Where to Go Arkansas River – Pueblo

Open 9 am to 6 pm Daily

Report Date: 10/28/2026

Current Conditions:

Releases below Pueblo Dam have surged up to 664 CFS, creating deep, pushy, and high-volume conditions throughout the tailwater corridor. The elevated flows have completely reshaped trout holding positions—fish have pushed out of main-channel chutes and moved up in the water column toward soft bank margins, inside seams, rock-lined eddies, and behind major boulder obstructions. These higher flows dislodge abundant food from the substrate while providing fish with ample overhead depth cover, making them significantly less line-shy than during low-water periods.

Guide Report:

Ted Demetriou- 10/26/26 - 325-486cfs. Good before and after flow jump. BWO,  Caddis, and PMD.

Weather:

Short Term -

Autumn weather over the next 3 days will feature pleasant daytime highs reaching the low-to-mid 60s under partly cloudy skies. Crisp morning temperatures starting in the lower 40s will quickly give way to afternoon sun. Light to moderate valley breezes blowing at 8 to 14 mph will chop the surface of broad tailouts, further concealing heavy lead flies and stout terminal tackle.

Long Term -

Extended regional forecasts over the next 10 days point to a stable fall trend across the high plains, with highs gradually cooling into the upper 50s and overnight lows hovering near 35°F. Massive thermal capacity from Pueblo Reservoir ensures subsurface water temperatures remain remarkably stable, buffering trout against air drops and keeping feeding windows open throughout the entire day.

Hatches:

While heavy 664 cfs currents disperse surface hatch concentrations, small midges continue hatching. Bright red midge larvae and pupae dislodged by the increased flow form a major subsurface food source. Overcast afternoons can still prompt localized Baetis (BWO) activity in slow, recessed bank eddies, though the bulk of feeding has shifted entirely to opportunistic subsurface hunting.

Tactics:

Heavy, fast-moving water requires a transition to heavy-duty nymphing rigs. Upsize your fluorocarbon tippet to 3X or 4X to withstand abrasion along submerged riprap and structure. Add sufficient split shot (BB to 3/16 oz) or heavy tungsten beads to cut through the pushy upper water column and get your flies down into the slower boundary layer near the riverbed. Focus your drifts exclusively along soft bank edges, slow inside turns, and seam lines right where fast and slow water meet.

Tips:

Anchor multi-fly nymph rigs with large, high-attraction lead flies like San Juan Worms, Mylant's Sunny Side Up, or large crane fly larvae. Trail these with bright Red Zebra Midges, Tubing Midges, or dark Baetis nymphs drifted tight to holding cover. Take advantage of the murky, deep margins by stepping back from the bank and working close-range dead-drifts before stepping into the water, as trout will often be holding within just a few feet of the shorelines.

Photo by Ted Demetriou