Arkansas River Tailwater, Pueblo
Pueblo Tailwater Fishing Report: Pueblo Dam down to I-25
Date: April 21st, 2026
Flow below dam: 200 cfs from the dam plus 20 cfs from hatchery outflow
Temperature: 48F From the Dam, 48 – 56F Downstream
Clarity: Excellent
April 21st:
A water call came through so we are seeing a little more water being released from the dam. Perfect conditions for wade fishing. Enjoy!
Give us call if you want to book a guide and see how amazing this fishery can be in the spring. Sight fishing to actively feeding fish is sure to get your heart beating fast and your adrenaline pumping!!!
April 16th:
The tailwater is experiencing stable flows similar to winter time and water clarity is as good as I’ve every seen it. The rainbows have finished spawning now and are looking to feed and restore their prespawn body weight. (Keep in mind that the eggs deposited during the spawn won’t hatch for several more weeks so it is important to be mindful not to wade through spawning beds through mid-May.)
April and May is my single favorite time of year to fish the tailwater as the improved hatches and hungry fish can make for very memorable days. While the fish are looking to feed, they generally aren’t sloppy eaters and will require natural drifts with reasonable imitations. Midge are generally the focus in the morning, with baetis often taking priority at some point in early afternoon. The clear water can allow for great sight fishing and once you get dialed in it’s game on!
Our guide trips are producing excellent results so if you want some help with technique and how to approach the river just give us a call and we will get you on the schedule. Tight lines!!!
April 4th:
The water calls have ended for now and flows are back down to what we typically see in the winter months. The lower flows will result in a greater daily thermal swing which should be just what the Blue Winged Olive need to start hatching on a daily basis. The upcoming week is calling for mild weather and if flows stay relatively stable, we expect to see some of the best dry fly action so far this year in the late morning through mid afternoon hours.
March 28th:
Early snow melt combined with water calls to eastern ditches has brought flows up into the ideal range for wade fishing on the tailwater. Get out and enjoy these flows while they last! We have openings in our guide schedule over next week so give us a call and hit the tailwater with the help a local expert.
March 25th:
Spring has sprung and the fishing here on the Pueblo Tailwater keeps getting better and better! Flows have been great this past week and water temps from the dam have reached 45F. This temperature is generally when we start seeing consistent BWO hatches appear in the early to mid afternoon timeframe. Midge hatches are also intensifying, with midge in the sz 18 range becoming more frequent. With low flows almost guaranteed through spring, the dry fly action will really be picking up as we move into April. The best window for dry fly opportunities starts around 11am most days and can extend into the late afternoon.
Most rainbow trout have finished spawning down here but there are some stragglers to watch out for. More importantly, the eggs will not hatch for another 4-6 weeks so please be vigilant not to wade through spawning beds.
March 19th: A water call came through yesterday that has brought flows up to 140 cfs from the dam! This is a great flow for this time of year and will offer fish a lot more room to spread out in various habitat.
March 18th:
Flows briefly improved at the end of winter water storage, but unfortunately have since dropped to a very low flow of about 65 cfs, including the hatchery outflow. This low flow may very well have a detrimental impact on the viability of spawning redds and will hopefully be short lived. Thankfully, water temperatures at this time of year ensures that adult fish will survive the low flow without physical harm. If you choose to fish the tailwater at these low flows, take caution to avoid wading through redds as they can be located in very shallow areas that you may otherwise not consider typical spawning habitat.
Water temperatures already in the mid 40’s from the dam so we should start seeing BWO hatches joining the midge any day now. Combined with the low flows, a silver lining will likely be more surface feeding fish this spring.
March 10th:
The Rainbow spawn has been in full swing and should be finishing up by the end of the month. While many anglers feel the fishing is great during the spawn, the best fishing is by far after the spawn is complete and the fish turn their full attention to feeding. The caloric deficit created during the spawn drives fish to build their reserves back up and the only way to do that is by eating as much as possible at every opportunity. Combine this with warming water temperatures that trigger strong hatches and the result is actively feeding fish throughout much of the day.
Our guide trips are producing good numbers of fish along with some quality trout over 20 inches. Stop in the shop or give us a call and get your date reserved! (719) 543-3900 Tight lines!
Recommended Patterns:
Dorsey’s Medallion Midge, Foamback Emerger, UV Midge #20 – 24
True Blood Midge #16 – 22
Bling Midge #20 – 24
Wonder Baetis & Epoxy Back Baetis #20 – 22
Sparkle Wing Rs2 #20 – 22
Extended Body BWO #18-20
Foam Para-Midge #18 – 22
Eric’s Midge #20- 22
Flashtail Mini Egg #16
Jigged Mini Leech #14
UPPER ARKANSAS RIVER: Canon City to Salida
Date: April 21t, 2026
Flow @ Wellsville: 340 cfs
Temperature: 46-58F
Clarity: Good
April 16th:
The Upper Ark is fishing well with a mix of midge, baetis and caddis hatching throughout Bighorn Sheep Canyon. Fish will often feed opportunistically on the freestone stretch but be prepared to match the hatch during peak bug activity. Nymphing in the morning and early afternoon is very productive and dry fly opportunities are good in the afternoon and evening hours. When the clouds roll in and wind picks up the streamer fishing really turns on.
Alex is available for guided float trips and the float fishing will greatly improve once flows are over 300 cfs. Flows will likely start creeping up over the next week or two. With limited snowpack, the best float fishing of the year will likely be in May, June and early July.
April 4th:
Flows have trended back down to the mid-200 cfs range as the weather moderates and things start to feel more like spring and less like summer! Bug activity continues to be less important than the fact that fish have generally been in a springtime feeding mood and looking to put on weight after the lean winter months. A variety of general purpose nymphs (see list below) have been producing well. When a midge or BWO hatch pops up you may want to add something more imitative to you rig, but aside from surface feeders, it really hasn’t been necessary that often.
While a few caddis had started hatching in the Canyon, cooler weather seems to have halted further activity. Look for the best caddis activity this coming week in the Canon City area up to Parkdale.
March 25th:
Spring on the upper Arkansas River is well ahead of schedule and the fishing is excellent. BWO hatches are becoming a daily occurrence and there have even been some early caddis flying around. Friday’s cool down should slow the caddis progression but we could see some strong hatches next week throughout Bighorn Sheep Canyon which would be the earliest by far that I can remember.
While matching the hatch during prime hatch windows can be important, these fish generally respond well to a variety of nymphs in the 14-18 size range this time of year, and streamer fishing can also be stellar.
March 18th:
The Upper Arkansas is perfect for wade fishing this spring and the hatches are coming well ahead of normal. There are good BWO hatches occurring in the late afternoon all the way up to Salida and if the warm weather sticks around much longer we may see caddis hatching in the Canyon by the 1st week of April, if not sooner! Fish are responding well in the Canyon to both imitative and attractor patterns and fish can be found in all water types now that many fish have dispersed from the usual winter lies.
March 9th:
The Upper Arkansas through Bighorn Sheep Canyon is quickly moving into prime spring conditions. The freestone section never really saw significant ice accumulation this winter and water temperatures are several weeks ahead of normal. Midge are hatching late morning and the BWO’s are hatching to some degree every afternoon starting between 1 and 2pm. Within a week or so we be seeing very strong BWO hatches as water temps consistently reach into the upper 40’s and low 50’s. Flows are a bit lower than normal so wading anglers can move about the river with relative ease. Fish are largely begun to spread out from their winter lies and all manner of water types are holding fish.
Recommended Patterns:
WD40’s, RS2’s and Foamback Emergers #20 – 22
Stalcup Baetis, Darth Baetis, F.O.D #18 – 22
Juju Baetis & Mercury Rs2 #18 – 20
BWO Adult & Adams #18 – 20
Tung. Trapper and Graphic caddis (caddis pupa) #14 – 16
Parachute Caddis and Peacock Caddis (dry/adult) #14-16
Two-Bit Golden Stone, Pat’s Rubber legs #10 – 14
Napoleon Jigs #16 – 18
Jigged CDC Carrot #14 – 16
Shuck-It Jig #14 – 16
Tungsten Pheasant Tails #18 – 20
Streamers: Wounded Sculpin, Thinmint, Peanut Envy