Arkansas River Fishing Report | Late August, 2025

Michael Atwood
Aug 20
4 min read

Updated: Aug 22

August 22, 2025

Arkansas River Flows

Leadville (Empire Gulch): ~65 cfs

Granite (below): ~165 cfs

Browns Canyon/Nathrop: ~295 cfs

Wellsville: ~280 cfs

Twin Lakes Release: ~22 cfs

Turquoise Res. Release: ~3 cfs

Clear Creek Res. Release: ~35 cfs

Arkansas River Fishing Report:

The Latest:

Well, that's a wrap on this year's Flow Program, and we are seeing the inevitable draw down of the reservoir releases, and the river is now much closer to it's "native flow". Since Sunday, we have seen the releases out of Twin Lakes Reservoir reduced from 410cfs all the way down to 57cfs, a reduction of around 350cfs. Conditions on the upper Ark have changed significantly, as you might imagine, from this decrease in flows. Wade fishing just got a lot easier anywhere downstream of Balltown.

Nymphing is still an excellent way to fish on the Ark, with good opportunities for dry flies when there is a small mayfly or caddis hatch. Hopper-dropper will remain an outstanding option, as there are now more grasshoppers and other terrestrial bugs available along the river corridor.

For the next few weeks, fishing might be a bit more challenging than normal on the Ark. Consider fishing early in the morning, and again in the evening hours, as our water temps will start to reach the high 60's (@ Wellsville gauge) around 3 or 4pm. We don't have Hoot Owl restrictions here, so it falls upon the angler to try to minimize their impact on the fishery. My tips would be... Land fish quickly (you don't need to tire them out!), don't remove fish from the water (now is not the time for grip and grin photo ops), use barbless hooks to minimize the need for handling, use a net to land and release fish as quickly as possible, and if necessary, let fish recover for a while in some good flowing current before you release them. Just make sure you are releasing fish in as good of health as you can! Soon, the weather in September will have things cooling down once again.

You can always keep an eye on flows and water temps by visiting dwr.state.co.us/tools/stations and looking at the hydrographs.

General Arkansas River Fishing Report and Tactics: Hopper-dropper rigs are probably still the best way to go right now. There will be times when dry fly fishing is great, usually in the late afternoon and evenings in my experience, or if you are in the midst of a good hatch and fish start rising all around. Nymphing will probably bring more fish to the net, if you are being really thorough and getting good drifts. Hopper-dropper is just so effective and straight-forward, it is hard to recommend anything else.

Hatches have changed a bit lately, and there are some mid-day lulls where maybe you won't see much of a hatch at all. We are seeing smaller bugs more consistently now, from microscopic tricos, small mayflies (sz. 16-20), to sz. 18-20 caddis flies. Mayflies are still coming in a variety of sizes and colors, so you should be hopeful for some bug activity when you hit the Ark. In my opinion, we are at the time of the season where smaller flies will be more effective. This will become even more evident after the flows drop next week. Trout will become a bit more selective, and your presentation will matter much more now than it did in early July. Start to think about using fluorocarbon tippet when fishing subsurface, in the 5X to 6X size range. Finer tippet, and longer sections of that fine tippet, will improve your presentation. Presentation matters (usually more than specific fly pattern)!

A recent gorgeous sunset on the upper Arkansas River. The caddis were flying too!

Alpine Lakes and Streams:

The alpine is wide open, so you best get it while you can! Sight fishing is usually the name of the game at the alpine lakes. Dry fly fishing is the way to go at this point in the season. Try small or medium sized terrestrials, and if the trout are being picky try to match any potential midge or mayfly emergence that you can see happening. A tiny Griffith's Gnat or Parachute Adams will usually persuade the more picky rising trout. Cover some ground, and spend lots of time looking for cruising fish along drop offs. Usually we don't have to blind fish at the alpine lakes. If you aren't seeing cruising fish, find a deep drop off and fish some deeper flies under an dry fly or indicator for your best chance. Scuds and caddis are also really common food sources at these alpine lakes.

Just this week at an alpine lake, there was a super dense hatch of little flying ants, and they were literally blanketing the surface of the water. The cutthroats were completely keyed in on the ants and gorging themselves. The dry fly fishing was exceptional.

Alpine streams should all be hot and firing right now with your favorite dry flies. These mountain streams can be a great escape from the heat and from the busy feeling along the Arkansas River.

Spinney Mtn and Antero Reservoir Fishing Report:

The S. Park Reservoirs are usually pretty tough this time of year. Warm temps make for some lazy fish. Your best bet is to get out really early in the morning, and try to fish while things are still relatively cool. Mid morning callibaetis hatches on Antero have continued to bring fish into a feeding frenzy. If you can find yourself out during the hatch, and find the fly they want to eat, you should have some good success. The evening fishing should provide some decent opportunities as well, if the wind dies down. A variety of food options are available to the fish, and the great challenge is finding what the fish are feeding on, and where they are doing it. Lately, damsel fly nymphs, scud and callibaetis nymphs have been doing the most catching on the S. Park reservoirs. There are some dry fly opportunities as well, when the callibaetis adults are on the surface. Hoppers have become a decent dry fly option as well, perhaps with a nymph underneath. Look for fish to be cruising in and around the weed towers.