Arkansas River Report – Buena Vista (Sept 24, 2025): Tricos, BWOs & Skinny Flows

The Ark near Buena Vista is skinny but clear at 175 CFS. Fall hatches are shifting: Tricos linger in the mornings, BWOs are gaining strength on cloudy days, and midges/baetis nymphs carry fish through the middle of the day. With steady pocket-water flows, trout are concentrated and spooky — perfect conditions for those who like technical fishing.

Wading is wide open, but pressure is medium with anglers scattered along public access.

Rise Beyond Fly Fishing – Buena Vista Dispatch
We dig into how to fish skinny fall flows — from picking the right Trico spinner to rigging a two-fly nymph setup that can still turn heads in pressured water.

• Flow Rate: 175 CFS — skinny but very wadeable
• Water Temp: Low/mid 40s°F — stable, safe for trout
• Air Temp: 40s°F mornings, climbing to low 70s afternoons
• Clarity: Clear — fish are spooky, approach with stealth
• Best Times: 7–10:30 AM Trico spinners; BWOs on cloudy afternoons
• Fishing Pressure: Medium — public pull-offs see traffic, but hiking spreads anglers
• Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ — productive windows, but technical

Notes: Tricos remain strong early, but BWOs are the future. Midges and baetis nymphs keep subsurface drifts alive.

Nymphs / Emergers

• JuJu Baetis (olive/black, #20-22) – steady producer in pocket water.
• RS2 (gray/olive, #20-22) – deadly as a dropper below dries.
• WD-40 (brown/black, #20-22) – crossover midge/baetis pattern.
• Tungsten Pheasant Tail (#18-20) – anchor fly in two-nymph rigs.
• Duracell Jig (#16-18, copper/black) – great for fast seams.

Dries / Terrestrials

• Trico Spinner (CDC wing, #22-24) – morning must-have.
• Blue Wing Olive Parachute (#20) – for cloudy afternoon hatches.
• Parachute Adams (#20-22) – versatile dry that covers multiple hatches.
• Hi-Vis Griffith’s Gnat (#20-22) – for midges in slow slicks.
• Amy’s Ant (#14-16, peacock/tan) – still picks off opportunistic browns.

Streamers

• Lil’ Kim (white/olive, #8-10) – triggers bigger fish in deeper slots.
• Slumpbuster (natural/black, #10-12) – swing through pocket water.
• Mini Leech (#12, olive/black) – subtle, effective in skinny flows.
• Sparkle Minnow (#10-12, sculpin colors) – useful in shaded banks.

• Morning (7–10:30 AM): Target riffles and slow flats with Trico spinners; trail RS2 or WD-40.
• Midday: Nymph seams with JuJu Baetis or tungsten PT anchor, trailing RS2/WD-40.
• Afternoon (clouds): BWOs emerge; parachutes and emergers do the trick.
• Evening: Streamers like Lil’ Kim or Slumpbuster swung in deeper pockets.
• Rig Note: Long leaders (12–14 ft), 6X-7X fluoro. Anchor with tungsten PT or Duracell; trail micro nymphs.

• Downtown Buena Vista: Accessible runs; good Trico water but pressured.
• Upstream toward Johnson Village: Riffle/run water with lower traffic.
• Cottonwood Creek confluence area: Good nymphing water, less crowded.

Q: Is 175 CFS too low?
A: No — it’s skinny but very fishable. Stealth is key.

Q: What’s the go-to pattern?
A: Trico spinner in the morning, JuJu Baetis or RS2 below the surface midday.

Q: Are streamers worth fishing here?
A: Yes, especially in the evening. Stick to smaller patterns.

Q: Best quick access?
A: Public runs near town; hike upstream for less pressure.

Q: What rod/tippet setup?
A: 9’ 4–5 wt, long leaders (12–14 ft), 6X for dries, 5X for streamers.