Arkansas River Leadville to Buena Vista
As of 4/7/2022, Braden Baker with Ark Anglers writes, The upper Arkansas is beginning to transition into spring
mode, and though fish may still be near winter water the recent midge activity, golden stonefly molt, and maturation of blue-winged olive nymphs is starting to encourage the dispersion of fish into slightly shallower, varied water and occupation of more of the northern corridor. With nighttime temperatures lower here than elsewhere in the valley, expect a slightly smaller window of opportunity with your prime time being 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. With midges, the predominant food source, a midge larva or pupa in #16-20 is a must-have in your setup. We have seen some strong midge hatches north of BV, strong enough to prompt surface feeding and offer some dry fly opportunities. Blue-winged olive hatches could start up here any day now. Mayfly nymphs and emergers are best imitated by patterns in #16-20
range and are most active mid-day into early afternoon. Pair these smaller patterns with a weighted attractor nymph like a golden stonefly in a #10-12 and you’ll have an effective “burger and fries” combination for the spring; big fly, small fly. It’s advised to work the deeper, slower water in the mornings and shift focus to shallow riffles and runs nearby as the day warms.
Flows: 75 CFS at Hayden Meadows, 90 CFS at Granite (4/7/2022) http://www.arkanglers.com/
Arkansas River Buena Vista to Salida
As of 4/7/2022, Braden Baker with Ark Anglers writes, The forecast has improved above Salida immensely since the abusive wind on Tuesday. Today will be warmer and sunny, though a little breezy at times. The week has produced some excellent mayfly hatches in the lower end of the middle basin, with some great surface feeding through and above Salida. Expect the strongest mayfly hatches on cloudy days, but be prepared for them regardless of the forecast. Even with the breeze we’ve encountered, there have been windows of opportunity for dry fly anglers in the early afternoon to take advantage of surface-oriented trout chasing emerging mayflies. Interest in golden stoneflies is also high as we are now in the historic window of spring molting activity. You will still likely find fish in deeper water at times, but the warmer conditions and expanding food options are driving trout to spread out and occupy more types of water throughout the corridor. Shallower runs and riffles are becoming very productive as the warming trend continues.
In early spring we generally rely on nymphing as the primary approach to the Arkansas, running flies underneath an indicator, sighter, or even a large dry fly. Besides mayfly and stonefly nymphs, midges are the most plentiful food and can be effective as a larva, pupa, or even adult throughout the day depending on conditions. Often we’ll fish a midge as a dropper off of a larger attractor nymph, like a large pheasant tail, hare’s ear, or copper john. Golden stonefly nymphs can be fished in #10-14 and the smaller midges should be in the #16-20 range. To imitate blue-winged olive nymphs a pheasant tail, two-bit hooker, micro-mayfly, frenchie pheasant tail, etc. is definitely worth packing in a #16-18 as we move through March. Free-living and cased caddis larva should also be in your box as we are seeing more
caddis activity ramp up preceding caddis hatches of late April.
Flows: 190 CFS at Hecla Junction (4/7/2022)
http://www.arkanglers.com/
Arkansas River Salida to Canon City
As of 4/7/2022, Braden Barker with Ark Anglers writes, The forecast is still breezy today, but vastly improved from the weather on Tuesday. You may still work a little to find sheltered areas safe from the wind at times, but conditions are improving as the week progresses. Flows are now at their native levels as the release from Twin Lakes has been gradually dropped over the past 10 days. This leaves us with low flows for our spring rainbow trout spawn and for our active and pending spring hatches with a lean river for spring boating. Even anglers with significant experience on the Arkansas at low flows may have to drag their boat here and there in shallow areas. Plan accordingly.
Every day this week we’ve had reports of quality hatches of spring blue-winged olive mayflies in the lower basin and through Salida, even with sunny and windy conditions. Wind permitting, the dry fly fishing has been very good during these times. Focused, confident rises are the norm as fish that were recently wary and skeptical in the low clear flows of early spring are now seeing enough food to throw caution to the wind as they follow emerging nymphs to the surface to capture
them as they ascend or as they rest on the water’s surface airing out their wings pre-flight. When back eddies and foam lines are covered with these tiny little sailboats and a brown trout is hovering just downstream inches below the surface waiting to intercept these vulnerable duns, it truly is a sight to behold. To have the privilege to cast a small hand-tied imitation of the naturals into the mix and be rewarded by a confident take is the fuel that carries many anglers through the cold months of winter.
Now is the time to dust off the dry fly box and freshen up your tippet supply, as the next six weeks can offer some of the best fishing the Arkansas has to offer. The warmer water temperatures and growing abundance of food are beginning to instigate the spring dispersion of fish out from their winter holding water and into nearby runs and
riffles with slightly faster current and more consistent flow of food. Though we usually expect cloudy weather to prompt the strongest hatches anglers should be prepared any day they head out to encounter hatches on the water this time of year. These mayflies can hatch year-round, but we observe them in their highest concentrations in the next 4-5 weeks on the Arkansas. Interest in golden stonefly nymphs is also high as we are now in the middle of spring molting activity. Strikes may still be subtle at times, but the warmer conditions are prompting more aggressive feeding and transmitting more obvious takes.
In early spring we recommend fishing multiple nymphs under an indicator, sighter, or even under a large, buoyant dry fly.
Believe it or not, we do see fish sporadically strike at indicators on the surface during the winter and spring, so why not use a grasshopper to suspend your nymphs? If you encounter a blue-winged olive hatch, a dry-dropper setup with a mayfly dun as an indicator fly followed by a lightweight emerger pattern will be a great approach. Golden stonefly nymphs are a significant-sized meal and can be fished in #8-14. Mayfly nymphs like a pheasant tail, two-bit hooker, micro-mayfly, frenchie pheasant tail, etc. are worth packing in a #16-18. Don’t forget about midges; they are still one of the most available food sources by volume and will continue to be an important factor through the spring. Think #18-20 most of the
time for these smaller larvae, pupa, and adults.
Flows: 239 at Wellsville (4/7/2022)
http://www.arkanglers.com/
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