Spring is here, and stream fishermen have been finding the conditions and activity to be about as predictable as the weather. A sampler:
Arkansas River
The river has been unusually low and clear, with a volume of 371 cubic feet per second at Wellsville on Tuesday. Though caddis have been hatching along the river from Parkdale through Salida, the activity has varied considerably from one day to the next, according to Greg Felt of the ArkAnglers shop in Salida. Through it all, blue-winged olive mayflies have been unusually abundant and provided consistently good fishing. With some cooler days ahead, good conditions should prevail for two more weekends.
Colorado River
Tuesday’s flow below the Williams Fork confluence near Parshall was 246 cfs. Sean Dailey of the Cutthroat Anglers shop in Silverthorne reports periods of good nymph fishing in the mornings and blue-winged olive mayfly activity most afternoons. Below the Pumphouse put-in area, float fishermen have reported that Pteronarcys stonefly nymphs have been active along the river bottom, suggesting the hatch could be coming off earlier than usual this year.
South Platte River, Lake George
Though flows have been dropping, Dick Rock of the Peak Fly Shop in Colorado Springs reports fishing in Elevenmile Canyon has remained good. Nymphs have been productive in the mornings, and good hatches of blue-winged olive mayflies have been coming off in the afternoons. A handful of caddis have appeared, but not enough to be of much interest to fish or fishermen. Fishing in the “Dream Stream” section between Elevenmile and Spinney Mountain reservoirs has been slow. Blue-winged olives have been hatching and taking some smaller fish. Tuesday’s flow was 64 cfs.
South Platte River, Deckers
Tuesday’s volume was 87.4 cfs. The river below Deckers has been discolored by Horse Creek but has been clearing, according to Jeremy Hyatt of the Flies & Lies shop in Deckers. The river above the Deckers bridge has carried a tinge of color from Wigwam Creek but also has been clearing. Hyatt expects flows to come up in the next few days, either through the gates of Cheesman Dam or over the spillway. That should further clear up the river. A few caddis have been noted, but the hatch has not yet taken off. Baetis mayfly activity has been fairly good. The river through Cheesman Canyon is clear. The usual small nymphs have been effective, and some Baetis mayflies have been coming off.
Poudre River
Though the river has been rising, Jin Choi of St. Peter’s Fly Shop in Fort Collins reports good prerunoff conditions through Poudre Canyon. Blue- winged olive mayflies, black-bodied caddis and a few March Browns have provided most of the activity. Visibility has been 3 to 4 feet into the water, and the main runoff could begin at any time.
Big Thompson River
Clarity has been good and the fishing has been steady, reports Choi. Blue-winged olive mayflies and caddis have been the primary hatches. Stonefly nymphs also have been productive.
Karl Licis, Special to The Denver Post
