SALIDA — Pinpointing the specific reason why the Arkansas River has become the most popular moving water fishery in Colorado is a bit like predicting the surrounding weather.
There are many variables, much science, historical trends and, yes, some guesswork factored into the equation. But more often than not, you’re simply waking up to sunshine.
After more than 20 years of rising and shining along the river’s edge, Ark Anglers co-owner Greg Felt clearly is a product of that environment, adopting the sunny disposition and fishing instincts required to manage the largest guiding operation on the river, along with the ability to understand and react to the unforeseen variables.
Case in point, this summer’s overly abundant river flows on the Arkansas, which have cut into roughly three weeks of the traditional float fishing season on the river named most popular among fishermen in the most recent Division of Parks and Wildlife Angler Survey.
“On the Ark, we’re definitely used to a 30-day period where float-fishing, and wading too, can be difficult due to high water during the runoff. This year, it’s been more like 50-60 days, so we’ve had to become increasingly creative in our guide service,” Felt said. “But most of our customers have even fewer preconceptions of a fishing trip than we do. They just want to fish and are open to listening to our recommendations.”
The current recommendation? Hop in a raft and make the most of the flows that have finally fallen to fishable levels. The fish are even more eager than the anglers.
“It’s happening,” said Felt (719-539-4223). “The river is still definitely elevated for this time of year, but we’ve had good visibility and our boats are having good success.”
It’s during such high-water years that float fishing is especially effective. Fish are concentrated along the banks and a solid boat guide can set up anglers at a good casting distance to the dozens of holding areas along the river’s edge. And since the fish are expending more energy to hold their position, they’re accustomed to making quick decisions about passing food in faster water, with brown trout especially eager to respond aggressively to large fly patterns.
According to DPW aquatic biologist Greg Policky, the Arkansas River traditionally has one of the highest trout densities of any river in Colorado, measuring 4,500 brown trout per mile just below Salida in 2010. Rainbow trout, decimated in the past by whirling disease, tend to grow better, but represent only 15-25 percent of the trout population since stocking of the Hofer/Colorado River cross began in an attempt to diversify the fishery in 2009.
During high water years such as this one, however, it’s the brown trout that are impacted most. The breed is designed to thrive in low water flows, as evidenced by an eight-fold increase in the number of browns measuring more than 14 inches following the 100-year drought in 2002.
Aside from the current willingness of fish to jump on the hook, the impact of the comparably high flows of 2011 remains to be seen.
“You have to draw a distinction sometimes between the fishing and the fishery,” Felt said. “This is pretty good for the fishing. If you can get guys lined up and casting it in there right, they’re going to catch fish.
“But the fish are being depleted. They’re operating at a calorie deficit right now and, long term, this (high water) is not good.”
History has shown Felt how resilient the fish can be, however. And a recent day on the river, in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, taking some two dozen trout on laughably large Chernobyl ant patterns trailed by a black foam caddis showed the fish to be just as opportunistic as the fishermen.
“If you can drop a fly 4 inches from the bank, they’ll take it,” Felt said. “Whenever you get the chance to fish double dry flies, you have to take it.”
Scott Willoughby: 303-954-1993 or swilloughby@denverpost.com
