Mar 26
ArkAnglers
Tuesday 3/26, 2024
Flow at Wellsville: 267 cfs
Water Temp.: 40s
Clarity: Mostly clear, intermittent waves of slightly stained water but generally several feet of visibility.
2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: April 6, April 20, May 4, May 18, June 1
Tuesday Report - Braden Baker
Fishing in the lower basin has been fantastic as trout disperse from their winter water and blue wing olive hatches have begun. Ideal weather for these hatches is cloudy and humid, but we saw strong hatches every day last week in very sunny conditions. This week is a little cooler in Salida but we see 60 degrees in the forecast again by this weekend. Often we can see the best hatches on snowy or rainy days, especially early in the cycle, but recent days are a good reminder to be prepared for an emergence regardless the forecast. With that in mind, midge hatches have also been strong enough to prompt shallow and surface feeding from trout so pack midge adult and emerger patterns alongside your blue wing olives to cover all the bases.
Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the miniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface. Over the past ten years this hatch has become very well known on the Arkansas in the spring, with enviable dry fly fishing opportunities and far less traffic than the Mother's Day caddis hatch tends to produce in April and May (which also yields tremendous dry fly fishing!). Trout have seen relatively little pressure through the winter so this mayfly hatch usually sees very willing and deliberate participation from the resident fish.
Nymphing is still a good tactic throughout the day but especially in the morning hours as the day warms up (think large attractor nymph trailed by a caddis larva or midge larva), working the deeper runs or transitional water nearby. Around lunch time expect blue wing olive nymphs to begin drifting as they redistribute themselves in the days leading up to hatches. These nymphs are often found in riffled sections of the river, faster than what we've been fishing through the winter. These areas are often shallower, too, so don't ignore water that's 2-3' in depth. Assuming a hatch takes begins to occur, fish will position themselves in the quieter waters where the duns emerge to efficiently take advantage of the meal. Riseforms are slow and deliberate, efficient in comparison to the slashy, splashy rises of fish eating caddis later in the spring.
9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.
The river flow is slightly below average and within the optimal flow range for resident trout populations (250-400 cfs at Wellsville). It is incredibly wadeable everywhere at these flows, offering tremendous access for wade fishermen. We are also conducting float fishing trips around and below Salida. 9AM to 5PM is your prime time on the river, particularly in areas that receive a lot of sun exposure through the day. Colder weather may constrict productive fishing hours during the day.
Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.
We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.
Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!
Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.
Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.
Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.
Mar 22
ArkAnglers
Friday 3/22, 2024
Flow at Wellsville: 276 cfs
Water Temp.: 40s
Clarity: Mostly clear, intermittent waves of slightly stained water but generally several feet of visibility.
2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: March 23, April 6, April 20, May 4, May 18, June 1
Friday Report - Braden Baker
Fishing in the lower basin has been fantastic this week as trout disperse from their winter water and blue wing olive hatches have begun. Ideal weather for these hatches is cloudy and humid, but we have seen strong hatches every day this week in very sunny conditions. We're averaging a daytime high around 60 degrees in Salida. Often we can see the best hatches on snowy or rainy days, especially early in the cycle, but recent days are a good reminder to be prepared for an emergence regardless the forecast. With that in mind, midge hatches have also been strong enough to prompt shallow and surface feeding from trout so pack midge adult and emerger patterns alongside your blue wing olives to cover all the bases.
Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 12-4 PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the miniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface. Over the past ten years this hatch has become very well known on the Arkansas in the spring, with enviable dry fly fishing opportunities and far less traffic than the Mother's Day caddis hatch tends to produce in April and May (which also yields tremendous dry fly fishing!). Trout have seen relatively little pressure through the winter so this mayfly hatch usually sees very willing and deliberate participation from the resident fish.
Nymphing is still a good tactic throughout the day but especially in the morning hours as the day warms up (think large attractor nymph trailed by a caddis larva or midge larva), working the deeper runs or transitional water nearby. Around lunch time expect blue wing olive nymphs to begin drifting as they redistribute themselves in the days leading up to hatches. These nymphs are often found in riffled sections of the river, faster than what we've been fishing through the winter. These areas are often shallower, too, so don't ignore water that's 2-3' in depth. Assuming a hatch takes begins to occur, fish will position themselves in the quieter waters where the duns emerge to efficiently take advantage of the meal. Riseforms are slow and deliberate, efficient in comparison to the slashy, splashy rises of fish eating caddis later in the spring.
9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.
The river flow is slightly below average and within the optimal flow range for resident trout populations (250-400 cfs at Wellsville). It is incredibly wadeable everywhere at these flows, offering tremendous access for wade fishermen. We are also conducting float fishing trips around and below Salida. 9AM to 5PM is your prime time on the river, particularly in areas that receive a lot of sun exposure through the day. Colder weather may constrict productive fishing hours during the day.
Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.
We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.
Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!
Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.
Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.
Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.
Mar 19
ArkAnglers
Tuesday 3/19, 2024
Flow at Wellsville: 262 cfs
Water Temp.: 40s
Clarity: Clear
2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: March 23, April 6, April 20, May 4, May 18, June 1
2024 Spring Rowing School Dates: March 20-24
Tuesday Report - Braden Baker
Scout Wave Improvement Updates:
https://www.cityofsalida.com/parksrec/page/scout-wave-improvements
Scout Wave Live Webcam:
https://www.coloradowebcam.net/index.php/camera/salida-co-lower-wave-arkansas-river-zoom-tenderfoot-mt
Fishing in the lower basin is beginning to change pace quickly, ramping up as trout begin to disperse from their winter water and blue wing olive nymphs drift daily in the afternoons, actively hatching on cloudy days. Ideal weather for these hatches is cloudy and humid. Often we can see the best hatches on snowy or rainy days, especially early in the cycle. As we move later into the spring, the smallest cloud can prompt a good hatch even on an otherwise bluebird day. Blue wing olive hatches most often occur from 1-4PM, and fish will move into the flatter, calmer edgewater toward the banks and in back eddys to intercept the duns as they dry their wings on the water's surface, vulnerable for a significant time as they prepare for first flight. Trout will also take advantage of those mayflies struggling to hatch, stuck during emergence in the miniscus of the water as they struggle to shed their nymphal exoskeleton. These riseforms can often appear similar, as the fish is still breaching the surface of the water to grab food. Contrast that to the riseform of a trout eating emergers just under the surface, where the head of the trout doesn't necessarily break the surface but the dorsal fin and tail of the trout does as the trout rounds out and turns back downward in the water after a successful eat just barely below the surface. Over the past ten years this hatch has become very well known on the Arkansas in the spring, with enviable dry fly fishing opportunities and far less traffic than the Mother's Day caddis hatch tends to produce in April and May (which also yields tremendous dry fly fishing!). Trout have seen relatively little pressure through the winter so this mayfly hatch usually sees very willing and deliberate participation from the resident fish.
Nymphing is still a good tactic throughout the day but especially in the morning hours as the day warms up (think large attractor nymph trailed by a caddis larva or midge larva), working the deeper runs or transitional water nearby. Around lunch time, expect blue wing olive nymphs to begin drifting as they redistribute themselves in the days leading up to hatches. These nymphs are often found in riffled sections of the river, faster than what we've been fishing through the winter. These areas are often shallower, too, so don't ignore water that's 2-3' in depth. Assuming a hatch takes begins to occur, fish will position themselves in the quieter waters where the duns emerge to efficiently take advantage of the meal. Riseforms are slow and deliberate, efficient in comparison to the slashy, splashy rises of fish eating caddis later in the spring.
9' leaders are standard and material in the 5x class is well suited for this time of year. You can probably get away with 4x at times and you can definitely work with 6x, though it's uncommon for material that small to be absolutely necessary. Clear water should make anglers consider fluorocarbon tippets for their wet flies but nylon material is perfectly fine for your dry flies. The blue wing olives themselves usually average a #18, so being prepared with a range from #16 down to #20 depending on the pattern.
The river flow is slightly below average and within the optimal flow range for resident trout populations (250-400 cfs at Wellsville). It is incredibly wadeable everywhere at these flows, offering tremendous access for wade fishermen. We are also conducting float fishing trips around and below Salida. 9AM to 5PM is your prime time on the river, particularly in areas that receive a lot of sun exposure through the day. Colder weather may constrict productive fishing hours during the day.
Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.
We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.
Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!
Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.
Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.
Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.
Mar 12
ArkAnglers
Tuesday 3/12, 2024
Flow at Wellsville: 262 cfs
Water Temp.: High 30s, low 40s
Clarity: Clear
2024 Spring Fly Fishing 101 Dates: March 23, April 6, April 20, May 4, May 18, June 1
2024 Spring Rowing School Dates: March 20-24
Tuesday Report - Braden Baker
Scout Wave Improvement Updates:
https://www.cityofsalida.com/parksrec/page/scout-wave-improvements
Scout Wave Live Webcam:
https://www.coloradowebcam.net/index.php/camera/salida-co-lower-wave-arkansas-river-zoom-tenderfoot-mt
The lower basin is becoming increasingly productive due to much milder nighttime weather and very pleasant daytime highs in the 50s. Today's high in Salida is nearly 60 degrees! That said, we do see another round of snow in the forecast Wednesday through Saturday. Though trout are still very near their winter runs and pools, we are starting to see fish venturing into the shallower transitional water nearby to intercept the slowly expanding food supply.
The river flow is slightly below average and within the optimal flow range for resident trout populations (250-400 cfs at Wellsville). It is incredibly wadeable everywhere at these flows, offering tremendous access for wade fishermen. We are also conducting float fishing trips around and below Salida. Colder weather will constrict productive fishing hours during the day and send fish into the slower, deeper pools and runs where they can comfortably hold without expending much energy (~3-7' deep). 10AM to 3PM is your prime time on the river, particularly in areas that receive a lot of sun exposure through the day. Be prepared for subtle strikes, though recent warm weather has made for some more aggressive behavior from trout.
Most anglers are strictly nymph fishing with indicators and sighters. Midges are the predominant hatch at the moment with lots of larvae and pupae available subsurface throughout the day. These are typically size #18-22 with adults in the #18-24 range. Under the right conditions midge hatches have yielded some fun early season dry fly fishing. Baetis nymphs are becoming more available as they begin to redistribute themselves throughout the river in the afternoons. Expect blue wing olive hatches to begin around St. Patrick's Day. With molting stonefly nymphs more vulnerable in early spring, fish will also readily take well drifted stonefly nymphs and other large attractors throughout these colder months. These can be fished in relatively large sizes, with #10-12 being common offerings.
Always be prepared to take time carefully releasing fish. Wet your hands thoroughly before handling and try to minimize trouts' time out of the water while releasing. Please do your due diligence giving them adequate revival time before moving on.
We sell fishing and hunting licenses at both our locations.
Follow us on instagram at @ArkAnglers!
Salida Location - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201. (719) 539-3474.
Open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm.
Buena Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. (719) 395-1796.
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Please call us at 719-539-4223 with questions or to make your reservation.