Arkansas River Headwaters

Rafting traffic is done for the year in the Milk Run and Browns Canyon areas, and there is very little going on in the Big Bend area above Salida. Lower flows, cool nights, and a calm atmosphere are making the river an absolutely beautiful place to spend the day. The river is currently very good for wade fishing. The morning midge drift is strong in the riffles, and the afternoon is blue-wing olive time. There are still evening caddis and late stones for the end of the day. Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

Clear Creek Reservoir

Trout angling from a boat has been good but remains fair from the shoreline.  Shore anglers caught trout on both worms and garlic scented PowerBait. A majority of the boat anglers reported landing at least ten trout. Trolling a wet fly with weighted line was the most productive method to land trout.  Another effective technique is to troll worms and flashers along the southern part of the reservoir.  The kokanee salmon fishing has been slow. During the morning, the kokanee salmon went for squids tipped with corn near the dam of the reservoir.

John Martin Reservoir

The current water temperature is around 71 degrees. The reservoir is dropping every day, but anglers are reporting great fishing conditions with plenty of water to fish. The white bass are staying deep in the reservoir for most of the day, and then they are heading into the shallower water in the evenings to feed on baitfish. Anglers are having luck using minnows, Rapala’s, tube jigs, and spoons. Fishing for all other species has been slow. John Martin State Park

Trinidad Lake

The current surface temperature is around 64 degrees. The trout fishing has really picked up from the shoreline in the last couple of days. Anglers have been using night crawlers, artificial flies, and lures. Boat anglers are still catching trout, walleye, and perch using jigs tipped with a night crawler or artificial minnow. Some boaters are catching fish trolling worm harnesses. Trinidad Lake State Park