Upper Basin: Leadville to Buena Vista
March 6, 2026
Flow in Hayden Meadows | ~50 CFS |
|---|---|
Flow at Granite: | ~80-100 CFS |
Water Temp: | 30s |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
The upper basin is the coldest and will offer the shortest productive window of fishing on the river, though warm afternoons can still be worthwhile in the right areas. There is relatively little ice to contend with in the upper basin for February, particularly as you get closer to Buena Vista. Warmer weather is predicted for the valley again this week through Thursday which should maintain good fishability in select areas around and north of BV. Generally, better productivity will be found downstream through the winter months. Expect fish to be in slower, deeper water through much of the day where they can hold without expending much energy, likely podded up together in groups. 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. Midges (#18-22) are your primary forage but fish will still feed on golden stonefly nymphs and caddis larvae opportunistically, too.
Middle Basin: Buena Vista to Salida
March 6, 2026
Flow at Hecla Junction: | ~230 CFS |
|---|---|
Water Temp | 30s-40s |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
Warm weather is forecasted again for the valley this week and great fishing opportunities persist in the middle basin as we move kickoff March. Fishing is at its best from 10AM to 4PM, though cooler weather on Friday may constrict those hours slightly. Though fish are still in their typical winter lies, we are seeing more and more venture out into shallower and faster zones to feed, matching their activity to the increase in water temperature. Midges (#18-22) are your primary forage but fish will still feed on golden stonefly nymphs and caddis larvae opportunistically, too. Expect more interest in golden stonefly nymphs as the naturals molt through early March. These offer a chance to fish a much larger imitation in the #10-14 range. Baetis nymphs are on the move in the afternoons and we anticipate consistent hatches of blue wing olives earlier than normal as a result of the warm weather. 4x-5x tippet is appropriate.
Lower Basin: Salida to Canon City
March 6, 2026
Flow at Wellsville: | 258 CFS |
|---|---|
Water Temp | 30s-40s |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
Bighorn Sheep Canyon is in great shape and is fishing well for early March, offering a wider productive window on the water than the river further north. The week begins again with highs in the 50s and 60s this week and when combined with mild nighttime temperatures are offering excellent fishing opportunities for this time of year. Cooler weather is expected Friday and Saturday. Water temperatures are remarkably warm, with daytime highs measuring nearly 50 degrees below Salida. The fish are responding accordingly, moving into much shallower water close to their winter lies to feed. Feeding behavior is more aggressive, too, with fish moving quite a bit further to intercept a drifting morsel. Midges (#18-22) are the primary forage with sporadic hatches prompting localized surface feeding from trout. We're also seeing fish feed consistently on golden stonefly nymphs as the naturals undergo their seasonal molt underwater. These can be imitated by nymphs in the #10-12 range. Blue wing olive nymphs are also making their presence known, and a little ahead of schedule. It's reasonable to expect hatches to begin earlier than normal due to milder weather, and we've seen a FEW duns out already amidst the clouds of midges. These are best imitated by offerings in #18-20, particularly in the afternoons when their activity is at its daily peak. 4x-5x tippet is appropriate, and fluorocarbon is recommended to all subsurface offerings due to the low, clear water.