Arkansas River
Lower

Saturday, 5/4 2024

Flow at Wellsville: 658 cfs

Water Temp.: High 40s-mid 50s

Clarity: Stained but improving. 24-36" below Salida.

2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: May 18, June 1

Saturday Report - Braden Baker

We strongly recommend scouting the Scout Wave in downtown Salida at current flows before attempting passage. The boat chute is unusable at this level and you'll want to familiarize yourself with the wave before running it.

Clarity has bounced back and the river has fished very well the past few days below Salida. Flows are in the low 600 range which makes for both very comfortable float fishing conditions and good wading conditions, though you probably shouldnt attempt to cross under current circumstances. Caddis hatches have slowed with the recent cooldown in weather and increase in flows but blue wing olive mayfly activity has been a strong substitute. Adult caddis returning to the river to lay eggs have produced some dry fly opportunities late in the afternoon/early evening. Dry dropper and streamer fishing have been the most productive methods this week, with chances to fish single dry flies intermixed. Expect active caddis hatches to kickstart again when we see warmer weather return to the region. The highest reports of active caddis are at Salida East, though it seems that the bulk of the action is still downstream from there as of 5/4. We expect water temperature of 54 degrees to precede the hatch, which usually moves upstream in a wave over time. Active caddis hatches will be marked by active insect activity right on the water with slashing, splashy rises from trout as they chase pupae rising to the surface to emerge. Sometimes it's best to be on the leading edge of the hatch so that your fly isn't competing with thousands of naturals and fish aren't gorged already. Dry flies are perfect during this stage of the hatch but you can double your effectiveness by trailing a submerged caddis pupae off your dry fly. Adult flights can often be mistaken for hatches as thousands of adults may be flying in the air over the river heading upstream. This circumstance won't usually yield great dry fly fishing (as there aren't actually insects on the water!) but it does mean that egg-laying activity from female caddis is soon to occur in the evening, and as females dap the water to drop their eggs trout once again get a chance to grab the insects at the water's surface. Expect this type of activity after dinner time.

We are still seeing blue wing olive hatches in the afternoons (especially on cloudy days) and very approachable flows for wade fishing. Dry fly opportunities abound! We continue to enjoy 60+ degree days and mild nights, which have motivated insects, fish, and anglers alike to elevate their activity. Conditions are prime in the valley right now. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the meniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface.

Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.

We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.

Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!

Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.

Wendesday, 5/1 2024

Flow at Wellsville: 598 cfs

Water Temp.: High 40s-mid 50s

Clarity: Stained but improving. ~24" below Salida.

2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: May 4, May 18, June 1

Wednesday Report - Braden Baker

We strongly recommend scouting the Scout Wave in downtown Salida at current flows before attempting passage. The boat chute is unusable at this level and you'll want to familiarize yourself with the wave before running it.

***The river conditions have improved significantly from lastweekend and are expected to maintain a progressive trajectory through the week as the river continues to stabilize at the new flow levels, leaving us a far more fishable river with clarity improving daily. Twin Lakes is cutting back the release down Lake Creek today by a net of 135 cfs so expect flows below the Lake Creek confluence to drop notably today and tomorrow. Expect the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon to clear later than upper regions of the river as visibility improves from upstream to downstream. This drop in flow should help water temperatures get back into the mid 50s which will kickstart the caddis hatch once again.

With the stained water, size up your tippet and be sure to pack large stonefly nymphs or other high contrast nymphs alongside your baetis nymphs and caddis pupae to fish in the softer pockets out of the faster flows. Streamers are a great option with the change in water quality and are proving very effective this week.

Once the river clears, the following applies:

Caddis are hatching down in the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon! Brachycentrus caddis hatches are now joining a few free-living caddis in tempting fish into surface feeding. With consistent weather, expect these "Mother's Day" caddis to work their way upstream to Salida by the first week of May. The highest reports of active caddis are at Salida East, though it seems that the bulk of the action is still downstream from there as of 4/26. We expect water temperature of 54 degrees to precede the hatch, which usually moves upstream in a wave over time. Active caddis hatches will be marked by active insect activity right on the water with slashing, splashy rises from trout as they chase pupae rising to the surface to emerge. Sometimes it's best to be on the leading edge of the hatch so that your fly isn't competing with thousands of naturals and fish aren't gorged already. Dry flies are perfect during this stage of the hatch but you can double your effectiveness by trailing a submerged caddis pupae off your dry fly. Adult flights can often be mistaken for hatches as thousands of adults may be flying in the air over the river heading upstream. This circumstance won't usually yield great dry fly fishing (as there aren't actually insects on the water!) but it does mean that egg-laying activity from female caddis is soon to occur in the evening, and as females dap the water to drop their eggs trout once again get a chance to grab the insects at the water's surface. Expect this type of activity after dinner time.

We are still seeing blue wing olive hatches in the afternoons (especially on cloudy days) and very approachable flows for wade fishing. Dry fly opportunities abound! We continue to enjoy 60+ degree days and mild nights, which have motivated insects, fish, and anglers alike to elevate their activity. Conditions are prime in the valley right now. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the meniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface.

9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year, though 4x is fine with the stained water clarity. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.

Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.

We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.

Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!

Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.

Wendesday, 5/1 2024

Flow at Wellsville: 598 cfs

Water Temp.: High 40s-mid 50s

Clarity: Stained but improving. ~24" below Salida.

2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: May 4, May 18, June 1

Wednesday Report - Braden Baker

We strongly recommend avoiding the Scout Wave at current flows. The boat chute is unusable at this level and the wave itself is has a big hit at the bottom and will be problematic for fishing rafts (and others, most likely). Stay tuned as we see it at various levels.

***The river conditions have improved significantly from lastweekend and are expected to maintain a progressive trajectory through the week as the river continues to stabilize at the new flow levels, leaving us a far more fishable river with clarity improving daily. Twin Lakes is cutting back the release down Lake Creek today by a net of 135 cfs so expect flows below the Lake Creek confluence to drop notably today and tomorrow. Expect the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon to clear later than upper regions of the river as visibility improves from upstream to downstream. This drop in flow should help water temperatures get back into the mid 50s which will kickstart the caddis hatch once again.

With the stained water, size up your tippet and be sure to pack large stonefly nymphs or other high contrast nymphs alongside your baetis nymphs and caddis pupae to fish in the softer pockets out of the faster flows. Streamers are a great option with the change in water quality and are proving very effective this week.

Once the river clears, the following applies:

Caddis are hatching down in the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon! Brachycentrus caddis hatches are now joining a few free-living caddis in tempting fish into surface feeding. With consistent weather, expect these "Mother's Day" caddis to work their way upstream to Salida by the first week of May. The highest reports of active caddis are at Salida East, though it seems that the bulk of the action is still downstream from there as of 4/26. We expect water temperature of 54 degrees to precede the hatch, which usually moves upstream in a wave over time. Active caddis hatches will be marked by active insect activity right on the water with slashing, splashy rises from trout as they chase pupae rising to the surface to emerge. Sometimes it's best to be on the leading edge of the hatch so that your fly isn't competing with thousands of naturals and fish aren't gorged already. Dry flies are perfect during this stage of the hatch but you can double your effectiveness by trailing a submerged caddis pupae off your dry fly. Adult flights can often be mistaken for hatches as thousands of adults may be flying in the air over the river heading upstream. This circumstance won't usually yield great dry fly fishing (as there aren't actually insects on the water!) but it does mean that egg-laying activity from female caddis is soon to occur in the evening, and as females dap the water to drop their eggs trout once again get a chance to grab the insects at the water's surface. Expect this type of activity after dinner time.

We are still seeing blue wing olive hatches in the afternoons (especially on cloudy days) and very approachable flows for wade fishing. Dry fly opportunities abound! We continue to enjoy 60+ degree days and mild nights, which have motivated insects, fish, and anglers alike to elevate their activity. Conditions are prime in the valley right now. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the meniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface.

9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year, though 4x is fine with the stained water clarity. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.

Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.

We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.

Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!

Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.

Tuesday 4/30, 2024

Flow at Wellsville: 730 cfs

Water Temp.: 40s

Clarity: Stained but improving, 24" visibility down to Wellsville, Howard and downstreame still 12-18" but improving through the day.

2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: May 4, May 18, June 1

Tuesday Report - Braden Baker

We strongly recommend avoiding the Scout Wave at current flows. The boat chute is unusable at is level and the wave itself is has a big hit at the bottom and will be problematic for fishing rafts (and others, most likely). Stay tuned as we see it at various levels.

***The river conditions have improved significantly from the weekend and are expected to maintain a progressive trajectory through the week as the river continues to stabilize at the new flow levels, leaving us a far more fishable river with clarity improving daily. Twin Lakes is cutting back the release down Lake Creek today by a net of 135 cfs so expect flows below the Lake Creek confluence to drop notably today and tomorrow. Expect the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon to clear later than upper regions of the river as visibility improves from upstream to downstream.

With the stained water, size up your tippet and be sure to pack large stonefly nymphs or other high contrast nymphs alongside your baetis nymphs and caddis pupae to fish in the softer pockets out of the faster flows. Streamers are a great option with the change in water quality and are proving very effective this week.

Once the river clears, the following applies:

Caddis are hatching down in the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon! Brachycentrus caddis hatches are now joining a few free-living caddis in tempting fish into surface feeding. With consistent weather, expect these "Mother's Day" caddis to work their way upstream to Salida by the first week of May. The highest reports of active caddis are at Salida East, though it seems that the bulk of the action is still downstream from there as of 4/26. We expect water temperature of 54 degrees to precede the hatch, which usually moves upstream in a wave over time. Active caddis hatches will be marked by active insect activity right on the water with slashing, splashy rises from trout as they chase pupae rising to the surface to emerge. Sometimes it's best to be on the leading edge of the hatch so that your fly isn't competing with thousands of naturals and fish aren't gorged already. Dry flies are perfect during this stage of the hatch but you can double your effectiveness by trailing a submerged caddis pupae off your dry fly. Adult flights can often be mistaken for hatches as thousands of adults may be flying in the air over the river heading upstream. This circumstance won't usually yield great dry fly fishing (as there aren't actually insects on the water!) but it does mean that egg-laying activity from female caddis is soon to occur in the evening, and as females dap the water to drop their eggs trout once again get a chance to grab the insects at the water's surface. Expect this type of activity after dinner time.

We are still seeing blue wing olive hatches in the afternoons (especially on cloudy days) and very approachable flows for wade fishing. Dry fly opportunities abound! We continue to enjoy 60+ degree days and mild nights, which have motivated insects, fish, and anglers alike to elevate their activity. Conditions are prime in the valley right now. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the meniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface.

9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year, though 4x is fine with the stained water clarity. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.

Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.

We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.

Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!

Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.

Sunday 4/28, 2024

Flow at Wellsville: 770 cfs

Water Temp.: 40s

Clarity: Stained but improving, roughly 20" visibility this evening in Salida. Expect this to improve through the night and be even more fishable tomorrow morning.

2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: May 4, May 18, June 1

Sunday Report - Braden Baker

***The river conditions have improved significantly from yesterday (4/27) and are expected to maintain a progressive trajectory through the night as the river continues to stabilize at the new flow levels, hopefully leaving us with far more fishability than we saw through the weekend. By noon today there was at least 18" of clarity in Salida and we had some positive reports from anglers wade fishing in town.

With the stained water, size up your tippet and be sure to pack large stonefly nymphs or other high contrast nymphs alongside your baetis nymphs and caddis pupae to fish in the softer pockets out of the faster flows. Streamers are a great option with the change in water quality and are proving very effective this week.

Once the river clears, the following applies:

Caddis are hatching down in the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon! Brachycentrus caddis hatches are now joining a few free-living caddis in tempting fish into surface feeding. With consistent weather, expect these "Mother's Day" caddis to work their way upstream to Salida by the first week of May. The highest reports of active caddis are at Salida East, though it seems that the bulk of the action is still downstream from there as of 4/26. We expect water temperature of 54 degrees to precede the hatch, which usually moves upstream in a wave over time. Active caddis hatches will be marked by active insect activity right on the water with slashing, splashy rises from trout as they chase pupae rising to the surface to emerge. Sometimes it's best to be on the leading edge of the hatch so that your fly isn't competing with thousands of naturals and fish aren't gorged already. Dry flies are perfect during this stage of the hatch but you can double your effectiveness by trailing a submerged caddis pupae off your dry fly. Adult flights can often be mistaken for hatches as thousands of adults may be flying in the air over the river heading upstream. This circumstance won't usually yield great dry fly fishing (as there aren't actually insects on the water!) but it does mean that egg-laying activity from female caddis is soon to occur in the evening, and as females dap the water to drop their eggs trout once again get a chance to grab the insects at the water's surface. Expect this type of activity after dinner time.

We are still seeing blue wing olive hatches in the afternoons (especially on cloudy days) and very approachable flows for wade fishing. Dry fly opportunities abound! We continue to enjoy 60+ degree days and mild nights, which have motivated insects, fish, and anglers alike to elevate their activity. Conditions are prime in the valley right now. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the meniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface.

9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year, though 4x is fine with the stained water clarity. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.

Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.

We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.

Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!

Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.

Saturday 4/27, 2024

Flow at Wellsville: 820 cfs

Water Temp.: 40s

Clarity: Dirty, less than 6" visibility. Significant debris.

2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: May 4, May 18, June 1

Saturday Report - Braden Baker

Salida East is open for recreational use. Spinney Mountain Reservoir is set to open Sunday, April 28.

***Additional flows coming down from Turquoise Lake and Twin Lakes have increased the flow in the Arkansas by about 400 cfs in less than 24 hours and today it is not pretty! Expect less than 6" of visibility today below Salida with a fair amount of debris moving downstream and getting caught up in the slack water along the edges. It's tough to know how fast the river will stabilize and begin clearing, but it seems very likely that the river will be far more fishable in only a couple days as it adjusts and scours along the edges. We'll update this report often as conditions change.

With the dirty water, size up your tippet and be sure to pack large stonefly nymphs or other high contrast nymphs alongside your baetis nymphs and caddis pupae to fish in the softer pockets out of the faster flows. Streamers are a great option with the change in water quality and are proving very effective this week.

Once the river clears, the following applies:

Caddis are hatching down in the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon! Brachycentrus caddis hatches are now joining a few free-living caddis in tempting fish into surface feeding. With consistent weather, expect these "Mother's Day" caddis to work their way upstream to Salida by the first week of May. The highest reports of active caddis are at Salida East, though it seems that the bulk of the action is still downstream from there as of 4/26. We expect water temperature of 54 degrees to precede the hatch, which usually moves upstream in a wave over time. Active caddis hatches will be marked by active insect activity right on the water with slashing, splashy rises from trout as they chase pupae rising to the surface to emerge. Sometimes it's best to be on the leading edge of the hatch so that your fly isn't competing with thousands of naturals and fish aren't gorged already. Dry flies are perfect during this stage of the hatch but you can double your effectiveness by trailing a submerged caddis pupae off your dry fly. Adult flights can often be mistaken for hatches as thousands of adults may be flying in the air over the river heading upstream. This circumstance won't usually yield great dry fly fishing (as there aren't actually insects on the water!) but it does mean that egg-laying activity from female caddis is soon to occur in the evening, and as females dap the water to drop their eggs trout once again get a chance to grab the insects at the water's surface. Expect this type of activity after dinner time.

We are still seeing blue wing olive hatches in the afternoons (especially on cloudy days) and very approachable flows for wade fishing. Dry fly opportunities abound! We continue to enjoy 60+ degree days and mild nights, which have motivated insects, fish, and anglers alike to elevate their activity. Conditions are prime in the valley right now. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the meniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface.

9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year, though 4x is fine with the stained water clarity. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.

Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.

We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.

Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!

Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.

Friday 4/26, 2024

Flow at Wellsville: 519 cfs

Water Temp.: 50s

Clarity: Turbid, 18" visibility.

2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: May 4, May 18, June 1

Friday Report - Braden Baker

Salida East is open for recreational use. Spinney Mountain Reservoir is set to open Sunday, April 28.

The river is definitely dirty at the moment but is fishable below Salida. Things will look different tomorrow as there's an additional 350 cfs headed downstream from Turquoise Lake near Leadville that should hit Salida late this afternoon. We don't know exactly how that will impact the river, as it's clear water from the reservoir but it will definitely scour Lake Fork Creek and the river itself on its way down. Optimistically, Saturday will offer the most turbidity and Sunday and beyond will begin to show improvement. The duration of this extra release is unknown at this time. Expect cooler, overcast weather in the coming days to help moderate low elevation snowmelt on the tributaries.

With the dirty water, size up your tippet and be sure to pack large stonefly nymphs or other high contrast nymphs alongside your baetis nymphs and caddis pupae to fish in the softer pockets out of the faster flows. Streamers are a great option with the change in water quality and are proving very effective this week.

One things stabilize and the river clears, the following applies:

Caddis are hatching down in the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon! Brachycentrus caddis hatches are now joining a few free-living caddis in tempting fish into surface feeding. With consistent weather, expect these "Mother's Day" caddis to work their way upstream to Salida by the first week of May. The highest reports of active caddis are at Salida East, though it seems that the bulk of the action is still downstream from there as of 4/26. We expect water temperature of 54 degrees to precede the hatch, which usually moves upstream in a wave over time. Active caddis hatches will be marked by active insect activity right on the water with slashing, splashy rises from trout as they chase pupae rising to the surface to emerge. Sometimes it's best to be on the leading edge of the hatch so that your fly isn't competing with thousands of naturals and fish aren't gorged already. Dry flies are perfect during this stage of the hatch but you can double your effectiveness by trailing a submerged caddis pupae off your dry fly. Adult flights can often be mistaken for hatches as thousands of adults may be flying in the air over the river heading upstream. This circumstance won't usually yield great dry fly fishing (as there aren't actually insects on the water!) but it does mean that egg-laying activity from female caddis is soon to occur in the evening, and as females dap the water to drop their eggs trout once again get a chance to grab the insects at the water's surface. Expect this type of activity after dinner time.

We are still seeing blue wing olive hatches in the afternoons (especially on cloudy days) and very approachable flows for wade fishing. Dry fly opportunities abound! We continue to enjoy 60+ degree days and mild nights, which have motivated insects, fish, and anglers alike to elevate their activity. Conditions are prime in the valley right now. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the meniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface.

9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year, though 4x is fine with the stained water clarity. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.

Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.

We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.

Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!

Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.

Wednesday 4/24, 2024

Flow at Wellsville: 428 cfs

Water Temp.: 50s

Clarity: Stained, ~2-3' of clarity below Salida. Still very productive.

2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: May 4, May 18, June 1

Wednesday Report - Braden Baker

Salida East is open for recreational use. Spinney Mountain Reservoir is set to open Sunday, April 28.

The river is definitely off color at the moment but maintains several feet of visibility and conitnues to fish very well below Salida. Expect cooler, overcast weather in the coming days to help moderate low elevation snowmelt and flows will likely drop and clear as a result.

Caddis are hatching down in the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon! Brachycentrus caddis hatches are now joining a few free-living caddis in tempting fish into surface feeding. With consistent weather, expect these "Mother's Day" caddis to work their way upstream to Salida by the first week of May. The highest reports of active caddis are at Rincon, though it seems that the bulk of the action is still downstream from there as of 4/24. We expect water temperature of 54 degrees to precede the hatch, which usually moves upstream in a wave over time. Active caddis hatches will be marked by active insect activity right on the water with slashing, splashy rises from trout as they chase pupae rising to the surface to emerge. Sometimes it's best to be on the leading edge of the hatch so that your fly isn't competing with thousands of naturals and fish aren't gorged already. Dry flies are perfect during this stage of the hatch but you can double your effectiveness by trailing a submerged caddis pupae off your dry fly. Adult flights can often be mistaken for hatches as thousands of adults may be flying in the air over the river heading upstream. This circumstance won't usually yield great dry fly fishing (as there aren't actually insects on the water!) but it does mean that egg-laying activity from female caddis is soon to occur in the evening, and as females dap the water to drop their eggs trout once again get a chance to grab the insects at the water's surface. Expect this type of activity after dinner time.

We are still seeing blue wing olive hatches in the afternoons (especially on cloudy days) and very approachable flows for wade fishing. Dry fly opportunities abound! We continue to enjoy 60+ degree days and mild nights, which have motivated insects, fish, and anglers alike to elevate their activity. Conditions are prime in the valley right now. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the meniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface.

9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year, though 4x is fine with the stained water clarity. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.

The river flow is slightly below average and within the optimal flow range for resident trout populations (250-400 cfs at Wellsville). It is incredibly wadeable everywhere at these flows, offering tremendous access for wade fishermen. Float fishing conditions are now quite comfortble relative to three weeks ago now that we've settled in just above the 300 CFS mark below Salida.

Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.

We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.

Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!

Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.

Monday 4/22, 2024

Flow at Wellsville: 325 cfs

Water Temp.: High 40s to mid 50s

Clarity: Generally clear, discolored below Texas Creek from low elevation snow melt.

2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: May 4, May 18, June 1

Monday Report - Braden Baker

Salida East is open for recreational use.

Caddis are hatching down in the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon! Brachycentrus caddis hatches are now joining a few free-living caddis in tempting fish into surface feeding. With consistent weather, expect these "Mother's Day" caddis to work their way upstream to Salida by the first week of May. The highest reports of active caddis are at Vlalie, though it seems that the bulk of the action is still downstream from there as of 4/21. We expect water temperature of 54 degrees to precede the hatch, which usually moves upstream in a wave over time. Active caddis hatches will be marked by active insect activity right on the water with slashing, splashy rises from trout as they chase pupae rising to the surface to emerge. Sometimes it's best to be on the leading edge of the hatch so that your fly isn't competing with thousands of naturals and fish aren't gorged already. Dry flies are perfect during this stage of the hatch but you can double your effectiveness by trailing a submerged caddis pupae off your dry fly. Adult flights can often be mistaken for hatches as thousands of adults may be flying in the air over the river heading upstream. This circumstance won't usually yield great dry fly fishing (as there aren't actually insects on the water!) but it does mean that egg-laying activity from female caddis is soon to occur in the evening, and as females dap the water to drop their eggs trout once again get a chance to grab the insects at the water's surface. Expect this type of activity after dinner time.

We are still seeing blue wing olive hatches in the afternoons (especially on cloudy days) and very approachable flows for wade fishing. Dry fly opportunities abound! We continue to enjoy 60+ degree days and mild nights, which have motivated insects, fish, and anglers alike to elevate their activity. Conditions are prime in the valley right now. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the meniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface.

9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.

The river flow is slightly below average and within the optimal flow range for resident trout populations (250-400 cfs at Wellsville). It is incredibly wadeable everywhere at these flows, offering tremendous access for wade fishermen. Float fishing conditions are now quite comfortble relative to three weeks ago now that we've settled in just above the 300 CFS mark below Salida.

Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.

We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.

Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!

Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.

Wednesday 4/17, 2024

Flow at Wellsville: 308 cfs

Water Temp.: High 40s to mid 50s

Clarity: Clear

2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: April 20 (Full), May 4, May 18, June 1

Wednesday Report - Braden Baker

From April 15 to April 24 the Salida East Recreation Site will be closed to ALL traffic as work is done at the highway to improve the entrance. Users will not be able to put in, take out, or camp here during this time.

Caddis are hatching down in Canon City and up into the lower reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon! Brachycentrus caddis hatches are now joining a few free-living caddis in tempting fish into surface feeding. With consistent weather, expect these "Mother's Day" caddis to work their way upstream to Salida by the first week of May. The highest reports of active caddis are at Texas Creek, though it seems that the bulk of the action is still downstream from there as of 4/17. We expect water temperature of 54 degrees to precede the hatch, which usually moves upstream in a wave over time. Active caddis hatches will be marked by active insect activity right on the water with slashing, splashy rises from trout as they chase pupae rising to the surface to emerge. Sometimes it's best to be on the leading edge of the hatch so that your fly isn't competing with thousands of naturals and fish aren't gorged already. Dry flies are perfect during this stage of the hatch but you can double your effectiveness by trailing a submerged caddis pupae off your dry fly. Adult flights can often be mistaken for hatches as thousands of adults may be flying in the air over the river heading upstream. This circumstance won't usually yield great dry fly fishing (as there aren't actually insects on the water!) but it does mean that egg-laying activity from female caddis is soon to occur in the evening, and as females dap the water to drop their eggs trout once again get a chance to grab the insects at the water's surface. Expect this type of activity after dinner time.

We are still seeing blue wing olive hatches in the afternoons (especially on cloudy days) and very approachable flows for wade fishing. Dry fly opportunities abound! We continue to enjoy 60+ degree days and mild nights, which have motivated insects, fish, and anglers alike to elevate their activity. Conditions are prime in the valley right now. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the meniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface.

9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.

The river flow is slightly below average and within the optimal flow range for resident trout populations (250-400 cfs at Wellsville). It is incredibly wadeable everywhere at these flows, offering tremendous access for wade fishermen. Float fishing conditions are now quite comfortble relative to three weeks ago now that we've settled in just above the 300 CFS mark below Salida.

Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.

We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.

Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!

Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.

Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.