Colorado ·
Arkansas River Fly Fishing Report - June 14, 2026
ARKANSAS RIVER
ReportJUN 14 — 21, 2026
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Flow
439CFS
ARKANSAS RIVER NEAR NATHROP, CO
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-06-13
☀️
Weather
46–83°F
Chance Rain Showers
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
The Arkansas near Nathrop is running 439 CFS at 4.07 ft — elevated but very fishable with good clarity across the lower basin and slightly stained conditions in the middle basin. With historically low snowpack keeping flows well below seasonal norms, wade and float access is excellent and hatches are overlapping in a way rarely seen this early in June.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
#20
Egan's GTI Caddis - Olive #12
#12
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless #12
#12
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Bionic Hopper - Tan #12
#12
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Tungsten Rainbow Warrior - Extra Heavy #14
#14
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caddis (Brachycentrus) | #14–18 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Peak | Midday through evening |
| Pale Morning Dun (PMD) | #16–20 | ⭐⭐⭐ Active & Building | Late morning, 10am–1pm |
| Yellow Sally Stonefly | #14–16 | ⭐⭐⭐ Emerging | Late morning near rocky banks |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | #18–22 | ⭐⭐ Spotty — Overcast Breaks | 10am–2pm on cloudy spells |
| Midge (Chironomidae) | #20–24 | ⭐⭐⭐ Active | Early morning & evening |
| Terrestrials — Ant / Early Hopper | #12–16 | ⭐⭐ Building | Midday through afternoon |
Best Time Window
- Early morning (6–9am): Midge and early caddis activity; nymph deep seams with Frenchie jigs and Rainbow Warriors before crowds arrive
- Late morning to early afternoon (10am–2pm): Prime overlap of caddis, PMD, and Yellow Sally hatches; switch to dry or dry-dropper rigs in riffles and pools
- Evening (6pm–dark): Peak caddis evening rise near Nathrop and Salida; dead-drift CDC caddis in the surface film and swing soft-hackles through tailouts at last light
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 439 CFS and exceptional clarity, the Arkansas is in prime early-summer form — start your morning with a Frenchie jig or Straggle Stone nymph in the deep mid-river seams, then transition to a caddis dry or hopper as the sun hits the water around 10am and hatches begin to overlap. Sunday's afternoon thunderstorm window (50% chance) could actually trigger a brief but electric BWO rise in the slower flats — have a Parachute BWO rigged and ready on a separate rod. As temperatures climb toward 83°F on Monday, shift focus to shaded canyon walls, deeper runs, and early-morning or evening sessions when fish are most active near the surface; don't put the streamer rod away — big browns are on the prowl in this warm, stable water.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
