Upper Basin: Leadville to Buena Vista
May 31, 2025
Flow in Hayden Meadows | 436 CFS |
|---|---|
Flow at Granite: | 1,160 CFS |
Water Temp: | 40s |
Water Clarity: | Turbid, around 10-16" visibility. |
Flows are again on the rise due to snowmelt and visibility is diminishing. The upper basin is more fishable than the lower basins but recent increases in the release down Lake Creek are increasing the turbidity from the confluence down to Buena Vista. Hayden Meadows offers maybe 16" of clarity this morning. As flows increase, the river will scour more and more dirt from the banks and water temperature will decrease as more snowmelt enters the system. Expect trout to vacate faster areas of current and move to velocity shelters along the banks and amid submerged midstream structure. You'll definitely work harder to find fish willing to feed during this season. Fish that drop into the depths are hard to reach but the fish along the banks are prime targets for a shallow nymph or dry dropper rig. We lean heavily on darker flies with body colors that contrast the brown water of the runoff period, particularly those imitative of golden stonefly nymphs and larger mayfly nymphs. Streamers can also be good medicine in the off-colored water with higher flows being advantageous to the predation methods of more mature trout. Juvenile trout are vulnerable and the older fish take notice. Anglers should also consider beefing up on leader material, as the need for stealth is long past and heavier material will come in handy working fish out of rising current. We advise wade anglers to fish from shore whenever possible and to avoid wading in water where you can't see the river bottom.
Middle Basin: Buena Vista to Salida
May 31, 2025
Flow at Hecla Junction: | 1,490 CFS |
|---|---|
Water Temp | 40s |
Water Clarity: | Dirty, around 8-12" visibility. |
Flows are again on the rise due to snowmelt and visibility is diminishing. As flows increase, the river will scour more and more dirt from the banks and water temperature will decrease as more snowmelt enters the system. Expect trout to vacate faster areas of current and move to velocity shelters along the banks and amid submerged midstream structure. You'll definitely work harder to find fish willing to feed during this season. Fish that drop into the depths are hard to reach but the fish along the banks are prime targets for a shallow nymph or dry dropper rig. We lean heavily on darker flies with body colors that contrast the brown water of the runoff period, particularly those imitative of golden stonefly nymphs and larger mayfly nymphs. Streamers can also be good medicine in the off-colored water with higher flows being advantageous to the predation methods of more mature trout. Juvenile trout are vulnerable and the older fish take notice. Anglers should also consider beefing up on leader material, as the need for stealth is long past and heavier material will come in handy working fish out of rising current. We advise wade anglers to fish from shore whenever possible and to avoid wading in water where you can't see the river bottom.
Lower Basin: Salida to Canon City
May 31, 2025
Flow at Wellsville: | 1,590 CFS |
|---|---|
Water Temp | 40s - low 50s |
Water Clarity: | Dirty, 8-12" visibility. |
Flows are again on the rise due to snowmelt and visibility is diminishing. The lower basin is offering maybe 12" of visibility at best and this will continue to decrease as runoff progresses. As flows increase, the river will scour more and more dirt from the banks and water temperature will decrease as more snowmelt enters the system. Expect trout to vacate faster areas of current and move to velocity shelters along the banks and amid submerged midstream structure. You'll definitely work harder to find filling willing to feed during this season. Fish that drop into the depths are hard to reach but the fish along the banks are prime targets for a shallow nymph or dry dropper rig. We lean heavily on darker flies with body colors that contrast the brown water of the runoff period, particularly those imitative of golden stonefly nymphs and larger mayfly nymphs. Streamers can also be good medicine in the off-colored water with higher flows being advantageous to the predation methods of more mature trout. Juvenile trout are vulnerable and the older fish take notice. Anglers should also consider beefing up on leader material, as the need for stealth is long past and heavier material will come in handy working fish out of rising current. We advise wade anglers to fish from shore whenever possible and to avoid wading in water where you can't see the river bottom.