Freestone · Mixed · Colorado

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

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

Down through Bighorn Sheep Canyon and into the Royal Gorge the Arkansas is bigger, lower, and warmer than the high water up at Granite, and it behaves differently for it.

Species

About as good as it gets

River steady at a fishable height. About as fair as it ever gets — go properly.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal
14°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 activity6712% weight
Conditions
Level
0.79 m
Water temp
13.7°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
22°C
Wind
E 16 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1013 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
1.3 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 (down to the US-50 bridge at Parkdale)
  • Verify CPW rules.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

Down through Bighorn Sheep Canyon and into the Royal Gorge the Arkansas is bigger, lower, and warmer than the high water up at Granite, and it behaves differently for it. Early season and autumn are the times here — browns and rainbows in a long, rock-walled freestone that holds good fish but heats up fast once July arrives. This is the reach where the thermal-welfare call gets real: a warm low-water afternoon down in the canyon is a poor choice for the trout, regardless of what the calendar says. Go early or go higher up the river.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 3