Upper Basin: Leadville to Buena Vista
September 1, 2026
Flow in Hayden Meadows | 41 CFS |
|---|---|
Flow at Granite: | 90 CFS |
Water Temp: | 50-60 degrees |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
We continue to see strong hatches of caddis and various stoneflies above Buena Vista this week. Caddis average a 14-18, golden stoneflies a 8-12 and midges a 18-22. This smorgasbord will produce some outstanding dry fly fishing. With lower, clear flows you can expect fish to be more discerning so pay attention to available forage so you can closely match the natural insects with your imitations. Attractor patterns can still produce but you may find that realistic patterns are more productive as fish key in on specific food. A careful approach and good first cast can make all the difference between a mediocre and outstanding day of fishing. The upper basin has the most favorable water temperatures on the whole river and offers better fishability through much of the day.
Middle Basin: Buena Vista to Salida
September 1, 2026
Flow at Hecla Junction: | 207 CFS |
|---|---|
Water Temp | 54-64 degrees in the shallows. Milder in deeper areas of the river. |
Water Clarity: | Clear above Browns Canyon, approx. 3' visible from Browns down into Salida . Very fishable. |
The river is clear above Hecla Junction and clarity has improved significantly below Browns Canyon, offering at last 3' of visibility and good fishability today. The middle basin continues to offer great fishing and cooler weather has extended productive fishing hours throughout the day. Golden stones hatching at night average a 10-12, red quills a 12-14, caddis 16-18, midges a 18-22, and tricos a 22-24. Dry dropper fishing is productibe throughout the day and the last hour or so of daylight can see the dry fly action action kick into gear as trout key on egg-laying caddis and mayfly spinners. The Arkansas River is unique due to the higher than average dissolved oxygen content throughout the system, and as such offers respite to trout even when water temperatures warm where other rivers can struggle. High elevation creeks and lakes are a productive alternative to the river, offering more solitude and cooler temperatures.
Lower Basin: Salida to Canon City
September 1, 2026
Flow at Wellsville: | 234 CFS |
|---|---|
Water Temp | 57-65 degrees |
Water Clarity: | Good and improving. Several feet of visibility above Vallie Bridge, 18-24" down to Texas Creek. |
The lower basin is clearing and offers good fishability today through much of Bighorn sheep Canyon. The best water quality is in the upper half of the canyon towards Salida.
Twin Lakes is releasing an additional 30 CFS down Lake Creek into the Arkansas River. For the foreseeable future, this extra water will provide a little more cushion for boating, which will be a welcome change for float anglers and guides. It's not a lot of water, but a little can make a big difference in a drought year. The river remains in the optimal flow range for resident brown trout and is still incredibly wadable. We see afternoon showers off and on in the forecast for the foreseeable future which may also impact flows day to day and help moderate our afternoon air temperatures.
Wade fishing is exceptional throughout all river basins and floating is incredibly technical/limited in the lower basin. Boaters should be experienced and intimately familiar with public and private land boundaries before putting on. We are now seeing golden stoneflies, red quills, pale morning duns, and various summer caddis hatches below town. Small midges and tricos are also hatching sporadically. 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. Golden stones average a 10-12, red quills a 12-14, pale morning duns a 16-18, midges a 18-22, and tricos a 22-24. While the river is still off-color, anglers should lean heavily on darker, high-contrat patterns that stand out on the water. You can beef up on tippet size, too.