Seasonal Report: Arkansas River
The Arkansas river runs from the headwaters around Leadville through Salida to Buena Vista all the way through Pueblo. Tons of public access and great dry fly fishing during the summer and spring months.
SPRING HATCHES – SUGGESTED NYMPHS AND STREAMERS
Midges: #20-22 Black Fly Larvae, #20-22 Manhattan Midges, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #22-26 Top Secret Midge, #20-24 Medallion Midges, #20-22 Mercury Blood Midge, #20-22 Mercury Flashback Black Beauty, #20-22 Tungsten Flashback Black Beauty, #20-22 Minute Midge, #20-22 Periwinkle, #20-22 Pearl Jam, #20-22 Brassie, #20-22 Buckskin, and #20-22 Chironoflash.
Blue Winged Olives: #20-22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20- 22 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Jujubaetis, and #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emergers
Caddis: #16-18 Buckskin, #18 Graphic Caddis, #14-18 Bead Head Breadcrust, #16 Mercury Cased Caddis, and #16-18 Tungsten Bead Mercury Cased Caddis
Streamers: #6 Lunch Money, #10 Olive Crystal Bugger, #10 White Crystal Bugger, #10 Pine Squirrel Leech, #6-10 olive, black, rust, and gray Meat Whistle, and #6-8 olive and rust Slumpbuster
SPRING HATCHES – RECOMMEDED DRY FLIES
Midges: #22-26 Parachute Adams, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, #20-24 Matt’s Midge, and #20-24 Hi Vis Griffith Gnat
Blue Winged Olives: #22-24 Parachute Adams, #22-24 Barr’s Visa Dun, #20-24 Blue Dun, #20-24 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun, #20-24 Cannon’s Snowshoe Dun, and #20-24 Hi Vis Baetis
Caddisflies: #16-18 Elk Hair Caddis, #14-18 Puterbaugh Caddis, and #14-18 Goddard Caddis