A serious rain event on Chalk Creek on Sunday pushed a substantial off color bubble down the river yesterday. All of our trips focused on water in Canon City or the Upper Basin, however, we should see clarity return along with a good drop in flowrate today. We expect strong conditions to hold for great edge fishing for the remainder of the week...last week was incredible!
Long story short, we're entering the famed "fishing in a barrel" time period. After a solid month of exponential runoff, fish will be heavily concentrated on the edges and hungry. Again, this isn't a time period where wading is necessary (and it isn't advised). Put your wading boots on with a pair of wet wading socks, and walk the bank with a dry/ dropper or streamer rig. Cover as much soft pocket water on the edges as possible...and have fun! If you're able to float, though things are moving rapidly at 2000cfs, you will have some great opportunities...and these can be some of the best days of the year from the boat!
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Wellsville Flowrate: 2630 CFS (Falling)
Canon City Flowrate: 2980 CFS (Falling)
Clarity: Clearing (2 Plus ft on the edges)
As the river comes back into play post-runoff, its still best to think big! With Golden Stoneflies and Yellow Sallies on the water, its never a bad idea to throw a big dry or dry/ dropper rig, but for best success in this bigger water...focus on nymph rigs with rubberleg stones, crane fly larva, worm patterns and various smaller attractor nymphs (Guides Choice Hares Ear, Psycho Prince, Etc). Streamers will also be extremely effective moving downstream against the edges. Think Black or Olive on your Streamers as clarity comes around....
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 (888) 994-6743 ext 2 to talk to us directly...
Things are looking excellent from Buena Vista upstream, with 3plus feet of clarity and rapidly falling flows. In addition, we've seen some really good edge clarity floating in the Browns Canyon through Salida section. Flows are elevated slightly above the historical average, but clarity is back and fishing will be very productive on this stretch.
We're entering the famed "fishing in a barrel" time period. After a solid month of exponential runoff, fish will be heavily concentrated on the edges and hungry. Again, this isn't a time period where wading is necessary (and it isn't advised). Put your wading boots on with a pair of wet wading socks, and walk the bank with a dry/ dropper or streamer rig. Cover as much soft pocket water on the edges as possible...and have fun! If you're able to float, though things are moving rapidly at 1000-2000cfs, you will have some great opportunities...and these can be some of the best days of the year from the boat!
Leadville Flowrate: 330 CFS
Granite Flowrate: 1180 CFS
Salida Flowrate: 2200 CFS
Clarity: 2-3ft of Visibility from Granite to the Headwater. Hayden Meadows in really good shape! 2ft on the edges from Fisherman's Bridge downstream to Salida.
As the river comes back into play post-runoff, its still best to think big! With Golden Stoneflies and Yellow Sallies on the water, its never a bad idea to throw a big dry or dry/ dropper rig, but for best success in this bigger water...focus on nymph rigs with rubberleg stones, crane fly larva, worm patterns and various smaller attractor nymphs (Guides Choice Hares Ear, Psycho Prince, Etc). Streamers will also be extremely effective moving downstream against the edges. Think Black or Olive on your Streamers as clarity comes around....
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 (888) 994-6743 ext 2 to talk to us directly...