Arkansas River Tailwater, Pueblo
.Pueblo Tailwater Fishing Report: Pueblo Dam down to I-25
Date: February 19th, 2025
Flow below dam: 106 cfs (including hatchery outflow)
Temperature: 37- 40F
Clarity: Excellent
February 19th:
Fishing on the tailwater is about to really turn on as the rainbows begin to depart their winter resting lies and look to put on some extra calories heading into the spring spawn. The cold winter has delayed things by a few weeks, but some fish are already spending more time in prime feeding lies while also searching out areas to begin building redds (aka spawning beds.) The rainbow spawn will play out over the next six to eight weeks and at any given time you may see fish building redds and actively spawning. It is essential for the future of the fishery that anglers do NOT fish to trout while they are on redds. If you are new to trout fishing and unsure what a redd looks like stop by the shop and we will be happy to explain. With that said, the spawn is a process that takes several weeks for any given fish. During that time, a fish will only be actively spawning for a few hours a day. The remainder of the time, they will either search out areas of depth and shelter in which to rest, or they will move into prime feeding lies, typically riffles and runs of moderate depth and current. While resting fish can be convinced to eat with a well placed fly, the greatest fishing opportunity during the spawn is focusing of those fish that are clearly in FEED MODE! These fish will generally be keyed in on small midge and baetis patterns in size 20-24 but can also be receptive to larger imitations such as eggs, worms, caddis larva and leech patterns. While it is commonly accepted to fish for trout that are NOT actively spawning, minimize your impact during this period of increased vulnerability by playing fish aggressively and keep them submerged in the net prior to release. The fact that the Pueblo Tailwater remains one of the best trophy trout fisheries in Colorado despite it’s popularity is a testament to the stewardship displayed by the majority of anglers who fish it. If you see someone out there that is not respecting the resource, try to educate them before passing judgement. If they are snagging fish off redds or otherwise running a foul of the law, please don’t hesitate to report them to Colorado State Patrol (303)239-4501 or the local wildlife office (719)561-5300 so a game warden can be notified. Tight lines!
Recommended Patterns:
Tube Wing Midge #20-24
Foam Back Emerger #18-24
Top Secret, Ninja Midge, Rs2 #20 – 24
Juju Baetis and FOD #18-22
Mini Flashtail Egg #16
Sunny Side Up Egg #18
Tungsten Caddis Larva #16-18
Squirrel Leech #10-14
UPPER ARKANSAS RIVER: Canon City to Salida
Date: February 19th, 2025
Flow @ Wellsville: 267 cfs
Temperature: 33- 40F
Clarity: Good
February 19th:
The Upper Arkansas is starting to thaw out and already has many areas of open water to fish, especially as you get above Coaldale and on up towards Salida. With significantly warmer weather forecast for late February, the edge ice in Bighorn Sheep Canyon should diminish rapidly opening up miles and miles of public water. The cold winter has made fishing difficult in the canyon for the past eight weeks so fish have seen very little pressure. As the weather warms and water temperature increase, you can expect to see the fishing turn on quick! Nymphing with golden stoneflies, caddis larva, baetis nymphs and midge pupa can be deadly. The streamer action in the afternoon, after the water has warmed four or five degrees, can also be red hot. If you’re interested in doing a float trip this spring on the upper Ark, give us a call and get on the schedule with Alex.
January 21st:
The upper Ark has significant ice accumulation due to the recent cold spells and is not fishable at this time. Once we get several days of warmer weather there will be some areas with good sunlight that clear of ice and slush.
December 26th:
Water temperatures on the upper Ark are now in the mid 30’s and the “upper Ark” is offering winter conditions that typically last until mid-February or early March. Look for fish to be congregated in primary pools that offer good depth and slower currents. The depth offers fish a sense of protection from predators while the slow currents mean fish can spend as little energy as possible while their metabolisms (and food consumption) are low. If you are looking for solitude and want to fish the upper Ark, pay attention on the weather patterns and try to go after a there has been two or more days of mild weather. If nigh time lows are dropping into the teens or single digits there will be a decent layer of slush on the surface until late morning so don’t be in a rush to get on the water. Fishing close to Salida can be a good option as this area generally doesn’t get as cold at night and the river here receives a fair amount of direct sunlight. The main thing to remember is to focus on primary pools and get you nymphs down to bottom as fast as possible!
Recommended Patterns:
Tube Wing Midge #20-24
Mercury Black Beauty, WD40, RS2 #18 – 22
Juju Baetis and FOD #18-22
Tungsten Caddis Larva #16-18
Mercer’s Epoxy Golden Stone and Cravens Two-Bit Golden Stone #10-14