Freestone · Mixed · Colorado

Arkansas River — Browns Canyon (Buena Vista to Salida)

Arkansas River — Bighorn Sheep & Royal Gorge (Cotopaxi to Parkdale) terrain map
Terrain map

Browns Canyon is the reach the caddis built — the Mother's Day hatch comes up the river in late April and May and the brown trout lose their manners for a couple of weeks, which is most of the reason people circle this water on the calendar.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal
12°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity6112% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
12.2°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
20°C
Wind
E 18 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1014 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
1.5 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Colorado licence
  • Gold Medal reach
  • Verify CPW rules.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

Browns Canyon is the reach the caddis built — the Mother's Day hatch comes up the river in late April and May and the brown trout lose their manners for a couple of weeks, which is most of the reason people circle this water on the calendar. It's classic, accessible, wadeable freestone through Buena Vista and Salida, and it gets a crowd because it earns one. The catch is summer: this is also one of Colorado's busiest commercial whitewater runs, so a perfect hydrograph in July might still mean dodging rafts all afternoon. Fish the mornings.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 5