Arkansas River Tailwater, Pueblo
Pueblo Tailwater Fishing Report: Pueblo Dam down to I-25
Date: April 4th, 2026
Flow below dam: 80 cfs from the dam plus 20 cfs from hatchery outflow
Temperature: 45F From the Dam, 45 – 52F Downstream
Clarity: Very Good
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!
February 18th:
Got a bump in flows of 20 cfs from dam this afternoon which will give the trout a little extra room to roam and provide a little more cover. Winter Water Storage ends on March 15th, at which point flows will likely be above 100 cfs going forward.
February 12th:
The warm weather we’ve experienced this winter has not gone unnoticed by the rainbows and there is a lot of early spawning activity occurring. Please be extra cautious to avoid wading through redds and fishing to actively spawning fish. Midge hatches have been steady and fish are moving into prime feeding lies when not distracted by spawning. Be sure to go light on tippet and downsize flies, particularly on the bright sunny days.
Recommended Patterns:
Dorsey’s Medallion Midge, UV Foam Emerger, Ninja 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 4th, 2026
Flow @ Wellsville: 250 cfs
Temperature: 44-54F
Clarity: Good
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
Two-Bit Golden Stone, Pat’s Rubber legs #10 – 14
Napoleon Jigs #16 – 18
Violet Tail Jig #16-18
Tungsten Pheasant Tails #18 – 20
Streamers: Wounded Sculpin, Thinmint, Peanut Envy