriate for a drift boat. With that said, not all of this river is hard core whitewater. There are plenty of sections that offer mostly class II water for families or the novice boater. Like the Milk Run near Buena Vista and Big Bend to Salida East among others. Most float fishing occurs downriver of Buena Vista as the water upriver of there is either just too small or way too fast and technical for effective float fishing. Always do your research before setting out on the river for the first time. Also, check the flows for the section you plan to boat as flows can change overnight here making what was fun and splashy whitewater to something that may be way out of your league. Please always wear your PFD. Anglers can easily fall out of the boat in relatively calm water while they are more focused on fishing. Even the “calmest” water on this river can be life or death without a PFD. Also, please respect private property. In Colorado the landowner owns the riverbed, and it is trespassing to not only eddy out on private land but also to set anchor. Do you best to free your boat immediately if you inadvertently get stuck on a rock. Not all private land is obviously posted, but you must still respect it. You would probably want it that way if it was your land. Remember your actions reflect upon all boaters.

Sections:

Hayden Meadows now has plenty of water, but almost too much water for my liking. Look for the fish to be pushed up into the many grassy cut banks found here. Precise casts upstream within inches of the shoreline may be needed. It’s also still pretty cold up here. With that said, I would think that you could see some great Blue Wing Olve hatches in the afternoon up here and the fishing could be pretty good. Currently, 458 cfs. 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. Also, I know that the Department of Transportation is planning on completely removing and then replacing the bridge at Granite tomorrow Tuesday, May 7th. So, there won’t be vehicle access to the east side of the river all day. The gauge here is also not working right now due to the bridge construction, 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 Wilderness Aware Rafting in Johnson Village to Ruby Mountain Campground could be a good float option for novices and families and contains only class II water. Stop at River Runners at Fisherman’s Bridge for cocktails, food and live music along the way. Currently 562 cfs. Approximately 8,000 feet in elevation.

Brown’s Canyon could be a great place to float right now. It’s summertime flows without the armada of summertime rafters. In case you aren’t aware, this is one of the most rafted sections of river in the world and contains 6 decent class III rapids. If you float below Hecla Junction there are two more significant rapids including the class IV Seidel’s Suckhole. It’s world-class whitewater and the fishing can be just as good. The river is no longer crossable on foot at Hecla Junction. The only way in on foot is a seven-mile hike from Ruby Mountain to the north. Currently 709 cfs. Approximately 7,500 feet in elevation.

Big Bend and Salida offers good all-around float or wade fishing right now. Compared to Brown’s Canyon it is fairly doable for most boaters with generally class II water. There is one straight forward class III rapid just upriver of Big Bend. Independant Whitewater’s Drift In Bar is a fun to stop on a float for good food and drinks. There is plenty of wade access in this section 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 is 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 676 cfs. Approximately 7,000 feet in elevation.

Upper and Lower Bighorn Sheep Canyons are certainly the most popular sections to fish on the river this time of year, if not all year. Floating this section is really productive right now. The upper canyon has one class III rapid at Bear Creek not too far below Salida East and one at Badger Creek just after Rincon. The lower Canyon has many significant class III rapids, especially below Pinnacle Rock. There is a very large and dangerous hydraulic we call the “Black Hole” just upriver from Trading Post in the lower canyon. It’s fairly easy to avoid for the experienced boater but novice boaters should be very very careful with it. In the afternoons, look for the possibility of trout feeding on Blue Wing Olives 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 653 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. Tincup rapid between the town of Howard and the Vallie Bridge Recreation Area can be challenging at low flows and gets more straightforward the more water goes through it. Currently 653 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 here. It also has the biggest whitewater (class III-V) on the river and only experienced boaters should attempt it. Therefore, it doesn’t get as much fishing attention. That doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of fish here, but there will likely be a few less anglers in this section. Currently 744 cfs. Approximately 5,500 feet in elevation.