Bighorn Sheep Canyonon Arkansas River
River flow last 30 days
What's working on Arkansas River
- 01Consistent subsurface nymphing with midge and mayfly imitations.
- 02Streamer fishing can be highly productive for larger, aggressive trout.
- 03Look for opportunistic feeders on Blue-Winged Olive and Isonychia dry flies during hatches.
- 04Egg patterns are effective where spawning activity occurs.
- 05Water levels are generally favorable for wading and floating throughout the fall season.
What to tie on at Bighorn Sheep Canyon
Picked from recent reports for this stretch.
Tungsten Bead Pat's Rubber Legs
This weighted stonefly nymph is crucial for getting deep in the current and imitating larger dislodged insects, a consistent food source for trout and whitefish in fall.
Buy at AmazonZebra Midge
The Zebra Midge is the quintessential winter fly for the Arkansas River. In sizes 20-22, it perfectly imitates the midge pupae that make up the bulk of a trout's diet in February.
Buy at AmazonTungsten Bead Pat's Rubber Legs
Stonefly nymphs are present year-round in the Arkansas. The tungsten bead provides the necessary weight to act as an anchor fly, getting your midge droppers into the strike zone in deep winter runs.
Buy at AmazonWoolly Bugger (Olive)
A versatile and reliable streamer, the olive Woolly Bugger imitates leeches and baitfish, which become a more important food source for aggressive trout bulking up for winter.
Zebra Midge (Black)
Midges are a consistent food source year-round, and this small nymph is highly effective in colder fall waters for enticing finicky trout and whitefish.
Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph
An excellent general searching nymph, mimicking various mayfly nymphs that are active year-round and particularly effective as BWOs begin to emerge in fall.
Woolly Bugger (Olive)
A reliable year-round streamer, effective for imitating leeches and baitfish, especially in the colder spring flows of the Arkansas River for active, aggressive fish.
Micro Egg
Trout and whitefish will key on egg patterns year-round, and this is particularly effective during and after the spring spawning season of various trout species.
Buy at AmazonBlue-Winged Olive Comparadun
Blue-Winged Olives are actively hatching in early spring, especially on overcast days, making this low-profile dry fly excellent for selective trout feeding on emergers and adults.
Colorado season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Fly shops nearby
Local flies, current advice and guided trips.