Arkansas River

[AFHokie]

At the end of June/beginning of July I will find myself in the Buena Vista area of Colorado for about a week. I definitely plan on bringing my gear to get some fishing in. Of the little I've researched the Arkansas seems like a top-notch trout stream. Has anyone fished it before? It seems like the whole river is prime territory so I probably can't go wrong.

Ken

[AFHokie]

Oh, and if there are better places to fish reasonably close that would work too. I'm mapquesting right now to see how far the S. Platte is.

[nightfish]

If you're in Buena Vista, don't bother with the S. Platte. There's enough different stretches of the Ark to keep you plenty busy & spare you lots of gas.

You've got a couple of fly shops in the area for info & gear needs. Ark Anglers in Buena Vista, Arkansas River Fly Shop in Salida, and Royal Gorge Anglers in Canon City.

Amica's restaurant in Salida is a must stop. Wood fired pizzas.

[Juke]

I would be willing to bet that runoff is still going strong into Mid June. The Ark gets pretty murky, especially with some afternoon thunderstorms that frequent the area. The fish will be hanging out on the banks.

Spinney and Antero are dandy stillwaters in the area, and callibaetis should be reliably going off between 10-2pm.

The East, Taylor and Gunnison rivers are also a short trip over Cottonwood Pass, which should be open by that time.

[mike doughty]

At the end of June/beginning of July I will find myself in the Buena Vista area of Colorado for about a week. I definitely plan on bringing my gear to get some fishing in. Of the little I've researched the Arkansas seems like a top-notch trout stream. Has anyone fished it before? It seems like the whole river is prime territory so I probably can't go wrong.

Ken

i fish it all the time when i go visit my kids. i haven't fished it that far up but it's a freestone river and the ticket for the day is usually caddis and stones. i would recommend getting ahold of bill at royal gorge anglers. he is always full of info. on that river
http://www.royalgorgeanglers.com/

[mike doughty]

to add to what juke said, 11 mile res. is a really good stillwater as well, which is just down river of spinney on the south platte river

[ScottyS]

If you're going to go to 11 mile, you might as well hit up the Dream Stream just above 11 mile reservoir. Lots of big fish, but one of the few places I've fished that is more crowded than the Provo....

[AFHokie]

Thanks for all the great info guys. Based on the little bit I found on the Platte, as well as my schedule I will probably keep to the Arkansas. I dont want to have to deal with hordes of people and from what I've read (could be wrong) the Platte is very much a 7x crawlin' on your knees affair. Sometimes that's ok but for this trip I dont' want to work too hard.

On those stillwaters, are any of them fishable from shore? I dont have a boat but would like to give the stillwater a try if I can.

[mike doughty]

Thanks for all the great info guys. Based on the little bit I found on the Platte, as well as my schedule I will probably keep to the Arkansas. I dont want to have to deal with hordes of people and from what I've read (could be wrong) the Platte is very much a 7x crawlin' on your knees affair. Sometimes that's ok but for this trip I dont' want to work too hard.

On those stillwaters, are any of them fishable from shore? I dont have a boat but would like to give the stillwater a try if I can.

i know that spinney is but not sure about the other 2.

[Juke]

Spinney and Antero will have significant weed growth in place by June/July, which makes it kind of tough, but possible. The wind tends to blow like hell in South Park too. This is a good and bad thing. Tough to cast, but the fish will stack up on the windward shorlines cruising for food in the warmer water. Most anglers will fish with the wind at their back, do the opposite and you will be rewarded.

Halfbacks and smaller Renegades are another strong fly at both lakes. Lots of snails, I have cuaght some fish in Spinney that you would swear were eating gravel.

[AFHokie]

Thanks a lot guys, I'll have to give it a try

[AFHokie]

Juke,
This is not at all meant to be sarcastic, just want to clarify. When fishing from shore, if I fish the windward shore the wind will be at my back. I only have very littel knowlege of stillwater trout fishing but with bass they migrate to the leeward shore because that is where the baitfish follow their food source (daphnia, insects, etc). I would deduce that trout will do the same. So I should be casting into the wind on the leeward side of the reservoir?