Colorado ·
Arkansas River Fly Fishing Report - August 8/23/2025
ARKANSAS RIVER FLY FISHING REPORT
Colorado — Buena Vista • Salida • Cañon City
Report Date: August 23, 2025 | Next Update: August 30, 2025
Current River Conditions
Late‑summer patterns in full swing. Flows on popular sections are low-to-moderate with excellent clarity — a great stretch for precise nymphing and selective dry-fly work. Expect active trout in seams, foam lines and pocket water.
Flows & Clarity
Typical reporting point (Wellsville / Middle Arkansas): ~250–300 CFS (recently trending lower)
Water Clarity: Generally clear — high visibility in most runs and riffles
Notes: Low flows concentrate fish near seams, edges and oxygenated runs
Typical reporting point (Wellsville / Middle Arkansas): ~250–300 CFS (recently trending lower)
Water Clarity: Generally clear — high visibility in most runs and riffles
Notes: Low flows concentrate fish near seams, edges and oxygenated runs
Water Temperature
Current: mid–60s °F (approx.)
Daily Range: mid 50s to mid 60s depending on shade and time of day
Trend: Warm afternoons — watch for surface activity early & late
Current: mid–60s °F (approx.)
Daily Range: mid 50s to mid 60s depending on shade and time of day
Trend: Warm afternoons — watch for surface activity early & late
Weather & Wind
Forecast: Warm and mostly dry with afternoon sun; cooler pockets in the mountains
Wind: Light to moderate afternoon breeze typical — fish sheltered seams when possible
Forecast: Warm and mostly dry with afternoon sun; cooler pockets in the mountains
Wind: Light to moderate afternoon breeze typical — fish sheltered seams when possible
Access & Logistics
Popular boat launches and put‑ins around Buena Vista and Salida are running normally.
Wade access: excellent along the Middle Arkansas; expect some pressure on weekends.
Popular boat launches and put‑ins around Buena Vista and Salida are running normally.
Wade access: excellent along the Middle Arkansas; expect some pressure on weekends.
Hatch Chart & Insect Activity
| Insect | Size | Activity | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden stoneflies / Salmonfly remnants | #6–10 / #4–8 | Moderate — scattered clusters where water is riffled | Late morning → afternoon (target edges and pocket water) |
| Yellow sallies & red quills | #14–16 | Moderate — terrestrials increasing with warm bank temps | Afternoon |
| PMDs (summer mayflies) | #14–18 | Light → moderate — best on calm stretches | Mid to late morning |
| Caddis (adult & skittering) | #14–18 | Moderate in evening, especially near woody banks | Evening |
| Midges & small emergers | #18–22 | Consistent — great pickup for tiny emergers and dropper rigs | All day in pockets & slow seams |
| Terrestrials (hoppers, ants) | Size varies (hopper imitations) | Heavy — best bet later August into September | Afternoon → dusk |
Recommended Flies (matched to available patterns)
Start with these on your leader — I’ve matched each recommendation to proven patterns in the current fly assortment so you can grab exactly what's been working.
- Salmonfly / Big Stonefly Dry: Libby's Salmonfly — sizes #4–8 (use along foam lines and heavy riffles).
- Stonefly / Rubber‑leg Nymphs: Tungsten Pat's Rubber Legs — #6–10 (indicator nymphing / euro style).
- Hoppers & Terrestrials: Fancy Pants Hopper and Bionic Hopper — pair with a beadhead nymph dropper for size.
- PMDs / Baetis Dries: Parachute Adams or Stealth Link PMD — sizes #14–18 for calm water rises.
- Caddis Dry / CDC Options: Corn‑fed Caddis (CDC) — Tan or Olsen's Foam Front End Loader Caddis — skitter and mend carefully on the surface.
- Tiny Emergers / Midges: Black Zebra Midge (TBH) — sizes #18–22 for indicator or euro setups.
- Perdigons & Fast Nymphs: Egan's Warrior Perdigon and Olsen's Diabaetis Perdigon — work well tight to current seams.
- Classic Pheasant Tail / Hare's Ear: Pheasant Tail Tungsten and Guide's Choice Hare's Ear — universal nymphing options.
- Streamers (sculpin / baitfish): Coffey's Articulated Sparkle Minnow — Sculpin #4, Sculpzilla — Natural — run along structure and deep seams.
Tactics & Rigging
- Nymph Game: With low, clear water the middle Arkansas rewards precise indicator and euro nymphing. Focus on 3"–6" off the bottom in runs and troughs. Use Perdigons, Pheasant Tails and Pat's Rubber Legs on droppers.
- Dry & Dry‑Dropper: Switch to a hopper or big stone/stonefly dry in the afternoon when terrestrials and stones drift in. Keep droppers short (18–30") to keep nymphs in the strike zone.
- Streamers: Slow strips near undercut banks, bridge pilings and big boulders produce aggressive takes; use articulated sculpin patterns in deeper runs.
- Tippet: 3X–5X for dries and larger nymphs; 5X–6X for tiny perdigons and midges on calm, clear days.
- Presentation: Mend early, keep drag out of the equation on dry takes, and present offerings to seams where fish are concentrated.
- Dry & Dry‑Dropper: Switch to a hopper or big stone/stonefly dry in the afternoon when terrestrials and stones drift in. Keep droppers short (18–30") to keep nymphs in the strike zone.
- Streamers: Slow strips near undercut banks, bridge pilings and big boulders produce aggressive takes; use articulated sculpin patterns in deeper runs.
- Tippet: 3X–5X for dries and larger nymphs; 5X–6X for tiny perdigons and midges on calm, clear days.
- Presentation: Mend early, keep drag out of the equation on dry takes, and present offerings to seams where fish are concentrated.
Where to Focus
Buena Vista to Salida: excellent wade fishing with plenty of pocket water and seams. The Royal Gorge stretch can hold larger trout in deep runs — best fished with streamers or heavy nymph rigs. Concentrate on seams, tailouts of riffles, and cuts downstream of boulders where low flows push oxygenated water.
Quick Checklist for Your Trip
Rods & Lines
4–6 wt rod for most sections
Floating line for dries/streamers; sink-tip or Skagit for heavy streamer work
4–6 wt rod for most sections
Floating line for dries/streamers; sink-tip or Skagit for heavy streamer work
Leader & Tippet
9'–12' tapered leader + 3–6X tippet depending on presentation
18–30" dropper lengths for hopper-dropper setups
9'–12' tapered leader + 3–6X tippet depending on presentation
18–30" dropper lengths for hopper-dropper setups
Essentials
Nippers, hemostats, small floatant, split shot (if legal), polarized sunglasses, wading staff
Nippers, hemostats, small floatant, split shot (if legal), polarized sunglasses, wading staff
