It was a beautiful weekend in the Arkansas River Valley. Highs pushed into the upper 50s and the atmosphere was calm. After a cold January and February, suddenly one could actually imagine the return of spring! People were hiking and biking and running and skiing, but only a few wise souls ventured onto the river. They were met with a river that is low and clear and that warms up quickly in this kind of weather. Fish were actively feeding on midge and caddis larvae, as well as random stonefly and mayfly nymphs. It was a wonderful reminder of all that is to come. I thought we better share that reminder with you.
March is a transitional month for the Arkansas River fishery. Warmer average temperatures, longer days, and a higher angle of the sun all combine to warm the water temperature and the bed of the river. Not only does this drive the fish metabolism, that hunger is met with a much more active aquatic entomology. While the fishing can be great on a warm winter day, most of the fish will be found in the deep slow pools we call “winter water.” With warming water temperatures and more active bugs, fish are inspired to move out of the winter water and into the pocket water and shoreline seams for which this river is known. This redistribution of fish makes much more of the river productive.
A major driver of this shift is the blue wing olive mayfly hatch. This typically begins around March 15 and continues into early May. During that period, mature mayfly nymphs will drift on the current every afternoon. If the sun is bright on the water, most will make their way back to the riverbed. If there is cloud cover, many will swim to the surface and emerge. This hatch brings some of the first and best dry fly fishing of the year. As importantly, the sheer volume of food made available creates that tipping point when fish will ingest enough calories each day to justify moving into more turbulent and vulnerable lies, forsaking the safety and ease of winter water.
Our second big hatch of the spring is the brachycentrus caddis. These bugs hatch on warm, sunny afternoons from mid-April to mid-May. Probably the most well-known emergence on the Arkansas, anglers come from all over the west for the prolific bugs, splashy rises, and gorging trout.
So, the reminder this weekend was timely. We can expect the blue wing olive mayflies to start hatching in a mere three weeks. Caddis will follow about a month after that. And throughout that time and regardless of the hatches, our brown and rainbow trout will be actively feeding on the full spectrum of bugs one finds in a Colorado freestone river.
Now is the time to begin planning your spring trip to the Arkansas River! If we can help you with fishing strategy, fly patterns, gear, public access, lodging, or guided trips, please reach out. We look forward to fishing with you! Bookmark www.arkanglers.com/fishing-conditions/ for the most current, detailed reports.