Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
Mild weather this week increased productivity during the afternoon but with morning lows sitting in the teens, slushy and unproductive mornings continue. Fluctuating between 150 and 250 cfs, the Upper Arkansas is low and gin clear. Fishing near Salida is still your best option as it contains more open water and deeper pools and runs. We recommend hitting the river around noon and fishing until 4 pm. During this window, the water will clear up and trout will be more active due to warmer air and water temperatures. Focus on the deep and slow pools, runs, pockets and slack water with a heavy nymph rig. Getting your flies into the deepest water column is critical, so dont be shy with your splitshot. Tungsten bead searcher nymphs, flashy attractors and midge larva patterns are productive lead flies. For you trailer, midge larva and emerger patterns such as Mercury Midges, Bling Midges, Top Secrets, Chocolate Foam Back Emergers, RS2s and Blue Poison Tungs are good options.
Ideal Days to Fish: 1/18, 1/20 & 1/122
Suggested Flies:
Sub-surface: RS2 (#20-22), Chocolate Foam Back Emerger (#22-24), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), WD 40 (#20-22) Prince Nymph (#16-18), Mercury Pheasant Tail (#18-20), Hare's Ear (#16-18), Electric Caddis (#16-18), red Copper John (#18-20), Black Beauty (#22-24), Zebra Midge (#20-22), Top Secret Midge (#22-24), Disco Midge (#22-24), Mercury Midge (#22-24), Pats Rubber Legs (#10-12), Rainbow Warrior (#18-20), Frenchie (#18-20), Roza's Red Tag Jig (#18), Mayer's Mini-Leech and San Juan Worm.
Surface: Parachute Adams (#24), Griffiths Gnat (#24)