Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Arkansas Basin
The headwaters of the Arkansas wind through high meadows south of Leadville, where small, clear water and spooky brown trout reward a careful approach.
Looking for the latest Arkansas River Leadville 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 Leadville.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Leadville fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
Flows are low and steady, and the water is gin clear. Nights are well below freezing, so expect shelf ice on cold mornings and slow fishing until the sun warms things up.
Midges are the main food, with the last few Blue-Winged Olives on mild, cloudy afternoons. A short nymph rig or light dry-dropper through the deeper bend pools and undercut banks is the best approach. Stay well back from the bank.
This is the highest and coldest part of the river and the first to shut down for winter. Brown trout are spawning, so leave fish on gravel alone.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Leadville, bring: Zebra Midge #20-22, RS2 Emerger #20-22, Black Beauty #20-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #18-20, Caddis Larva #16-18, Griffith', s Gnat #20-22, Parachute Adams #18-22, Elk Hair Caddis #14-16 (summer), JuJu Baetis #18-22, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Leadville river details
| Access | Walk-in from road pull-offs. Hayden Meadows State Wildlife Area off US-24 south of Leadville is the main public meadow water. Much of the valley is private, so obey signs. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 9,400 to 9,900 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 117 miles, roughly 2 hours 32 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Late June through September is best. Mostly iced in winter. |
| Fish | Mostly brown trout, with some rainbows and brook trout |
| Regulations | Flies and lures only with special harvest limits through Hayden Meadows. Gold Medal Water starts downstream at the Lake Fork confluence. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 to 12 ft leaders, 5X to 6X tippet |
| Camping | Turquoise Lake and Twin Lakes national forest campgrounds (seasonal) |
| Kids | Yes. Open, gentle meadow water and short walks. Dress warm at this elevation. |
| Good to know | Meadow browns spook at a shadow. Kneel and make short casts to the bank edges. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold and often iced in long stretches. Little worth fishing.
Spring
Low and clear before runoff, with early BWOs and midges. Runoff starts in late May.
Summer
The best season. Caddis, small stoneflies, PMDs and terrestrials in the meadows.
Fall
BWOs and spawning browns into October. Fades quickly in November.
How to get there
Hayden Meadows is on US-24 a few miles south of Leadville.