Flow in Hayden Meadows | ~70 CFS |
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Flow at Granite: | 92 CFS |
Water Temp: | 40s-50s |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
As fall weather cools the upper river, expect productive hours and hatches to shrink and midday opportunities to be best. Midge and late fall baetis hatches are key to target p here, but don't be surprised if most of your success comes from fishing nymphs. Slower, deeper water is usually best in the mornings but fish will still move into shallower sunny regions as the day warms. Expect fish to still be incredibly structure oriented particularly down near Buena Vista where the lower flows are still swift through the rocky, canyon pocket water that characterizes this region. Trout are often a bit more forgiving in the faster waters between Granite and Buena Vista. 5x leaders and tippet are appropriate up here.
It's important to note that the fall brown trout spawn is well underway and in some areas it's clear where fish are set up on redds. We recommend taking the time to try and spot these spawning areas so that you can avoid them and let fish actively engaged continue about their business undisturbed. Plenty of fish are in pre or post spawn mode and will eagerly take a fly elsewhere! Avoid wading through spawning areas at all costs.
Flow at Hecla Junction: | ~330 CFS |
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Water Temp | 40s-50s |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
The middle basin continues to be very productive with productive midday temperatures and excellent accessibility for wade anglers. Aquatic behavioral drifts continue to produce fish subsurface the most consistently, like midge and caddis larvae. The occasionally dislodged stonefly nymph will also motivate trout o feed on much larger stonefly and attractor nymphs when available. Fall hatches of baetis and midges are the prime surface forage here now, those these are less predictable as we move into late October. 4x and 5x leaders and tippet are appropriate through this region.
It's important to note that the fall brown trout spawn is well underway and in some areas it's clear where fish are set up on redds. We recommend taking the time to try and spot these spawning areas so that you can avoid them and let fish actively engaged continue about their business undisturbed. Plenty of fish are in pre or post spawn mode and will eagerly take a fly elsewhere! Avoid wading through spawning areas at all costs.
Flow at Wellsville: | 367 CFS |
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Water Temp | 50s-60s |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
Augmentation as part of the VFMP has concluded and we've settled into the native flows again for the fall. This is a technical but productive float fishing level for experienced boaters and does allow a lot more accessibility for wade anglers than we saw through the summer. The Arkansas is still very productive with happy fish eager to entertain a variety of nymphs and still the occasional dry fly, with good baetis and midge hatches still regular enough to tempt fish to the surface. Early in the day, expect fish to be in slightly deeper, slower water but we do see them moving into faster, shallower areas as the day warms particularly when food is actively drifting midday through the afternoon. When the food is present, trout may still be within inches of the bank in slower edge water or in obvious sheltered water around mid-stream pockets and structure. Your first drift will usually be your best one, so don't waste time making thirty casts to one pocket if you don't get a strike. Cover a lot of water to find the best success. 4x and 5x leaders and tippet are appropriate in this region. Take your time to minimize handling time with landed fish and revive all fish carefully before releasing.
It's important to note that the fall brown trout spawn is well underway and in some areas it's clear where fish are set up on redds. We recommend taking the time to try and spot these spawning areas so that you can avoid them and let fish actively engaged continue about their business undisturbed. Plenty of fish are in pre or post spawn mode and will eagerly take a fly elsewhere! Avoid wading through spawning areas at all costs.