Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Arkansas Basin
Below Pueblo Reservoir the Arkansas becomes a tailwater that fishes best from fall through spring, when other rivers are cold and slow.
Looking for the latest Arkansas River Pueblo Tailwater 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 Pueblo Tailwater.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Pueblo Tailwater fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
Releases jumped to about 830 cfs around Halloween, up from about 380, and pushed fish to the soft edges. Wading is limited at this level, so check the gauge before you drive. Releases can change quickly.
Midges are hatching all day and BWOs show on overcast afternoons in the eddies. Fish a heavier rig with a worm, egg, cranefly larva or large scud up top and an RS2, Black Beauty or Juju Baetis below. Dead-drift soft edges, inside bends and seams, and fish close to shore before wading.
Use 3X or 4X fluorocarbon at these flows to save flies on snags. Once releases drop back, expect this stretch to fish well into winter.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Pueblo Tailwater, bring: San Juan Worm #12-14, Egg #14-16, Kaufmann', s Scud #12-14, RS2 Emerger #20-24, Black Beauty #20-24, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Parachute Adams #18-22, Mini Leech #12-14, Zebra Midge #18-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Pueblo Tailwater river details
| Access | Walk-in and roadside from Lake Pueblo State Park below the dam, the Valco Ponds bridge, the Pueblo Nature Center and downtown. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 4,700 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 108 miles, roughly 2 hours 4 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Fall through spring, with winter the best |
| Fish | Rainbow trout (stocked near the dam) and brown trout, with bass lower down |
| Regulations | Special flies-and-lures and catch-and-release rules apply on parts of this stretch, and the boundaries have changed recently. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the posted signs. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 3X to 4X at high flows, 5X to 6X when low and clear |
| Camping | Lake Pueblo State Park campgrounds (open all year) |
| Kids | Yes. Paved trails, the Nature Center and easy banks. Avoid it at high releases. |
| Good to know | Winter is prime time here. The reservoir keeps the water cool in summer and open in winter. |
Fishing by season
Winter
The best season. Midges and BWOs at stable low flows, best at midday.
Spring
BWOs on gray days and midges. Caddis from late May.
Summer
The hardest season. Fish dawn and dusk, and watch for heat closures.
Fall
Strong BWOs and the best brown trout fishing. Avoid spawning gravel.
How to get there
Park at Lake Pueblo State Park below the dam or at the Pueblo Nature Center.