Arkansas River Fishing
108.4 Gold Medal miles in Chaffee County and 3 other counties.
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The Arkansas River: course, length and access
Anglers in Chaffee County and 3 other counties fish the Arkansas River as a working river. The nearest town on the Census list is Twin Lakes, around 5 miles away. About 108.4 Gold Medal miles run through it.
CPW maps 2 reaches with special fishing regulations, about 12.3 miles in all. Public property on it: Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Arkansas River Ranch, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Canyon Trading Post and Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Clear Creek. USGS reports from 6 active gauges.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (special-regulation, Gold Medal and fishing location layers), NHD flowlines, Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Why the Arkansas River carries the Gold Medal label
| Gold Medal reach | Miles |
|---|---|
| Lake Fork of the Arkansas to Parkdale | 108.4 |
Gold Medal reaches of the Arkansas River still follow the bag shown under limits unless a special rule applies.
CPW Gold Medal Streams layer (reach miles computed from the line geometry) and the Gold Medal list in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 3, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Special trout water on the Arkansas River
| Reach | Miles | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge at Valco Ponds / Pueblo Nature Center upstream boundary / Pueblo Nature Center downstream boundary / Pueblo Boulevard | 2.16 | brochure lists the rule |
| Peublo Reservoir SWA upstream boundary | 10.1 | rule in the CPW brochure |
Where a reach of the Arkansas River carries a rule, that rule governs.
Special regulation text for the Arkansas River
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| From the confluence with the Lake Fork of the Arkansas near Leadville downstream to Parkdale at the U.S. 50 bridge crossing above the Royal Gorge. | p. 11 | |
| Within the Pueblo Reservoir State Wildlife Area: | Bag, possession and min. size for walleye and saugeye is 5 in the aggregate, 18 inches long. Only 1 walleye or saugeye in the aggregate longer than 21 inches may be taken per day. | p. 11 |
| From the bridge at Valco Ponds downstream to Pueblo Blvd. (except at Pueblo Nature Center, as posted): | Artificial flies and lures only. Trout longer than 16 inches must be returned to water immediately. | p. 11 |
Special regulations as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 11 to 39, checked against CPW Chapter W-1 (as approved 13 November 2025); retrieved October 2026.
CPW special fishing regulation and Quality Waters layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Arkansas River RanchNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Canyon Trading PostNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Clear CreekNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Elephant RockNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Fishermans BridgeNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Five PointsNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Granite RockNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Hayden RanchNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Hecla JunctionNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – KobeNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Lone PineNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Lower Hayden RanchNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – MaytagNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – NumbersNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – ParkdaleNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Pink HouseNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Pinnacle RockNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Point BarrNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Railroad BridgeNational Recreation Area
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Rapid No. 4National Recreation Area
Check State Wildlife Area rules before fishing these Arkansas River parcels.
CPW Fishing Atlas fishing location property names and Quality Waters access notes, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Fish of the Arkansas River
Species documented on the Arkansas River by CPW.
CPW Quality Waters species, state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Discharge readings along the Arkansas River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River At Granite, Co. | 465 cfs | May 31 1:30 am Not updated since May 31, 2004. |
| Arkansas River At Parkdale, Co. | 686 cfs | Nov 5 6:45 pm Not updated since Nov 5, 2026. |
| Arkansas River At Canon City, Co. | 304 cfs | Oct 1 1:30 am Not updated since Oct 1, 2006. |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 11:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Runoff on the Arkansas River usually crests between May and June.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; Arkansas River Below Empire Gulch Near Malta, CO, Arkansas River At Granite, CO, Arkansas River Below Granite, CO and Arkansas River Near Nathrop, CO.
The Arkansas River mapped
The Arkansas River has no mapped ramp; use public parcels and bridges.
Other CPW ramps around the Arkansas River
- East Ramp on Twin Lakes LowerTwin Lakes Lower, 6 miles
- Matchless Ramp on Turquoise LakeTurquoise Lake, 6 miles
- Clear Creek Reservoir SWAClear Creek Reservoir, 11 miles
- Railroad Bridge Boat Rampboat ramp, condition good, 19 miles
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, USGS gauges, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Colorado limits that apply on the Arkansas River
| Species | Bag and possession | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee) | Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Brook trout 8 inches or less (bonus) | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Kokanee salmon | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Walleye, saugeye and sauger | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Channel, flathead and blue catfish | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Yellow perch | Daily bag 20, possession 20 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Northern pike and bullhead | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
CPW splits some limits by drainage, and the Arkansas River falls in the Arkansas and South Fork Republican drainages. Unless a reach rule applies, these limits cover the Arkansas River.
Colorado sells no separate trout stamp; a CPW fishing license covers trout ($44.87 for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents), and anglers 16 and older need one.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026. All Colorado limits.
CPW releases into the Arkansas River
CPW stocking on the Arkansas River: 23 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (4 in 2026, 10 in 2025, 9 in 2024); latest April 10, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| April 10, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| March 13, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| February 13, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| January 16, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| December 19, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| November 28, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| September 26, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| July 4, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| June 13, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| May 23, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| May 2, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| March 21, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout of about 10 inches; the date is when CPW added the water to its weekly list), 2024 to October 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026.
CPW record entries for the Arkansas River
| Species | Category | Weight or length | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longnose Sucker | heritage length (to 2019) | 22 inches in | Steven Fieldman |
CPW state records, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), retrieved October 25, 2026.
What sits near the Arkansas River
Lakes to pair with the Arkansas River
- Hayden Meadows Reservoirunder a mile
- Crystal Lakes2 miles
- Emerald Lake, Lake County4 miles
- Mount Elbert Forebay5 miles
Bait and flies near the Arkansas River
- UpRiver Fly Fishingfly shop, Buena Vista, 25 miles
- Ark Anglersfly shop, Buena Vista, 26 miles
- Breckenridge Outfitterssporting goods store, Summit, 26 miles
- Pomeroy Sportsbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 26 miles
- Aspen Flyfishing Incbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 26 miles
Registered outfitters around the Arkansas River
- ArkAnglers, LLCfishing guide, Salida
- Royal Gorge Anglers Inc.fishing guide, Canon City
- Salida Fly LLCfly fishing guide, Buena Vista
Mountain and plains towns near the Arkansas River
- Leadville5 miles
- Minturn25 miles
- Buena Vista26 miles
- Breckenridge27 miles
Streams to pair with the Arkansas River
- Rock Creek, Lake County9 miles
- Glacier Creek10 miles
- Clear Creek, Lake County11 miles
- Rich Creek12 miles
Counties holding part of the Arkansas River
What Piscifun makes for the Arkansas River anglers
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A photo lineup of the fish at Arkansas River
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Fabricio Cardenas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0
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The Arkansas River: the questions anglers bring
What part of Colorado does the Arkansas River drain?
Its channel crosses Chaffee County, Fremont County, Lake County and Pueblo County.
Is the Arkansas River stocked?
Roughly 108.4 miles are Gold Medal, per CPW.
Where are live cfs numbers for the Arkansas River posted?
Its 6 USGS gauges feed the flow band.
Can I fish the Arkansas River without trespassing?
Open ground includes Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Arkansas River Ranch, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Canyon Trading Post, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Clear Creek and Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area – Elephant Rock.
How many trout may I keep from the Arkansas River under CPW rules?
Special rules apply on 2 reaches. Brochure text:
What is the nonresident fee for the Arkansas River?
Colorado sells no separate trout stamp; a CPW fishing license covers trout ($44.87 for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents), and anglers 16 and older need one.
Which store is nearest the Arkansas River?
UpRiver Fly Fishing, about 25 miles away.
Which trout hold in the Arkansas River?
The list shows longnose sucker and trout.
Which Census place is the shortest drive from the Arkansas River?
Twin Lakes, 5 miles out.
Which years did CPW stock the Arkansas River?
23 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (4 in 2026, 10 in 2025, 9 in 2024); latest April 10, 2026.
Block out a day on the Arkansas River
Buy the CPW license online before heading out.