Arkansas River Tailwater, Pueblo
Pueblo Tailwater Fishing Report: Pueblo Dam down to I-25
Date: May 15th, 2026
Flow below dam: 345 cfs
Temperature: 49F From the Dam, 48 – 54F Downstream
Clarity: Excellent
May 15th:
Flows have come up to a more typical level as inflows into the reservoir have risen steadily over the past several days with snowmelt. We are not expecting expecting much of a runoff this year but it is good to see that there is some snow left in the high country. The river is still easily waded at this level and water clarity should remain excellent.
Tricos have already started hatching and fishing have been found keying in on all stages of life in the early morning hours. Midge are active through most of the day and BWO’s are hatching in the afternoon hours. This an excellent time to fish the tailwater as consistent hatches are motivating fish to actively feed through much of the day.
May 5th:
Flows have dropped back down to around winter time levels now that the rainwater from last week has been passed through the reservoir. This is likely going to be the new “typical” level this spring and summer aside from future rain events and irrigation water calls. Water temps are staying in the upper 40’s and low 50’s so the fish are very healthy and have made a strong recovery following the rigors of spawning.
May 1st:
Flows bumped up today to let rainwater downstream as dictated by Colorado water law. The current flow is still very conducive to wade fishing and still affords anglers many places to wade across the river. Expect to see good hatches of midge and BWOs most days with excellent sight fishing opportunities. Small flies and light tippet is still the name of the game! We have openings in our guide schedule over the weekend if you’d like to book a last minute trip. Give us a call and get out on the tailwater to enjoy this amazing fishery!
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, Sunnyside Up Egg #16
Jigged Mini Leech #14
UPPER ARKANSAS RIVER: Canon City to Salida
Date: May 15th, 2026
Flow @ Wellsville: 480 cfs (and rising)
Temperature: 52 – 65F
Clarity: 12-18″ in Bighorn Sheep Canyon
May 15th:
The upper Arkansas has seen a daily ebb and flow with an upward trend that indicates high elevation snow melt is now occurring. Water clarity has diminished to no more than 18″, although fishing on today was still fairly productive using streamers, large dry flies and attractor nymphs. With a low snowpack and cooler temperatures in the extended forecast, we don’t expect to see runoff climb significantly. However, if you are planning a fishing trip for the upper Arkansas river over the next week or two, you should probably have some back up waters on your list just in case conditions deteriorate significantly due to runoff or rain.
May 5th:
The upper Ark is seeing a range of hatches including caddis, blue-winged olives, craneflies and midge. Water temperatures are in the ideal range and fish are actively looking to feed through much of the day. Mornings are consisting mostly of subsurface feeding with both nymphing and streamers being effective. Most hatches are occuring between 11am and 4pm, with good evening egg laying activity. Daily weather patterns will often dictate the best approach at any given time, but be watchful for subtle rises once adults are evident in the air.
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.
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, Schuck-It Jig #14 – 16
Chubby Chernobyls #12-16
Tungsten Pheasant Tails #18 – 20
Streamers: Wounded Sculpin, Thinmint, Peanut Envy