Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for March 17, 2025. The sun's peeking over the horizon at 6:12 AM, and we've got a beauty of a day ahead. Temps are starting off chilly at 38°F but warming up to a comfortable 62°F by afternoon. Sunset's at 7:08 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to wet your lines.

Now, let's talk fish. The river's running clear at about 930 CFS below Glenwood Springs, which is prime for some early spring action. Trout are starting to get more active, especially in the afternoons. We're seeing good numbers of rainbows and browns in the 12-16 inch range, with a few lunkers pushing 20 inches.

For you fly fishers, midges are still the main course. Size 20-24 black beauties and zebra midges are producing well. As the day warms up, we're starting to see some blue-winged olive activity. A size 18-20 parachute BWO might just entice a big one to the surface.

Spin fishers, don't feel left out. Small gold or silver spinners are working wonders, especially in deeper pools. And for you bait dunkers, a nightcrawler or salmon egg under a bobber is still hard to beat.

Hot spots this week include the stretch near Rifle Gap State Park and down by the Rulison boat ramp. The confluence with Roaring Fork is also producing some nice catches.

A few lucky anglers have been hooking into some decent-sized pike near Parachute. These toothy critters are hitting on large streamers and crankbaits.

Remember, folks, we're still in that transition period between winter and spring. Fish are starting to move, but they're not in full feeding mode yet. Slow and steady retrieves are the name of the game.

Lastly, a friendly reminder that the seasonal spawning closure on tributaries of the lower Roaring Fork and middle Colorado rivers starts today. Let's give those fish some privacy, ya hear?

That's all for now, anglers. This is Artificial Lure signing off. Tight lines and see you on the river!

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for March 16, 2025. Let me tell you, the fishing's been heating up lately as we transition into spring.

We've had a mild week with daytime highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. Today's looking partly cloudy with a high of 62°F. Sunrise was at 7:15 AM and sunset will be at 7:12 PM, so we've got plenty of daylight to work with.

The river flow is sitting around 450 cfs near Kremmling, which is pretty typical for this time of year. Water clarity is good, running clear to slightly stained in some areas. Water temps are in the low 40s, so the fish are starting to get more active.

Folks have been having good luck with rainbow and brown trout lately. I've heard reports of some nice 16-20 inchers being caught, with a few pushing the 24-inch mark. The bite's been best in the afternoons as things warm up.

For you nymph fishermen, small stonefly patterns like Pat's Rubber Legs in sizes 10-14 have been working well. Pair those with smaller midge patterns or blue-winged olive nymphs and you should be in business. Some guys are also doing well with egg patterns.

If you're looking to throw some dries, we're seeing sporadic blue-winged olive hatches in the afternoons. A size 18-20 parachute BWO or extended body pattern can draw some nice strikes when the hatch is on.

For you streamer junkies, now's the time to start chucking some meat. Olive or white woolly buggers and smaller articulated patterns like Slump Busters are enticing some aggressive strikes.

As for hot spots, the stretch below Pumphouse Recreation Area has been fishing well lately. If you're looking to wade, try working the riffles and seams just downstream of the boat ramp. For you float fishermen, the run from Pumphouse down to Radium is producing some quality fish.

Another good bet is the area around State Bridge. There's some nice public access there, and the fish have been stacked up in the deeper runs.

Remember to check those regulations before you head out, and practice catch and release when you can. Tight lines, everyone!

Howdy, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for March 15, 2025.

The sun's peeking over the horizon at 6:12 AM, and we've got a beauty of a day ahead. Temps are starting off chilly at 38°F but warming up to a comfortable 62°F by afternoon. Sunset's at 7:08 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to wet your lines.

Now, let's talk fish. The river's running clear at about 930 CFS below Glenwood Springs, which is prime for some early spring action. Trout are starting to get more active, especially in the afternoons. We're seeing good numbers of rainbows and browns in the 12-16 inch range, with a few lunkers pushing 20 inches.

For you fly fishers, midges are still the main course. Size 20-24 black beauties and zebra midges are producing well. As the day warms up, we're starting to see some blue-winged olive activity. A size 18-20 parachute BWO might just entice a big one to the surface.

Spin fishers, don't feel left out. Small gold or silver spinners are working wonders, especially in deeper pools. And for you bait dunkers, a nightcrawler or salmon egg under a bobber is still hard to beat.

Hot spots this week include the stretch near Rifle Gap State Park and down by the Rulison boat ramp. The confluence with Roaring Fork is also producing some nice catches.

A few lucky anglers have been hooking into some decent-sized pike near Parachute. These toothy critters are hitting on large streamers and crankbaits.

Remember, folks, we're still in that transition period between winter and spring. Fish are starting to move, but they're not in full feeding mode yet. Slow and steady retrieves are the name of the game.

Lastly, a friendly reminder that the seasonal spawning closure on tributaries of the lower Roaring Fork and middle Colorado rivers starts today. Let's give those fish some privacy, ya hear?

That's all for now, anglers. This is Artificial Lure signing off. Tight lines and see you on the river!

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for March 14, 2025.

Let me tell you, the fishing's been heating up lately as we transition into spring. Water temps are hovering around 40°F, and clarity is good with flows steady at about 450 cfs near Kremmling. Sunrise today was at 7:14 AM, with sunset coming at 7:08 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to wet a line.

The trout have been active, especially in the afternoons when things warm up a bit. We've been seeing some nice rainbows and browns coming out, with a few chunky 18-20 inchers in the mix. The Colorado pikeminnow are still pretty sluggish, but that should change as we get further into spring.

Nymphing has been the most productive technique lately. I've had luck running a Pat's Rubber Legs (size 10-14) as the lead fly, followed by a Mercer's Poxyback Micro Stone (size 14-18) and a Zebra Midge (size 18-22) on the bottom. For you streamer junkies, don't overlook throwing some meat - a white or olive Barely Legal has been moving some bigger fish.

If you're looking to hit some prime water, I'd recommend checking out the stretch below Pumphouse Recreation Area. The river winds through a big meadow there with some great structure. Another hot spot has been up in Gore Canyon, but be prepared for a hike to get to the good stuff.

Bait fishermen have been doing alright too, especially with night crawlers or salmon eggs. Just remember to check the regs, as some sections are artificial lures only.

As for tides, well, we're a long way from the ocean here in Colorado! But keep an eye on those flows, especially if we get any significant rain or snowmelt.

That's all for now, folks. Get out there and tight lines!

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for March 12, 2025.

The weather's been a mixed bag lately, with temps ranging from the mid-40s to low 60s. We've had some scattered showers, but nothing too heavy. Today's looking partly cloudy with a high of 58°F. Sunrise was at 6:23 AM, and we'll see the sun dip below the horizon at 7:11 PM.

Now, onto the fishing! The spring runoff hasn't kicked into high gear yet, so we're still seeing decent clarity in most stretches. Water temps are hovering in the low 40s, which means the trout are starting to get more active.

Rainbow and brown trout have been the stars of the show lately. Anglers working the deeper pools and seams have been pulling in some nice 14-18 inchers, with a few bigger boys in the mix. We've also seen a uptick in mountain whitefish catches, especially in the faster runs.

For you fly fishers out there, midges are still the main course. Size 20-24 black or red midges have been producing well. As we move into mid-March, keep an eye out for blue-winged olive hatches in the afternoons. Nymphing with stonefly patterns and small mayfly nymphs has also been effective.

If you're more of a spin fishing enthusiast, small gold or silver spinners have been doing the trick. Don't overlook the trusty nightcrawler either – the trout seem to have a sweet tooth for them right now.

For hot spots, I'd recommend checking out the stretch below Pumphouse Recreation Area. The deep runs and pockets there have been holding some nice fish. Another good bet is the area around Radium – the mix of riffles and pools provides plenty of holding water for hungry trout.

Remember, the regulations changed this year, so make sure you're up to date on the latest rules. Catch and release is encouraged, but if you're keeping fish, stick to the daily limit of four trout.

That's all for now, folks. As always, tight lines and stay safe out there on the water!

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for March 11, 2025.

The weather's been a mixed bag lately, with temps ranging from the mid-40s to low 60s. We've had some scattered showers, but nothing too heavy. Sunrise is around 6:15 AM and sunset's about 6:05 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to wet a line.

Water levels on the Colorado are running a bit below average for this time of year, sitting at about 88% of median flow. Clarity's been decent, especially in the upper stretches. Water temps are creeping into the low 40s, which means we're starting to see some good Blue Winged Olive hatches.

Trout fishing's been picking up nicely. Folks have been having luck with rainbows and browns, mostly in the 12-16 inch range, but I've heard whispers of a few 20+ inchers being landed. The kokanee salmon bite has been hit or miss, but when they're on, they're on!

For you lure chuckers, small spoons and spinners in gold or silver have been producing. Don't forget about those trusty Rapalas either. If you're into fly fishing, nymphing with small midges, BWO nymphs, and San Juan Worms has been the ticket. As for streamers, try stripping some Woolly Buggers or Sculpzilla patterns.

Live bait anglers, nightcrawlers and salmon eggs are still solid choices. Just remember to check local regulations, as some stretches are artificial lures only.

For hot spots, I'd recommend checking out the stretch below Gore Canyon or around State Bridge. The Pumphouse area's been producing too. If you're looking for a float trip, the section from Rancho del Rio down to Two Bridges has been fishing well.

One last thing - keep an eye out for spawning rainbows. They'll be starting to pair up soon, so let's give 'em some space and focus on the feeding fish.

That's all for now, folks. Remember, the tug is the drug, and there's no better cure than tight lines on the Colorado! This is Artificial Lure, signing off. See you on the river!

Hello there, fellow anglers This is Artificial Lure, and I'm here to give you the lowdown on the fishing scene along the Colorado River in Colorado as of February 15, 2025.

First off, let's talk about the weather. Today, you can expect light freezing rain with temperatures hovering around 2°F (-4°C) in the morning, so make sure to bundle up[2][5]. The recent warmer trend has been a welcome change, but it's still winter, so don't get too comfortable.

Now, onto the river conditions. The Upper Colorado from Pumphouse to State Bridge is iced up and cold, so it's not the best spot for fishing right now. However, the Lower Colorado from Dotsero down is still fishable, and the warmer temps have made the fishing down there quite good[1].

Sunrise today is at around 6:45 AM, and sunset will be at about 5:30 PM, giving you a decent window to get out on the water.

Fish activity has been promising, especially with the warmer weather. You can expect to see some action on top with smaller flies like Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) and Midges. Nymphing has been the most reliable method, with small flies like perdigons, RS2s, and Demon Midges doing the trick. If you're into streamers, the warmer weather has picked up the streamer bite, so try an articulated Thin Mint or a Mini Dungeon[1].

For those looking to try their luck with dry flies, Para Wulffs, Para Extended Body BWOs, and Griffiths Gnats have been working well. If you prefer nymphs, Black Copper Johns, Pats Rubber Leg, and Rainbow Warriors are good choices[1].

There are some closures on the river due to the Brown Trout spawn, so be sure to check for any restricted areas before you start fishing.

As for hot spots, the area around Dotsero is a good place to start. The warmer water and recent hatches have made this section quite active. Another spot worth checking out is the stretch near Glenwood Springs, where the river widens and offers a variety of habitats for fish.

Remember to follow the Keep Em Wet philosophy and keep those fish wet, especially if you need to take a photo. And when stripping your streamer back in, keep your rod tip almost in the water for better results.

Stay warm, stay dry, and tight lines out there

Hello there, fellow anglers This is Artificial Lure, and I'm here to give you the lowdown on the fishing scene along the Colorado River near Grand Junction, Colorado, as of February 14, 2025.

First off, let's talk about the conditions. The lower Colorado River near Grand Junction is a winter angler's paradise, offering a unique blend of mild winter weather and excellent fishing opportunities. The flow rate is currently between 800-1,200 CFS, which is ideal for targeting larger trout. The water temperature is hovering between 40-44°F, and the clarity is slightly stained but improving.

The weather today is quite pleasant, with the sun rising at around 6:45 AM and setting at about 5:15 PM. This gives us a good window for some comfortable fishing sessions, especially during late morning to early afternoon when the midday sun warms things up a bit.

Now, let's dive into the fish activity. This time of year, trout are congregating in slower runs and deeper pools to conserve energy. Midges and Baetis are the primary hatches, so be prepared with some small patterns. For dry fly enthusiasts, Griffith’s Gnat in sizes 20-24 can be effective during brief midge hatches in slower water. However, nymphing remains the most productive method, with double-nymph rigs featuring a Zebra Midge and a Black Beauty being highly effective. If you're after larger trout or even smallmouth bass, streamers like the Olive Woolly Bugger in sizes 8-10 are your best bet.

For those looking to target specific areas, I highly recommend the Connected Lakes State Wildlife Area and the Colorado River State Park (Fruita Section). Connected Lakes offers excellent access to riffles and pools, making it great for nymphing and occasional dry fly opportunities. The Fruita Section of the Colorado River State Park is ideal for winter nymphing and streamer fishing, with slower runs and deeper holding water.

In terms of recent catches, the area has seen some hard-fighting trout and the occasional smallmouth bass. While the dry fly action is minimal, patient anglers have reported some surface activity on sunny afternoons.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind: Focus on deeper pools and slow runs where trout are conserving energy. Use longer leaders and lighter tippet for stealthy presentations. For nymphing, make sure to get your flies down to the feeding lanes in deeper water. Streamers should be retrieved slowly, especially in shaded areas.

As for tidal reports, this section of the Colorado River is not influenced by tides, so you don't need to worry about that.

In summary, the lower Colorado River near Grand Junction is a fantastic spot for winter fishing, offering solitude and the chance to hook into some impressive fish. Bundle up, grab your gear, and enjoy the stunning desert landscapes while you're at it.

Happy fishing, and tight lines

Hello there, fellow anglers This is Artificial Lure, and I'm here to give you the lowdown on the Colorado River fishing scene as of February 12, 2025.

First off, let's talk about the current conditions. The Colorado River is flowing at about 1130 cfs below Glenwood Springs, which is relatively low and clear for this time of year[2][3].

Weather-wise, we're in the midst of winter, so expect cold temperatures, especially in the mornings and evenings. Ice may form overnight, making the early morning hours a bit challenging, but it usually clears up by around 2 PM[2].

Sunrise today is at about 6:45 AM, and sunset is around 5:15 PM, giving you a good window to get out there and catch some fish.

Fish activity has been picking up as the day warms up. Mornings are slow, but as the sun rises, the fish start to get more active. You can expect to see hatches of midges and Blue Winged Olives (BWOs), although they have been weak lately. Sub-surface fishing has been the most reliable, with nymphs and streamers being the way to go[2][3].

For nymphing, try using small flies like Perdigons, RS2s, or Demon Midges. If you're looking to throw streamers, articulated patterns like the Double Dirty Hippy, Dali Lama, or Autumn Splendor have been doing well. Cloudy days are ideal for streamer fishing, as they tend to bring out the bigger, more aggressive fish[2][3].

Dry fly enthusiasts can still find some action with smaller flies like Irresistible Adams, Parachute Adams, and TC Custom BWO Sparkledun. However, be prepared for slower action compared to nymphing and streamer fishing[2][3].

Now, let's talk about some hot spots. One of the best places to fish right now is around the confluence with the Roaring Fork, just above and below the Dino Boat ramp, and upstream of South Canyon rapid. These areas offer good wading spots and a mix of deep pools and riffles where fish like to hold[2].

Another spot worth checking out is the section below Dotsero down to Glenwood Springs. This part of the river is still fishable despite the cold temperatures, and you can find some nice trout hiding in the deeper sections[3].

Remember to exercise caution when wading, especially in the bigger sections of the river. The Colorado River is known for its strong currents and deep water, so make sure you're prepared.

In summary, the Colorado River is offering some great fishing opportunities right now, especially if you're willing to brave the cold mornings and adapt to the changing conditions. Keep your flies small, your streamers big, and your wits about you, and you'll be hauling in some nice trout in no time.

Happy fishing, and see you on the water

Hello there, fellow anglers This is Artificial Lure, and I'm here to give you the lowdown on the Colorado River fishing scene as of February 10, 2025.

First off, let's talk about the current conditions. The Upper Colorado River, from Pumphouse to State Bridge, is still iced up and quite cold, so you'll want to focus on the lower sections for now. The Lower Colorado, from Dotsero down, is your best bet, but be sure to check those nightly temperatures as they can dip into the negatives, causing some sections to freeze over[1][2].

The river is low and clear this time of year, which can make for some challenging but rewarding fishing. Flows are currently around 1130 CFS below Glenwood Springs, and the water clarity is very good[2].

Sunrise today is at about 6:45 AM, and sunset will be around 5:15 PM, giving you a good window to get out there and catch some fish. The weather is expected to be cold, with temperatures ranging from the mid-teens to mid-twenties Fahrenheit, so bundle up.

Fish activity has been picking up as the day warms up. Mornings are slow, but as the sun gets higher, the fish start to wake up. You'll see some action with small flies like Blue Winged Olives (BWOs) and Midges. Nymphing has been the most reliable method, with small flies like Perdigons, RS2s, and Demon Midges doing well. If you're looking to throw streamers, articulated Thin Mints or Mini Dungeons could lure in some big Browns[1][2].

For nymphing, try using Pats Rubber Leg, Black Copper Johns, or Rainbow Warriors. On the dry fly side, Para Wulffs, Para Extended Body BWOs, and Griffiths Gnats are good choices. Streamers like Sex Dungeons, Bowlicious, and Black Heisenburgs can also be effective[1].

Now, let's talk about some hot spots. One of the best areas right now is below Glenwood Springs, where the river is more accessible and the fish are more active. Another spot is around Dotsero, where the river widens out and offers some great eddies and slow seams for trout to hold in[2][3].

Remember, there are some closures on the river for the Brown Trout Spawn, so make sure to check for any restrictions before you head out.

In summary, the Colorado River is offering some great fishing opportunities despite the cold weather. Focus on nymphing with small flies, and don't hesitate to break out the streamers as the day warms up. Keep your gear ready, and enjoy the beautiful scenery and potentially aggressive fish that the Colorado River has to offer.

Happy fishing, and keep 'em wet