Well we hope everyone got a little bit of whitewater rafting in during the high water!  That and some awesome exploratory trips to high alpine lakes and mountain creeks.  We’ve been pushed off the Arkansas for a little over a month but we are starting to see levels stabilize and clarity come back to the river.  With snow on the mountains dwindling, we are assuming we have seen our peak flows but there could always be a rogue release as the reservoirs are pretty close to capacity.

With the Arkansas, we don’t exactly need low water for it to fish well, we need clarity.  That being said, water is still high.  We are currently seeing about 3280 CFS at Wellsville just east of Salida.  That is down from 4200 CFS about a week ago.  Fishing on the river is still a bit tough but totally worth the effort.  Pocket water is small but the eddies are growing day by day as we see flows start to drop.

Fish are currently holding tight to the banks, any pocket water you can find will have fish.  If you are wading in the river, you are probably standing right where the fish are, so don’t get in the river!  Fish heavier 3X or 2X line so you can get your flies back when you hang up.  We are fishing shallow dry dropper and nymph rigs right on the banks and on seams just inside the fast water.  Large #10-#12 attractor nymphs have been steadily producing fish.    

High Alpine lakes are all starting to open up as well.  There may be some snow and avalanche debris on the way up but fishing has been very productive.  

Happy fishing and stay safe out