Upper Basin: Leadville to Buena Vista
March 29, 2025
Flow in Hayden Meadows | ~50 CFS |
|---|---|
Flow at Granite: | 246 CFS |
Water Temp: | 30s-40s |
Water Clarity: | Clear, still some edge ice near Leadville. |
The river north of BV is currently offering great fishability for spring with warmer weather clearing much of the area of ice and prompting good midge activity on a consistent basis. 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 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 recent midge hatches. We still expect more consistent productivity as you head downstream towards Salida where air and water temperatures will provide a wider window of opportunity, but there's less angling pressure north of Buena Vista and that solitude can be very appealing.
Work deeper water 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. In the afternoon, a shallower dry-dropper rig in a lighter format can be ideal as fish position themselves to intercept midges. Prepare for subtle takes. Midge and caddis larvae are key before lunchtime, with midge pupae the primary forage after lunchtime. Blue wing olive nymphs are beginning to drift in the afternoons and will begin to hatch up north by the end of March, so plan ahead with appropriate nymph and emerger imitations for the afternoon. Heavy anchor nymphs are a good way to minimize the need for split shot in sinking your rig, and golden stonefly nymphs are good choices right now as the nymphs are actively molting at present, making themselves naturally more available to trout. 4x and 5x leader and tippet are appropriate choices. Find warm, sunny, well-lit areas to fish when possible, as the thermal energy can make a massive difference in fish and fish food activity.
Middle Basin: Buena Vista to Salida
March 29, 2025
Flow at Hecla Junction: | ~290 CFS |
|---|---|
Water Temp | 40s |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
Flows have increased slightly this week as management strategies shift going into the spring, delivering a little more water for boaters to utilize in the river while still allowing very average wade fishing opportunity heading into April. The middle basin has produced some great results this week and is truly beginning to fish like spring. Mild weather is in the forecast again for most of the coming week and should continue to prompt great activity from our resident trout. Flows have increased this week allowing for significantly better spring float fishing conditions. Begin your mornings in deeper, slower "winter" water to find any active fish looking for food in the morning. During the warmest hours of the day, expect to see fish moving into slightly shallower water nearby their winter holes to feed. Rig up a series of nymphs to probe the deeper areas of the river, but recent trips are proving the productivity or dry-dropper setups in shallower water after lunchtime. Blue wing olive hatches are likely in the afternoons between 1pm and 4pm, and though they occur the strongest on cloudy days anglers should be prepared for this hatch rain or shine. 9AM to 5PM is your best bet for foraging fish, though we have seen some midge hatches later than that which will still prompt some surface feeding from fish. Streamer fishing is growing more productive proportionate to the increase in water temperatures.
Work water slowly and methodically and prepare for subtle takes. Midge and caddis larvae are key before lunchtime, with midge pupae reliable forage after lunchtime. Blue wing olive nymphs are mature and are hatching in the afternoon, so these are essential flies to have on hand from ~1-4PM. Light olive nymphs work well in early March, but the nymphs will darken significantly as they get closer to their emergence. Expect duns to be around #18 when they hatch. March does offer molting activity from golden stonefly nymphs, so choosing flies that mimic this behavior can be especially productive at this time of year. Heavy anchor nymphs are a good way to minimize the need for split shot in sinking your rig, and golden stonefly nymphs fulfil this role, as well. 4x and 5x leader and tippet are appropriate choices. Find warm, sunny, well-lit areas to fish when possible, as the thermal energy can make a massive difference in fish and fish food activity.
Lower Basin: Salida to Canon City
March 29, 2025
Flow at Wellsville: | 384 CFS |
|---|---|
Water Temp | 40s |
Water Clarity: | Clear |
Water management has shifted this week and flows are now in a very comfortable range for spring float fishing, hovering around 380 CFS at the Wellsville gauge. For boaters and float fishermen, this is great news for optimal spring fishing opportunities. Blue wing olive hatches are growing in strength around Salida, offering increasingly good afternoon dry fly fishing, particularly on cloudy afternoons when hatches are the strongest. This combines with midge hatches, molting golden stonefly nymphs, and drifting caddis larvae to prompt greater activity from resident trout than we've seen so far this year. Fairly mild weather is in the forecast again this week. 9AM to 5PM is your best window of opportunity for productive fishing most days, when air and water temperatures are warmest and the angle of the sun will positively impact fish behavior in the river. If you have experienced an Arkansas River blue wing olive hatch before, you'll know that this event can offer some of the best dry fly fishing of the entire year. The Arkansas is known for its venerable brachycentrus "Mother's Day" caddis hatch which will begin in mid-April but seasoned local and itinerant fishermen have recognized the incredible mayfly activity preceding these caddis hatches, all the while enjoying far less traffic and competition on the river.
Expect fish to be close to deeper winter water, though they are beginning to venture into nearby transitional areas that are often much shallower (~2-3' in depth) to seek food. Work water slowly and methodically, relying on multi-nymph rigs in deep water with a fair amount of weight to ensure your flies achieve the appropriate depth for where fish are holding. In shallower areas, we are seeing good results moving to a dry dropper rig. Midge and caddis larvae are key before lunchtime, with midge pupae critical forage after noon. We've also seen a dramatic increase in blue wing olive nymph activity in these weeks prior to their emergence. Nymphs will grow darker as they mature are now drifting consistently each afternoon preceding their hatch. Anglers should carry dun and emerger 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. In addition, expect increased molting activity from resident golden stonefly nymphs making them much more vulnerable to predation. #10-14 light colored golden stonefly nymph imitations are perfect for imitating this behavior and since heavy anchor nymphs are a good way to minimize the need for split shot in sinking your rig, golden stonefly nymphs are good choices all spring. 4x and 5x leader and tippet are appropriate choices. Find warm, sunny, well-lit areas to fish when possible, as the thermal energy can make a massive difference in fish and fish food activity.