July 17th, 2026

Arkansas River (Lower Freestone Basin)

Mornings and evenings have featured some strong dry fly and dry dropper opportunities, and for those that like to throw streamers...evenings have been excellent. While flows are much lower than average, water temperatures are maintaining in a safe fishing range in the morning and evening and more importantly, dissolved oxygen content is still in a great zone. Remember that the trout populations in the Arkansas Freestone have historically thrived on drought years due to lower fitness demands (less heavy current) and strong hatches due to consistent conditions...this year is no different. Get out to enjoy the prime Summer weeks...they won't last for long!  

In the lower basin we're seeing strong fishing from daybreak to around 1pm and then a big uptick in activity from 5pm to dark. As is typical during this window of time, we're beginning to see water temps creep up in the middle of the afternoon...so we ask you watch water temps and act accordingly. In general, please avoid fishing from 1PM to 5PM...Protect the resource! We're seeing good containment on the Aspen Acres fire 40 miles east of Canon City and smoke has been non-existent the last week to ten days. 

This year is presenting some of the best wade fishing opportunities at this stage of the season that we've seen since 2012, but on the flip-side float fishing has become quite difficult. There really isn't public water that is unreachable on foot at these flows, which is incredible. Wade anglers are doing quite well with a variety of techniques. We always lean hard on Dry/ Dropper or Dry/ Double Dropper during this window whether you're on foot or floating, but the streamer bite has been exceptional especially at lower light...and for those who like to nymph fish, you'll do very well!

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Stream Conditions

Wellsville Flowrate: 226 cfs 

Cañon City Flowrate: 172 cfs

Clarity- Good rain last night finally! Offcolor from the 166 bridge down through Rincon this morning. Either stay high above Big Bend or low below Vallie Bridge (Gin clear right now below Cotopaxi).

Suggested Methods

Our guides are beginning to see alot of different bugs out there now, so your rigging needs to change accordingly. Fish are eating larger dry flies already due to the introduction of a few more Hoppers, flying Ants, Yellow Sallies and Golden Stoneflies. Dry/ Dropper or Dry/ Double Dropper will be our focal method moving forward along with nymphing as needed and of course plenty of streamer fishing. Typically we like to run a bushy foam dry up top dropping a heavier attractor nymph in the middle position (Yellow Sally, Caddis, Red Quill Nymph) and then trail a 2nd dropper off that middle dropper as needed (Trico or PMD nymph). You can easily run the same flies in a nymph rig as needed. For those streamer junkies out there...it's time! With more consistent water temps and alot of Brown Trout fry emerging at the moment...streamers have been very effective!

Arkansas River (Upper Freestone Basin)

General Overview

Smoke from the Willow Fire near Leadville has been very minimal, and containment is improving on a daily basis. Really strong fishing on the Upper Basin, with more hatches now entering the fold! More Caddis activity from Buena Vista to the headwater, and our guides are beginning to see PMDs, Yellow Sallies, and a few Drakes in the upper reaches of the river. A bit milder water temps on the Upper Basin, though we still recommend getting on the water early in the morning and giving the fish a break in the middle of the afternoon.