| One of the finest attributes of the Arkansas is its | | | | Reservoir and the tailwater below the dam. The |
| accessibility. Roughly 60 % has public access and | | | | reservoir itself can be excellent for Wipers, |
| most of it is well marked along major highways. | | | | Crappie, and Bass. Small Mouth and Large Mouth |
| Traveling south from Leadville, you will pick up the | | | | Bass regularly fall to float tubers, but a powerboat |
| river at the Highway 24 Bridge. This marks the | | | | is necessary to effectively chase Wipers. The |
| beginning of over five miles of the Hayden Lease. | | | | tailwater has just undergone a habitat |
| The river here is a small, winding stream with | | | | improvement project. The selective placement of |
| willow lined banks. From this point, it begins to pick | | | | small and large boulders has created an efficient |
| up speed and water from tributaries as it cuts | | | | trout habitat where nonproductive water once |
| through Brown's Canyon between Buena Vista | | | | existed. The DOW is considering a special |
| and Salida. Brown's Canyon is without a doubt one | | | | regulation stretch of water, so in the future this |
| of the most scenic wilderness canyons in the | | | | tailwater could become even a more productive |
| state of Colorado. The best access is by boat, | | | | fishery, especially during the winter when so |
| launching at Fisherman's Bridge and taking out at | | | | many other waters are locked in the grip of |
| Hecla Junction. You can hike upstream from the | | | | winter. |
| lower end of the canyon at Hecla, however you | | | | Even though the Arkansas is the number one |
| must cross to the east side to access public land | | | | whitewater rafted river in the lower 48, the use |
| and that can be tricky except during low water. | | | | of McKenzie style drift boats is not encouraged |
| Once across, you can use the abandoned rail bed | | | | after the river drops below 1000 cfs. During |
| as a trail system and walk the entire canyon, | | | | runoff and high water these boats generally work |
| stopping to fish pool after pool of productive | | | | fine, but inflatables in the 13 to 14 foot range such |
| water. | | | | as self bailers from Aire, Maravia, and Down River |
| By the time the river reaches Salida, it has leveled | | | | are the best. Personal pontoon craft in the 8 to |
| in elevation and becomes a meandering, classic | | | | 10 foot range navigate this river extremely well. |
| Rocky Mountain freestone river with wide gravel | | | | To drift this river, understand your skill level and |
| bars, boulder fields and deep runs accented with | | | | get a good river map. Launch areas are well |
| shallow pools and backwater eddies. For the next | | | | placed from Granite to Canon City, giving you the |
| 50 miles, U.S. Highway 50 shadows the Arkansas, | | | | option of short or long floats. Even if you use a |
| providing the most popular recreational access. | | | | boat, probably the best way to fish this river is to |
| From Salida to Texas Creek, fly fishers find easy | | | | get out and walk/wade the boulder fields, rock |
| access, wonderful habitat and great fish | | | | gardens and long shorelines. Fish hold along |
| populations. From Texas Creek to Canon City, the | | | | shorelines primarily and a competent fly fisher can |
| river begins a gradual drop to the foothills. This | | | | break the river down into smaller systems and |
| stretch includes the Royal Gorge, which holds | | | | work fish up close and personal. Wading can be |
| some nice fish, but is extremely difficult to | | | | dangerous in many places, so use studded boots |
| navigate. The twenty miles from Texas Creek to | | | | and a wading staff. It makes sense to be |
| the Gorge takes you through a beautiful granite | | | | prepared, since the Arkansas is one of those |
| canyon, complete with one of the largest Big Horn | | | | rivers that tempt us to wade "just a little further." |
| Sheep herds in the Rockies. This water offers | | | | Ninety-five percent of the time, I fish this river |
| excellent fly fishing during the spring and fall. | | | | with a 9 ft. 5 wt. rod. Afternoons can be breezy, |
| During the summer, it is literally a water park | | | | so wind penetration is a must. If you have an 8 |
| because of the numerous Class IV and V rapids. I | | | | ft. 4 wt., it should be perfect for fishing dry flies. |
| particularly like this section due to its close | | | | One of this river's assets is that it provides |
| proximity to Front Range cities, and because it | | | | something for everyone; dry fly fishing, nymphing |
| looks more difficult to fish, many newcomers | | | | and streamer fishing can be effective most of |
| pass it by. Actually, the fish here tend to | | | | the time. The Arkansas is not an early morning |
| congregate along the edges and outside seams, | | | | river. I find it fishes better from 9:00 AM till 2 PM, |
| making shoreline hikes a nice way to spend a | | | | and 5:00 PM till just after dark. Large Browns |
| morning. The Arkansas in Canon City offers | | | | didn't get big by exposing themselves to the |
| excellent fishing along 3.5 miles of improved river | | | | numerous predators along the drainage. A lantern |
| trail systems, called the Riverwalk. This water is | | | | and a short sink tip line can be a good combination |
| public along the trail side (south side) and provides | | | | for those who enjoy night fishing. I find it |
| great walking, biking, and bird watching as well. | | | | invigorating and extremely productive, but it does |
| The Riverwalk runs from the ninth street trail | | | | require knowledge of the streambed for wading |
| head to McKenzie Ave. on the east end of town. | | | | safety purposes. Besides, all you need is a #8 |
| The next fly fishing opportunity comes at Pueblo | | | | Black Woolly Bugger - well, maybe two. |