Arkansas River Fishing Spot

• Elevation: 9445'
• Last Modified By: vinny60 on 09/12/09 05:31 PM
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The Arkansas River is an outstanding river flowing for over 300 miles through Colorado. The river is located a short distance southwest of central Colorado just east of the continental divide. Its headwaters are found north of Leadville where it gathers runoff from the surrounding Sawatch Mountains. Flowing for approximately 100 miles southeast, it passes Mount Elbert and then the towns of Buena Vista, Salida and Coaldale. Turning east at Coaldale, the Arkansas flows for approximately 200 more miles passing the towns of Canon City, Pueblo, La Junta and Lamar before reaching the Kansas state line. There are a few area's along the Arkansas River that have special regulations. The headwaters of the Arkansas are beautiful with huge surrounding mountains. Driving on Route 24 along the headwaters provides a spectacular view. The mileage above Buena Vista is smaller but the river gains size and volume quickly as it nears the towns of Buena Vista and Salida. The most heavily fished and popular section of the Arkansas is from Buena Vista to Canon City. This section of the river, which is approximately 75 miles long, has beautiful pocket water, pools, riffles and runs holding an excellent population of browns and a good population of rainbows. The river averages from 70-100 feet wide in most areas with boulders, bends and deep seams creating superb habitat for the trout that reside here. Trout in the Arkansas average approximately 13-15 inches although fish to 18 inches and better are not that uncommon. Route 24 parallels the Arkansas from its headwaters to just south of Buena Vista where Route 285 then parallels the river for several miles before Route 291 then parallels it to Salida. From Salida to the Kansas border, Route 50 parallels the river. Look for side roads where access can't be found from the more major highways. Follow the roads that parallel the river and look for likely areas. There are many access points along the Arkansas River, which is one of its great attributes. Be careful wading as the river can be swollen at times especially from late May to early July when the river receives a healthy supply of runoff. The rivers bottom can also be tricky in areas as boulders and an uneven bottom could cause a slip or two if caution is not taken.

The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast and traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.