Buena Vista to Salida As of 6/16/2022, Braden Baker with Ark Anglers writes, “The river is beginning to clear as flows recede following our peak current of runoff and the next 4-6 weeks will offer some of the best fishing of the whole season. The river easily has 24" of clarity between Buena Vista and Salida and is improving quickly. The receding flows are making for much easier float fishing and wade fishing conditions and this weekend should offer excellent fishing opportunities in most areas of the river. If you've been on the fence about fishing, the time is NOW. Wading anglers are still advised to minimize their in-stream wading and focus on fishing from the banks due to the higher summer flows. At these levels expect fish to move out of the fastest water into velocity shelters where they can hold/feed at a relaxed pace without expending much energy. Try to find areas with walking speed current along the banks, in pocket water, and in back eddys where deflection and friction slow the water down. The water you might want to stand in is probably where you need to be casting. Larger leader material is a good idea; anything smaller than 3x is unneccessary. Dark, high contrast streamers and nymphs will probably be your best option to stand out in the off-color water. As the river clears, fish will begin responding to more realistic imitations of nymphs prior to summer stonefly and mayfly hatches. Yellow sallies and golden stoneflies will tee up in the coming days prior to their emergence, and these flies are excellent nymphs to prospect with in te higher summer flows. As we anticipate these coming summertime hatches, your tried and true attractor nymphs are going to be the go-to patterns in nymph and dry-dropper rigs; rince nymphs, pheasant tails, hare's ears, copper johns, etc. are the perfect, buggy, suggestive patterns to fish beneath a grasshopper or attractor dry fly right along the bank. Don't worry if you don't see fish rising; the higher flows usually allow us to tease fish to the surface on larger dry flies out of an opportunisitc, competitive response even in non-hatch periods. Tributaries are still a little swollen but are clear and very worthwhile as an alternative to the river for these seeking solitude. Mid and high elevation lakes are beginning to open and give opportunities in the high country. Most lakes are opening slightly earlier than normal due to the sub-par snowpack and recent warm weather.”

Much of the Arkansas River is surrounded by beautiful mountains. Driving on Route 24 along the headwaters provides a spectacular view. The most heavily fished and popular section of the Arkansas is from Buena Vista to Canon City. This section is approximately 75 miles long, with beautiful pocket water, pools, riffles and runs holding an excellent population of browns and a good population of rainbows. Trout in the Arkansas average 13-15 inches although fish to 18 inches and better are not that uncommon.

Camping: Stretching for 148 miles along one of the West's premier recreation rivers. AHRA operates five campgrounds along the river with a total of 86 campsites available.

From Steamboat Springs go west two miles on U.S. 40 to County Road 129. Turn north and drive 26 miles.

• Brown Trout
• Rainbow Trout
• Cutthroat Trout
• Brook Trout