BUENA VISTA — Along the Arkansas River, things definitely are looking up.
The river is high, lapping at the streamside willows where the gentlest of breezes wafts the sweet scent of newly fallen rain. Heavy midriver currents churn, swirl, roll and boil among the rocks — to the delight of whitewater thrill seekers and to the trepidation, perhaps, of tenderfoot wading fishermen — but with the annual runoff slowly receding, the water is surprisingly clear.
Late-afternoon overcast creates an early twilight, and Will Yinger has hooked his first brown trout of a spur-of-the-moment visit to the river.
“I’m surprised more people don’t fish it this time of year,” he shouts above the roar, releasing the fish in a small, shallow backwater next to the bank. “This is a great time for fishing.”
Few who have tried it would argue. The river provides a moving buffet of insects to the trout, which seize an opportunity to gorge as the runoff abates.
Yinger, who among other endeavors is a sometime guide for the Buena Vista branch of the Salida-based ArkAnglers fly shop, is on his home river every chance he gets. He has observed a progression of golden and Yellow Sally stoneflies, caddis and some early pale-morning-dun mayflies on the river in recent days, along with cranefly larvae below the surface and a smorgasbord of terrestrial insects that may chance to fall upon the water.
No significant hatch is evident, but a swarm of swallows darting above the river, then swooping down in pursuit of some unseen insect, suggests the fish will be looking to the surface, as well.
Dry flies may produce some spectacular action at such times. Trout will be in pockets of comparatively slow water, in shallows up against the banks, in eddies, backwaters, slicks and other areas away from the heaviest currents. Accustomed to a variety of insects available and with little time to react, fast-water fish generally are not too selective.
Fast-water dry flies often are impressionistic, suggesting an array of insects to the trout. Though size and shape can make a difference, their buoyancy and visibility on rough water generally are more important to fishermen than a fly-tier’s attention to detail.
If no hatch is apparent, Stimulators and Humpies might suggest stoneflies and adult caddis to the trout. Hopper and beetle patterns are must-haves, especially as the season progresses, and the venerable Wulff series and large, Parachute Adams patterns are other rough-water possibilities.
Though attractor-type dry flies often are effective by themselves, many fishermen improve the odds by tying in a dropper, usually a nymph, some 18 inches below the dry. While a fish still might rise to the dry fly, it also serves as a strike indicator for the dropper.
“It’s hard to beat a Pheasant Tail,” Yinger says, preparing to double up. “But a Hot-Wire Prince Nymph sometimes is even better.”
On cue, Yinger is on to another brown, this time on the nymph. It quickly is landed and released, and Yinger moves ahead.
The dry, the nymph, the dry, the nymph . . . the fish are more than cooperative, alternating from one fly to the other, almost as a pair of anglers leapfrogging upstream along the bank from one spot to another.
Wading can be a challenge at high water; moving through the brush along the banks might be even more difficult. But the water is clear and Arkansas River trout, mostly browns, are hungry. They’re abundant, well-conditioned and willing to come up for a fly.
Swallows dart above the water and as afternoon turns into evening, trout begin to rise.
As the man said, it’s a great time for fishing.
