Upper Basin: Leadville to Buena Vista
May 8, 2025
Flow in Hayden Meadows | 136 CFS |
|---|---|
Flow at Granite: | 263 CFS |
Water Temp: | 40s |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
The river north of BV is currently offering great fishability for spring with warmer weather prompting good baetis and midge activity on a consistent basis. The upper basin can be a sleeper in late spring as caddis fever attracts many anglers to the river downstream leaving the upper river with a fraction of the traffic. We are seeing strong hatches of blue wing olive mayflies in the upper basin, typically between 1-4PM. These are the most intense on cloudy afternoons. Early spring free-living caddis are also hatching up here in very localized events. Fish are still in or close to deeper winter water in the mornings but are moving into shallower regions with more focused current to intercept midges and mayflies on the drift and emerging. There have been ample opportunities for sight fishing in the low, clear water and a good amount of technical dry fly chances during these recent hatches.
Work deeper water early in the day 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. Heavy anchor nymphs minimize the need for split shot in sinking your rig and golden stonefly nymphs are good choices throughout the year in this capacity. In the afternoon, a shallower dry-dropper rig in a lighter format can be ideal as fish position themselves to intercept food. Midge and caddis larvae are key before lunchtime, with midge pupae and baetis nymphs the primary forage after lunchtime. Blue wing olive nymphs are drift daily in the afternoons and hatch here well into May so plan ahead with appropriate emerger and dun imitations for the afternoon. Expect the strongest hatches on cloudy days. 4x and 5x leader and tippet are appropriate choices.
Middle Basin: Buena Vista to Salida
May 8, 2025
Flow at Hecla Junction: | 396 CFS |
|---|---|
Water Temp | High 40s - low 50s |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
Brachycentrus caddis activity has moved up to Salida with the primary action today between Stone Bridge and Wellsville. We have a warmer forecast heading toward the weekend that should prompt the continuation of caddis hatches around Salida, though any cloud cover could produce strong blue wing olive hatches. It pays to carry both caddis pupae and adult imitations along with baetis emergers and duns from now until we start to experience runoff. Dry dropper fishing is excellent right now throughout the day, but don't hesitate to switch to strict dries once you start seeing rising fish.
Wade access is great at current flows but anglers should take care if trying to cross the river. Begin your mornings focused on slightly deeper water to find any active fish looking for food. During the warmest hours of the day, expect to see fish moving into much shallower areas to feed. It can still pay to rig up a series of nymphs to probe the deeper areas of the river, but guided trips are consistently proving the productivity of dry-dropper setups in shallower water after lunchtime. 4x and 5x leader and tippet are appropriate choices. Streamer fishing is growing more productive proportionate to the increase in water temperatures.
Lower Basin: Salida to Canon City
May 8, 2025
Flow at Wellsville: | 405 CFS |
|---|---|
Water Temp | 50s |
Water Clarity: | Stained but 3+ feet of visibility throughout the canyon. |
The lower river has cleared significantly since rains earlier in the week and is back on track. It's still a little stained but has several feet of very fishable clarity today.
Brachycentrus caddis activity has moved up through Bighorn Sheep Canyon to Salida with primary action now between Stone Bridge and Wellsville. Warming weather heading toward the weekend will likely kickstart the caddis hatch once again, though any cloud cover rolling through will probably produce hatches of blue wing olive mayflies. Because of the overlap between baetis and caddis in the coming weeks anglers should be prepared for both in the lower basin. Caddis adult and pupae imitation are best stocked from 14-18, depending on the pattern. Baetis nymphs grow darker as they mature and are now drifting consistently each afternoon preceding their hatch. Anglers should carry nymph, emerger, and dun imitations around a size #18. The best opportunities to fish a blue wing olive hatch are typically on cloudy days with high humidity, as it seems more insects hatch and generally rest on the water's surface for a longer duration before being able to take flight. That said, you can still see excellent hatches on sunny days here, too, so be prepared rain or shine. A third fly has been making its presence known the week: the cranefly. These large dipterans hover just above the water's surface and can incite savage, splashy strikes from eager trout below, similar to the feeding behavior we see when trout are targeting caddis pupae and adults. PMX in 14-16 can be devastating if skated on the surface amid craneflies, and also offer a buoyant attractor fly to hang a caddis and baetis dropper off the back of.
Fishing is excellent in the lower basin and flows remain in a comfortable range for spring float fishing AND wade fishing, hovering around 300 CFS at the Wellsville gauge. For wade and float fishermen alike, this is great news for optimal spring fishing opportunities while remaining at a level that is beneficial for spring rainbow trout spawning, young-of-the-year trout hatching and quality spring insect hatches. Low flows enable fish to prepare for the intense spring runoff that's around the corner by efficiently utilizing both the river habitat and tremendous hatches of spring.
Fish are dispersed throughout the river and can efficiently use nearly all of the available habitat at present flows. Nymphing is routinely productive, especially in the morning, but we are seeing good results relying on a dry dropper rig mid-day throughout the day, as much of the prime water for trout activity is less than 4' of depth. Anglers are also reporting good dry and double-dry opportunities during strong hatch periods. 4x and 5x leader and tippet are appropriate choices.