Fishing Report for the Arkansas River

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*Attention: The Flyshop will be moving to Fall Hours on October 1st. Monday-Saturday: 8AM-5PM; Sunday: 8AM-12PM

October 2nd, 2023

Arkansas River (Lower Freestone Basin)

General Overview

It was a great weekend on the Mighty Ark...the river is in the heart of "Fall Primetime." We've got great clarity and the river is at a perfect flow-rate for wading and optimal trout metabolism. With a great cool down into more "Fall-Like" weather, we've got some great fishing ahead of us...get out there and enjoy!Project flows have ended and release out of Twin Lakes have been staged down and flows are now at native. The Wellsville gauge is reading just under 290cfs and will likely hold in that 275-300 range for the next month. For those anglers who've been waiting for ideal wading conditions, it has arrived! Trout will certainly respond very positively to the flow decrease...we should some absolutely excellent fishing over the next several months!
We're certainly seeing a transition to "Fall Fishing" on the Arkansas. Optimal water temperature and flowrate has the trout population feeding hard throughout the day and fish continue to be very opportunistic on dry/ dropper, nymphing and streamer rigs. Its truly a variety show on the bug side of things out there. We're still seeing strong Red Quill activity and starting to see Fall BWOs and Tricos hatch along with a continuation of solid Caddis and Hopper presence from stem to stern!

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Stream Conditions

Wellsville Flowrate: 292 CFS

Cañon City Flowrate: 246 CFS

Clarity- Clear

Suggested Methods

Temperatures are cooling off and we're certainly seeing a change to our "Fall Focus" bugs and rigging. Red Quills are still very present in all lifecycle stages, so be prepared with nymphs, adults and spinners. Pseudocloeon Baetis (Fall BWOs) have really entered the equation especially sub-surface, so be prepared with your smaller/ slighter profile dark BWO nymphs and emergers. We're not far from strong BWO hatch activity...likely in the next few weeks. Tricos are also very present, so your small black RS2s, Ice Queens and Two Bits will be key and cover alot of bases. Hoppers and Caddis will continue to be out in force through the Fall so keep plenty of options in your box. Rigging wise, we like a variety of tactics. Dry/ Double-Dropper is a favorite rig...leading with a hopper/ chubby style followed by a heavier attractor nymph and finished off with a small BWO/ Trico nymph. Alot of fish are still in shallower edge water, so the Dry/ Double-Dropper is a very effective approach. Of course indicator or tight line nymphing with a stonefly/ crane fly in combination with our core nymphs will be a very effective tactic as well. Be prepared with all of your hatch matching dries as you will find fish feeding hard on the surface if there are enough bugs to get them up. Lastly, but certainly not least...we're entering arguably the best streamer fishing window of the year with our Brown Trout population entering pre-spawn and very aggressive/ opportunistic. Be prepared with a sink tip/ sinking leader and don't be afraid to throw big articulated streamers or tandem rigs!

Royal Gorge Anglers operates the oldest fly fishing guide service and full service flyshop on the Arkansas River Freestone and Arkansas River Tailwater. Our guide service also offers various guided fly fishing experiences on the South Platte River, Gunnison River, Stillwater, Private Ranches, Backcountry and more. CLICK HERE to Learn more about our Guided Trip Options or Call us (719) 371-4530 to talk to us directly...

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Arkansas River (Upper Freestone Basin)

General Overview

A movement to Fall fishing is definitely in play on the Upper Basin with much cooler temperatures! Colder overnight lows have the Brown Trout population entering pre-spawn, so we're definitely seeing that feeding frenzy that is typical as fish try to gain as many calories as possible. Flows are now in that low, native range so fish will be very spread out and you'll do best by covering alot of water.

Stream Conditions

Leadville Flowrate: 20 CFS

Granite Flowrate: 82 CFS

Salida Flowrate: 252 CFS

Clarity: Gin Clear

Suggested Methods

Getting colder on the Upper Basin and certainly seeing a change to our "Fall Focus" bugs and rigging. Red Quills are still very present in all lifecycle stages, so be prepared with nymphs, adults and spinners. Pseudocloeon Baetis (Fall BWOs) have really entered the equation especially sub-surface, so be prepared with your smaller/ slighter profile dark BWO nymphs and emergers. We're not far from strong BWO hatch activity...likely in the next few weeks. Tricos are also very present, so your small black RS2s, Ice Queens and Two Bits will be key and cover alot of bases. Hoppers and Caddis will continue to be out in force through the Fall so keep plenty of options in your box. Rigging wise, we like a variety of tactics. Dry/ Double-Dropper is a favorite rig...leading with a hopper/ chubby style followed by a heavier attractor nymph and finished off with a small BWO/ Trico nymph. Alot of fish are still in shallower edge water, so the Dry/ Double-Dropper is a very effective approach. Of course indicator or tight line nymphing with a stonefly/ crane fly in combination with our core nymphs will be a very effective tactic as well. Be prepared with all of your hatch matching dries as you will find fish feeding hard on the surface if there are enough bugs to get them up. Lastly, but certainly not least...we're entering arguably the best streamer fishing window of the year with our Brown Trout population entering pre-spawn and very aggressive/ opportunistic. Be prepared with a sink tip/ sinking leader and don't be afraid to throw big articulated streamers or tandem rigs!