Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Arkansas Basin
From Granite down to Buena Vista the Arkansas runs through boulder-strewn pocket water and canyon runs along US-24. This is Gold Medal Water with a dense population of wild brown trout.
Looking for the latest Arkansas River Granite river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Arkansas River โ Granite.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Granite fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
Flows are low and steady, around 40 cfs in late October, and the water is clear. The Granite gauge shuts off for the winter, so the reading above may be stale.
Low water puts fish in the deeper holes and the slots between boulders. Nymph close to the bottom with a stonefly or perdigon up top and a small midge or Baetis below. Midges and the last BWOs bring a few fish up on calm afternoons.
Fish are wary in this skinny water, so go smaller and lighter. The best window is about 10 am to 3 pm.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Granite, bring: Pat', s Rubber Legs #10-14, Golden Stone #14-16, Perdigon #18-20, RS2 Emerger #18-22, Zebra Midge #18-22, JuJu Baetis #20-22, Frenchie #16-18, Parachute Adams #18-22, Thin Mint #6-8, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Granite river details
| Access | Roadside and short walk-ins along US-24. Granite, the Numbers and Railroad Bridge are the main public spots. The Numbers is expert-only whitewater for floating. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 8,500 to 8,950 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 132 miles, roughly 2 hours 50 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Late summer and fall, plus spring before runoff |
| Fish | Brown trout (most) and rainbows |
| Regulations | Gold Medal Water from the Lake Fork confluence down to Parkdale. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X to 5X tippet, 6X in low, clear water |
| Camping | Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area sites such as Railroad Bridge |
| Kids | Not for young kids. Boulder pocket water, steep banks and swift current. A few calmer spots near Railroad Bridge. |
| Good to know | At low flows, the deeper slots between boulders hold most of the fish. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold, with some ice. Slow midday nymphing.
Spring
Pre-runoff BWOs and the Mother's Day caddis moving upstream. Runoff in May and June.
Summer
Golden stones, caddis, PMDs and hoppers as flows drop.
Fall
BWOs and spawning browns in low, clear water.
How to get there
Granite is on US-24 about 15 miles north of Buena Vista.