Fishing Near Salida and Buena Vista

You don’t have to be a whitewater junkie to enjoy the Arkansas River. For anglers, it is the innumerable quiet pools and eddies that harbor the promise of the thrill and satisfaction that comes with landing a glimmering rainbow or handsome brown trout. As the Arkansas rambles through Buena Vista and Salida, boasting 140 miles of trout stream, more than half of which is open to public access. As its reputation grows, the Arkansas is luring anglers to one of the healthiest self-sustaining wild brown trout fisheries in the country with an unparalleled consistent dry fly season from March through October. A robust fish population and relative lack of pressure means the Arkansas is also a great place for beginners to get hooked on fly-fishing. Local fly shops and fishing outfitters are more than happy to update visitors on current conditions, directions to public access and provide full-service guided trips. Fishing licenses and free comprehensive local Fishing Guides are available at any of these shops. The Guides can also be picked up at Chamber of Commerce offices in Salida, Buena Vista and the Visitor Center in Poncha Springs.

Lake Fishing. Lake fishing aficionados have a smorgasbord of options to choose from. Grandparents and others love taking their small frys to the lovely small lakes in Salida and Buena Vista. The Town Lake in Buena Vista is located in McPhelemy Park right at the lone traffic light in town. Sand and Frantz Lakes are located along the Arkansas on either side of CR 291 just west of Salida near the new hospital. A little further from town, and easily accessible by car, are the popular O’Haver Lake off Marshall Pass outside Poncha Springs and Cottonwood Lake off Cottonwood Pass, west of Buena Vista. For those who like a little more tranquility with their lake fishing, the northern end of the county enjoys the highest concentration of high alpine lakes anywhere in the state.

Winter Fishing. Can’t get enough fishing in the summer? Ice fishing is popular on the previously mentioned O’Haver and Frantz lakes at the south end of the county and Twin Lakes, Clear Creek and Turquoise Reservoirs up north. Grab a USFS map or ask a friendly and knowledgeable fly shop for directions.

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