Fishing Report

UPDATED: 10/14/24          

Flows: The upper gauges have been shut off for the winter season

The Headwaters of the Arkansas start near Climax Mine along Fremont Pass (Highway 91 South), and then flow along Highway south of Leadville, all the way to Buena Vista. The upper stretches near Leadville offer tighter fishing along cut banks with willowy vegetation. Good dry fly fishing can be found here as a large variety of aquatic insects dwell in the freestone river. The Caddis population is especially high, and is always a good insect to imitate in the Arkansas River. As the Arkansas flows downstream it becomes wider, with fast canyon areas containing large boulders. These lower stretches from Granite to BV are sometimes better fished with a heavy hopper dropper set up, or a nymph rig.

Current Conditions:

RIVER FLOW: 

NA

WATER TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F): 

40’s 

WATER CLARITY:

3-6ft. 

CURRENT FOOD SOURCES:

Small Golden Stoneflies | Midges | Baetis | small fish, leeches, eggs, etc. |

Flies to Try

NYMPHS: 

 | Pat's Rubber Leg's olive, or black size 10-12 | TDJ golden Stone size 14-16  | Egan’s Frenchie size 14-16 | RS2 olive or grey size 18-22  | Light Bright Perdigons various colors | Poison Bomb 18-20 | Spanish Bullet Black 18 | Sunkist 18 | Ninja 18-20 | Foamback emerger brown 20-22 | Two Bit Hooker dark olive size 18-20 | Bars BWO Emerger | Natural pheasant Tail or black Pheasant Tail size 18 -22 | UV midge black & brown size 20-24 | Zebra Midge Purple or Black size 18-22 |

DRIES:

Parachute Adams size 18-24 | extended Body BWO 18-22 | CDC Baetis Dun Size 18-22 | CDC Morgans Midge size 18 - 22 | Snowshoe midge size 18-24 | Missing Link Caddis Dark 18 |

STREAMERS:

Baby Gongas | Craven's Dirty Hippie | Barely Legal olive/white | Thin Mint size 04-08 | Kreelex |  Bead Head Pine Squirrel Leech black size 12|

Guide Tip of the Week:

Action on the Arkansas has been spotty lately with low and colder water, Hopper Dropper fishing has mostly ended due to freezing overnight temperatures. Hatches have been sporadic so expect to change flies often and try out some flashier attractor patterns followed by a small natural midge or baetis. The browns should be starting to spawn soon so keep an eye out for redds, but that means the streamer fishing should start to pick back up. The name of the game is going to be covering water right now and fishing riffles or seams between fast/ slow or shallow/ deep water. 

RIVER ACCESS

Also check out the Town of Silverthorne's Blue River Fishing Access Map

OTHER LOCATIONS

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