Update
Flow: 366
Water Temp: 66

July 9, 2012

Flow: 181
Water Temp: 54-72
A couple bumps in flow and cooler temperatures have helped keep things cool towards downtown. The lake has turned over faster than I can remember and the water is almost gin clear and flowing at 52 degrees out of the gates. We are breathing a sigh of relief and hope we’re out the woods for now.
After several weeks of clients, tournaments and water watching I finally had the opportunity to hunt the Arkansas River’s big trout. At least that was the plan. My first distraction was 16” – 18” bows aggressively taking mayflies above the Nature Center all the way to Valco and beyond. A 22 BWO quill body was all it took. Pods were in every seam and j hook moving upstream. They spook easily so it’s effective to stick a few and move up to the next group. This distraction lasted from 7 to after noon. The next was a large number of folks still unaware of the regulations. I’ll see if I can find a spot on the site to post them. Approach these folks casually and politely and they will generally thank you for the info and move on. You’ll get a different reaction if you charge them shouting (I did this once yesterday saving a 20” bow from a stringer). I took temperatures at various times and depths in the thalweg and the nature center maintained 58-61 degrees so we’re still searching for the areas of the biggest increase. Fish the upstream sections and take care releasing trout. If you have a smart phone and a thermometer send us a temp, time and location.
Tight lines,
Ben