Colorado River Colorado Fishing Report Today

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River fishing report for western Colorado.

We don’t worry about tides out here – the Colorado is a freestone/regulated river system, so flows and clarity matter more than anything. With the big snowpack melting down, expect higher, off‑color water in the main stem, especially afternoons, with better clarity on tributary mouths and side channels.

Overnight temps have been cool in the 40s and 50s, afternoons pushing into the 70s and low 80s. Skies have been a mixed bag of sun and building clouds, with a chance of those quick mountain showers that can bump color and flow for an hour or two. Sunrise is right around the early 5 o’clock hour, sunset near the mid‑8s, so you’ve got a long fishing window, but the **best bite** is first light to late morning and again the last two hours before dark when the wind lays down and boat traffic fades.

Recent reports from local shops along the corridor between Glenwood Springs and Parachute say trout and smallmouth have both been active despite the higher flows. Folks have been seeing steady numbers of 12–16 inch browns with an occasional heavier fish, plus plenty of feisty smallies in the rocky runs and slower eddies. Anglers drifting nymph rigs have been putting double‑digit days together when they find softer seams out of the main push.

For **trout**, the river is still a nymph and streamer game. Think big and buggy:

- Stonefly nymphs in coffee/black, size 6–10

- Pats Rubber Legs, San Juan Worms, and bright egg patterns as attractors

- Behind that, smaller mayfly and caddis nymphs in olive or brown, size 14–18

Streamer junk is doing work on the banks when the light is low: olive or black sculpin patterns, articulated leeches, and flashy baitfish in white/olive. Strip them tight to the bank, especially where there’s a little color line.

For **smallmouth bass** down toward the warmer, lower stretches, soft plastics and hardware are the ticket:

- 3–4 inch tube jigs in green pumpkin or brown

- Ned rigs and small creature baits bounced slowly along the rocks

- Small crankbaits and in‑line spinners in shad, perch, or fire‑tiger when the water’s got some stain

If you’re partial to live bait where regulations allow, nightcrawlers on a small hook and just enough split shot to tick bottom are hard to beat for both trout and bass in the softer eddies.

A couple of local **hot spots** to keep in mind:

- The stretch just downstream of Glenwood Springs where the Roaring Fork comes in. That confluence gives you a sweet mix of temps and food; work the inside seams and any slower side channel with nymph rigs under an indicator or a tight‑line setup.

- The runs and eddies near New Castle and Silt. As flows come up, the fish push into softer pockets behind boulders and along the edges. Drift those spots thoroughly; most anglers move too fast. In the evenings, watch for caddis and mayfly adults – you can sometimes sneak in a short dry‑fly window along the edges with elk‑hair caddis or parachute patterns in 14–16.

With flows up, wade carefully, use a wading staff if you’ve got one, and give the boats plenty of room in the main channel. A short, accurate cast into soft water will beat a long hero cast into the heavy stuff every time right now.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper river around Gore Canyon, Pumphouse, and down toward Dotsero.

Let’s start with conditions. The Colorado River isn’t tidal up here, so no tide swings to worry about, just river flow and clarity. With snowmelt easing off, the river’s running a bit high but dropping and clearing, that classic early-summer green‑brown. Overnight lows are sitting in the 40s and 50s, afternoon highs pushing into the 70s and low 80s with mostly clear skies and a light west breeze. Sunrise is right around 5:30 a.m., sunset about 8:35 p.m., giving us a long, bright fishing window. Best bite has been the first three hours after sunrise and the last two before dark.

Trout are the main event here: browns, rainbows, and a few cuttbows mixed in. Reports from local shops and river guides over the past few days have browns in the 12–16 inch class being caught steadily, with some 18–20 inch fish pulled out of deeper runs. Rainbows are a touch smaller on average but more active in the faster riffles.

Fish activity has been strong on that early light and again in the evening. Midday slows down unless you’re working the deeper slots and shaded banks. Nymph rigs and smaller spinning presentations are doing most of the damage. Folks drifting nymphs under indicators have been putting up double‑digit days, with two‑fish hookups not uncommon when the hatch pops.

For fly anglers, top producers have been:

- Small mayfly nymphs and emergers in natural olives and browns, sizes 16–20

- Stonefly nymphs, sizes 8–12, in darker patterns

- Caddis pupae and soft hackles swung through the riffles late afternoon

On top, a mix of elk hair caddis, parachute Adams, and small PMD patterns has been taking fish during evening hatches when the river calms down.

For spin and conventional gear, think subtle and natural. The best lures right now:

- 1/8 to 1/4 oz inline spinners in gold or copper with a bit of brown or olive

- Small jerkbaits and minnow plugs in brown trout or rainbow patterns

- Tiny spoons in silver or brass for covering deeper runs

If you’re bait fishing where it’s legal, the best bait has been:

- Nightcrawlers threaded on light line, drifted just off the bottom

- Salmon eggs or trout nuggets in slower pockets

- Small pieces of shrimp or scented soft baits when the water is a little off‑color

Keep your leader light and your presentation natural; the clearer the river gets, the more line shy these trout turn.

A couple of hot spots to circle on your map:

First, the **Pumphouse to Radium float**. That stretch has been very consistent: deep bends, undercut banks, and plenty of structure. Work the inside seam of bends where the current softens, and hit every ledge drop with a nymph rig or a slowly retrieved spinner.

Second, the **Dotsero area down toward Glenwood Canyon**. As flows settle, those long runs and tailouts are stacking up with browns. Focus on the heads and tails of riffles at first light, then slide into the deeper mid‑river slots as the sun gets higher. Any shady bank with good current has a chance at a bigger fish.

Wade anglers should pick the softer edges and side channels; boaters can capitalize on mid‑river structure and those hard‑to‑reach seams. Either way, think stealth: low profile, long casts, and keep your shadow off the water.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper Colorado in Colorado, from about Glenwood Springs up through Parshall and Kremmling.

First off, no tides to worry about here in the high country—this is a freestone and tailwater game, all about **flows, clarity, and weather**. Flows have been running a bit high but steadily dropping after runoff, leaving **slightly off‑color but very fishable water**. That bit of stain is your friend: big bugs, heavier tippet, and fish holding tight to the soft edges.

Weather today is shaping up classic mountain summer. Expect **cool mornings in the 40s–50s**, warming into the **70s by afternoon**, with a light breeze and the usual chance of **building clouds and a quick thunderstorm after lunch**. Sunrise hit early, around **5:30 a.m.**, and you’ll start losing good light around **8:30–9 p.m.** Plan to be on the water at first light and again for the evening window.

**Fish activity:**

Early morning, look for trout sliding into the softer seams and inside bends. As the sun climbs, they’ll drop into deeper buckets, undercuts, and any shade you can find. Midday is more of a nymph and streamer game, with a solid evening ramp‑up in surface feeding once the shadows stretch.

Recent reports from local guides along the Colorado around Parshall, Byers Canyon, and down toward Glenwood have been solid:

- **Brown trout** in the 12–18 inch range common, with a few pushing past 20.

- Plenty of **rainbows** mixed in, especially near tailwater‑influenced sections, 10–16 inches, some bigger.

- The odd **whitefish** and **smallmouth bass** lower down near the warmer stretches closer to Glenwood.

Anglers have been putting good numbers in the net when they focus on soft edges, current breaks behind boulders, and the deeper slots on the outside bends. Double‑digit half‑days haven’t been unusual when the cloud cover sticks around and the wind behaves.

**Best lures and flies right now:**

- For spin fishers: small **gold or copper spoons**, **1/8 oz marabou jigs** in olive or black, and **Rooster Tails** in brown, gold, or rainbow patterns. Work them tight to seams and along the drop‑offs.

- For fly anglers:

- Nymphs: **Pat’s Rubber Legs** (stonefly), size 6–10; **Pheasant Tails**, **Two‑Bit Hookers**, and **Duracells** in 14–18; **RS2s** and **JuJu Baetis** for the tail end of the hatch.

- Dries: **Chubby Chernobyls** in tan or purple for a hopper‑dropper rig, **Parachute Adams**, **PMD cripples**, and **caddis** in the evenings.

- Streamers: **olive sculpin patterns**, **white/olive articulated bugs**, and simple **black woolly buggers** swung through deep runs.

**Best bait** for those fishing natural offerings in legal sections:

- **Nightcrawlers** drifted on the bottom in slower runs.

- **Salmon eggs** and small **mealworms** in deeper pools.

Check local regs carefully—there are plenty of artificial‑only stretches and special rules on the Colorado.

A couple of **hot spots** to circle on your map:

- **Parshall/Byers Canyon stretch:** Classic riffle‑run water, lots of pockets, and dependable insect life. Hit it early with nymphs and a hopper‑dropper by late morning.

- **Pumphouse to Radium:** Bigger water but loaded with structure—shelves, boulders, and deep slots. Great for rafts and pontoons, and a prime place to strip streamers for larger browns along the banks.

If you’re nearer Glenwood, focus on the confluence areas and any cooler inflows—those transition zones often hold a pile of fish this time of year.

Overall, look for your **best bite at first light and again from late afternoon into dusk**, especially when clouds roll in and flatten the glare. Keep your presentations low and slow, mend early, and don’t be afraid to upsize your bugs in that slightly stained water.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report from a local’s angle.

We’re sitting on a classic early‑summer pattern. Along the upper Colorado in Colorado, streamflows are running a bit on the high side with snowmelt still easing down but dropping day by day, leaving two to three feet of visibility in most runs. The river has a slight green tint instead of full chocolate milk, which is just about perfect for trout to feel comfortable cruising the seams.

No tides here in the high country, of course, but water levels are bumping a bit in the afternoon with melt and any passing showers. Mornings are your money window: cooler water, stable flows, and better bug activity. Up around the Parshall and Byers Canyon stretches, overnight lows are sliding into the 40s, with daytime highs in the 70s and light to moderate winds. Expect partly cloudy skies, with enough sun to get the midges and mayflies moving, but clouds rolling through often enough to keep fish from getting too spooky.

Sunrise is just after 5:30 a.m. and sunset is a bit after 8:30 p.m., giving you a long day to work with. Best bite has been from first light until about 10 a.m., and then again from 6 p.m. to dark. Midday you’ll still pick up fish, but you’ll need to go a little deeper and a little smaller.

Recent reports from local shops along the Colorado corridor between Kremmling and Glenwood Springs say anglers are into solid numbers of browns in the 12–16 inch range with the occasional 18‑plus, and plenty of rainbows in that 10–14 inch slot. A few whitefish mixed in when nymphing deep, and every now and then a bonus cutbow. Folks floating from Pumphouse down are also picking up a handful of smallmouth bass in the slower, rockier pockets as you get lower in the system.

Fish activity has been strong on nymphs in the morning, with fish sliding into softer edges and tailouts. After lunch, trout are tucking tight to structure—undercut banks, boulders, and deeper slots—until shade returns. When clouds move in, you can see fish move up in the column chasing emergers and smaller dries.

As for what’s working:

- For trout on the upper river, the best “lures” right now are really nymph rigs: think beadhead pheasant tails, hare’s ears, and soft hackles in sizes 14–18, trailed by a midge or small mayfly nymph in 18–22. Add split shot and run them under an indicator just heavy enough to tick bottom.

- Spin anglers are doing well with small **gold or copper inline spinners**, 1/8‑ounce **panther‑martin style blades**, and 1/16–1/8‑ounce **marabou jigs** in black, olive, or brown. Work those through the seams and along current breaks.

- If you’re targeting the lower stretches closer to warmer water, **small crankbaits**, **2–3 inch paddle‑tail swimbaits** in natural shad or olive, and **tube jigs** around rocks are taking smallmouth and the occasional larger brown.

Best bait, where legal, has been **nightcrawlers drifted on light line** through deeper runs and pools, plus **salmon eggs** or **single‑egg imitations** in slower pockets. Always check the regs—some sections of the Colorado are artificial‑only and barbless.

A couple of local hot spots to put on your list:

- **Pumphouse to Radium**: Classic float or hike‑in water with great structure—riffle‑run‑pool sequences, cutbanks, and bouldery seams. Excellent for browns with spinners or nymphs, and good action early and late.

- **Parshall reach and Byers Canyon area**: Walk‑wade water that fishes well when flows are a little high. Focus on inside bends and soft edges behind rocks. Smaller presentations and stealth go a long way here.

If you’re planning to be out there tomorrow morning, rig a two‑fly nymph setup, carry a small box of spinners and jigs, and be on the water at gray light. Work upstream methodically, cover each seam, and let the river tell you how much weight and depth you need.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River, Colorado fishing report.

We’re rolling into a classic early‑summer pattern on the upper Colorado. River flows are running a bit on the high side with snowmelt, but clarity is decent in the softer edges and side channels, and that’s where most of the fish are staging. No tides here, of course, but the “tide” you’ll feel is from daily flow changes with upstream releases and afternoon melt.

Weather today: cool morning in the 40s climbing into the 70s by afternoon, light breeze, and mostly clear skies. Sunrise is right around 5:30 a.m., sunset close to 8:40 p.m. Your best bite windows are first light to mid‑morning and then again from about 6 p.m. to dark, when the sun gets off the water and bugs really get moving.

Fish activity has been strong the last several days. Trout numbers have been solid, with anglers reporting plenty of **browns** in the 12–18 inch class and a fair number of **rainbows** mixed in, especially in the faster riffles and tailouts. A few nicer fish over 20 inches have been coming from deeper runs under cut banks and along big boulders. The whitefish are active too if you’re nymphing deeper.

Best producers for fly anglers have been **stonefly nymphs**, **gold-ribbed hare’s ears**, **pheasant tails**, and **worm patterns** fished deep under an indicator or euro‑style. Midday, a smaller nymph dropper like a size 18–20 mayfly or midge behind a bigger lead fly has been key. When the sun gets low, **caddis dries** and small **mayfly parachutes** have brought fish up in the softer seams.

For spin and gear anglers, small **gold and silver spoons**, **1/8–1/4 oz inline spinners** in brown, gold, and rainbow patterns, and natural‑looking **minnow plugs** have been putting fish in the net. Soft‑plastic grubs on light jig heads, bounced along the bottom of deeper runs, are also working well. Best natural baits have been **nightcrawlers** drifted just off the bottom and **salmon eggs** in the slower pockets, especially for kids and casual anglers.

Two local hot spots to circle on your map:

• **Glenwood Springs area**: The confluence water adds color, but working upstream on the Colorado you’ll find nice holding water, deep runs, and plenty of bank access. Focus on inside bends and any soft water behind structure.

• **Parshall–Byers Canyon stretch**: Classic pocket water and riffle‑run‑pool sequences. Hit the heads of runs at first light with nymphs, then work your way into the tailouts and softer seams as the sun comes up. Wading can be tricky with higher flows, so pick your spots carefully.

Overall, if you get out early or fish the evening, stay mobile, and switch between nymphs and small hardware until you dial in the depth and speed, you’re going to find fish.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River, Colorado fishing report.

We’re in a classic early‑summer pattern now. Flows on the upper Colorado around Kremmling through Glenwood are running a bit on the high side but dropping and clearing, with two to three feet of visibility in most popular stretches. No tides to worry about on this river system, so it’s all about flow, water color, and temperature.

Overnight lows have kept water temps in the low 50s at first light in the higher reaches, warming into the low 60s by midafternoon down toward Glenwood Springs. Air temps today are heading for the 70s to low 80s with mostly clear skies, light morning wind and a typical afternoon breeze and the chance of a quick thunder boomer. Sunrise hit right around 5:30 a.m., with sunset just after 8:30 p.m., giving a long, productive window.

Fish activity has been best from first light to late morning, then again the last two hours before dark. Midday is still fishable, but you’ll need to go deeper and smaller. Recent reports from local fly shops and guides on the upper Colorado describe good numbers of wild browns mixed with some chunky rainbows, most in the 12–16 inch range, with a few 18–20 inch fish pulled from the softer seams and deeper buckets. Spin anglers have been sticking the occasional smallmouth in the lower, warmer stretches closer to the Colorado–Roaring Fork confluence.

For fly anglers, mornings have seen solid nymph and dry‑dropper action. Think blue‑winged olive and pale morning dun nymphs in sizes 16–20, paired with a size 12–14 stonefly or attractor nymph. Caddis are very much in play now; tan and olive patterns in sizes 14–18 have been consistent producers in riffles and along cutbanks. When the sun gets high, switch to smaller nymphs and add a bit more weight to get down.

If you swing conventional gear, small to medium **inline spinners** in gold or copper, 1/8 to 1/4 ounce **Rooster Tails**, and **Panther Martins** in brown, black, or rainbow trout patterns have been dependable. For soft plastics, a 3‑inch **tube jig** or **grub** in natural colors worked slowly through deeper runs is taking both trout and the odd smallmouth. Natural bait regulations vary by stretch, so check the current Colorado Parks and Wildlife regs, but where legal, **nightcrawlers** drifted under a small float through the seams are putting fish in the net.

Hot spot number one: the public access pull‑outs between Parshall and Kremmling. Those long riffle‑run‑pool sequences are holding good numbers of browns, and the slightly off‑color water is giving anglers some forgiveness on approach. Work the inside bends and any soft edge below a riffle.

Hot spot number two: the Glenwood Springs section, especially just above and below town where there’s good walk‑in access. As the day warms, trout slide into the deeper troughs midriver and along drop‑offs. A deep nymph rig or a small crankbait ticking just off bottom can be deadly here, especially in the evening when fish slide shallow again to chase caddis.

Overall, numbers have been solid rather than spectacular, but persistence is paying off. Anglers putting in a full morning are commonly reporting half a dozen to a dozen hookups, with a good mix of browns and rainbows and plenty of willing smaller fish to keep things interesting.

This is Artificial Lure wishing you tight lines and safe wading out there.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper Colorado in Colorado, from around Glenwood Springs up through Dotsero and down toward Rifle.

We’re on a steady early‑summer pattern. No tides here, of course, but the river is running a little high and off‑color from snowmelt and recent storms, though it’s dropping and clearing a bit day by day. Flow this time of year typically runs strong, so wade carefully and work the softer edges and inside bends.

Weather today is classic mountain mix: cool morning in the 40s climbing into the 70s by afternoon, with a light west breeze and a chance of a brief shower or rumble of thunder late. Sunrise comes just after 5:30 a.m., sunset around 8:40 p.m., so you’ve got a long window, but the best bite is early and late when the light is low and temps are mild.

Trout activity has been solid. On this stretch you’re looking at browns, rainbows, and a few cutbows. Local shop chatter and recent angler reports put half‑day numbers for competent fly anglers in the 8–15 fish range, with a handful of nicer 16–20 inch browns showing up in the deeper seams. Spin anglers drifting hardware are seeing fewer fish but some heavier ones, especially in the lower, slightly warmer reaches closer to Rifle.

Mornings have been a nymph and streamer game. With the river still pushing, big stuff is working: stonefly nymphs, worms, and flashy attractor nymphs under an indicator or tight‑lined along the edges. A size 6–10 Pat’s Rubber Legs, squirmy worm, or a flashy size 14–18 perdigon or jig nymph will do work. As the day warms, expect some caddis and smaller mayfly activity; keep a tan or olive caddis dry and a parachute Adams ready if you see noses in the softer water.

For hardware, think “grab their attention.” Gold or copper spinners, small spoons in silver/blue or gold/black, and 2–3 inch minnow plugs in natural trout or rainbow patterns are all good calls. In the slightly stained water, brighter blades and a bit of chartreuse can make a difference. Spin guys floating between Glenwood and New Castle have been picking off solid browns slow‑rolling spinners tight to the bank.

If you’re bait fishing where it’s legal, nightcrawlers drifted just off bottom in the softer seams are tough to beat right now. Salmon eggs and a bit of shrimp‑scented corn can also draw strikes, especially lower down where you might tangle with whitefish or the occasional warmwater visitor in slower side channels and backwaters.

A couple of hot spots to circle:

First, the Colorado through Glenwood Springs, especially the runs just downstream of the confluence with the Roaring Fork. That mixing zone and the next mile or two down hold good numbers of trout right now, with plenty of softer bank water to pick apart.

Second, the stretch around New Castle down toward Silt. Slightly warmer, good structure, and excellent for floating; browns have been coming out of the mid‑river boulder gardens and deep bends on nymphs and smaller streamers.

Focus on inside bends, foam lines, and any soft pocket behind rocks. Don’t waste time in the heavy mid‑river push. Short, accurate casts with good mends are more important than distance.

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Good morning, anglers—**Artificial Lure** here with your local-style fishing report for the Colorado River in Colorado. I can’t verify live tides for this inland river, but river flows, current weather, and recent bite trends are the big pieces to watch today.

For **weather**, expect early-morning conditions to favor a light bite window, with water usually coolest at dawn and again near dusk. If the day warms up under clear skies, the trout often slide into softer seams, shaded banks, and deeper pockets; if clouds and a little breeze hold, the feed can stay active longer through the morning.

For **sunrise and sunset**, plan your best water time around first light and the last hour before dark. In Colorado summer conditions, those edges of the day are typically the most productive for trout and smallmouth, especially when insect activity starts picking up.

On **fish activity**, the Colorado River system is usually dominated by **rainbow trout, brown trout, and some smallmouth bass** depending on the stretch. Recent local pattern talk on this kind of water points to trout feeding on drifting insects, small nymphs, and tiny streamers, while bass key on craw-style profiles, minnows, and crankbait shapes near structure.

As for **recent catch numbers**, I don’t have verified live reports for today, so I won’t make up counts. What I can say is that when the river is fishing well, anglers commonly connect with a mix of trout in the runs and pockets, plus the occasional heavier brown or hard-fighting smallmouth where the water slows and warms.

For **best lures**, I’d keep it simple:

- **Small inline spinners** in silver, gold, or black for riffles and pocket water

- **Jigged streamers** in olive, white, or sculpin colors for deeper runs

- **Plastics** like tiny craws or minnow imitations for bassy stretches and eddies

- **Beadhead nymphs** under an indicator if you’re fishing fly tackle

For **best bait**, the old reliables still work:

- **Nightcrawlers**

- **Salmon eggs**

- **PowerBait** for stocked trout water

- **Small live minnows or crayfish-style offerings** where legal and appropriate for bass

A couple of **hot spots** to check today:

- **Tailwater runs below dams and diversion structures**, where oxygen and flow keep fish stacked

- **Deep bends, undercut banks, and seam lines near riffle transitions**, especially in the morning shade

If you’re reading the river right, fish the slower water first, then work the current breaks and drop-offs as the sun gets higher. Keep presentations natural and don’t overwork the water; on the Colorado, a clean drift or a slow wobble usually beats a noisy cast.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for western Colorado.

We’re sitting on a cool, clear early‑summer pattern. Overnight lows are in the 40s and 50s in the high country, warming into the 70s and low 80s this afternoon with mostly sunny skies and just a light breeze in the canyons. Flows are still a bit up and off‑color from snowmelt, but they’re dropping and clearing day by day. Sunrise hit just after 5:30 a.m. local, with sunset around 8:35 p.m., so you’ve got a long fishing window to play the light.

No tides here in the interior, so water temperature and flow are your “tides.” Mornings are running cool in the upper 50s to low 60s on many stretches; by late afternoon expect mid‑60s and a more active bite. That cooler first light is prime time for trout and smallmouth, while the warming afternoons wake up the warm‑water species in the slower eddies and backwaters.

Reports up and down the Colorado between Glenwood Springs and Debeque have been solid. Local anglers have been bringing in good numbers of **brown trout** in the 12–17 inch range, with a few chunky fish clearing 18. Rainbows are showing in pockets, mostly 10–14 inches, especially near cold inlets and where feeder creeks dump in. Below the big eddies closer to Rifle and Debeque, folks are seeing more **smallmouth bass**, plenty of 10–13 inch fish and an occasional 15‑inch bronzeback. Rough fish—white suckers and the odd carp—are thick in the softer seams if you’re looking for tug over table fare.

Fish activity has followed a predictable curve: best from first light to mid‑morning, a bit of a lull under the high sun, then another window from about 6 p.m. to dark. Midday, look deep and tight to structure; low light, think shallower and closer to the banks and foam lines.

For lures, it’s been hard to beat:

- Small **gold or copper inline spinners** and 1/8‑oz **panther‑style spoons** for trout in the faster runs.

- **Suspending jerkbaits** in shad or brown trout colors and 3–4 inch **soft‑plastic swimbaits** on 1/8–1/4 oz heads for the smallmouth in the slower runs and pocket water.

- Tiny **crankbaits** that dig 3–6 feet are doing damage along rocky shelves.

If you’re bait‑soaking, try:

- Nightcrawlers on a small octopus hook, just enough split shot to tick bottom in the seams.

- Salmon eggs or dough baits in the deeper pools for stocker bows if you find a recent plant.

On the fly side, local patterns that are working include:

- **Stonefly nymphs** and **hare’s ear** under an indicator, plus **woolly buggers** swung through the tailouts.

- In the evenings, small **caddis dries** and **parachute mayflies** in 14–18 when you see noses poking up.

A couple of hot spots to circle:

- **Glenwood Springs stretch**: From the Two Rivers area downstream, work the big seams where the Colorado and Roaring Fork water blend. Hit it early; browns stack along the first deep banks and behind boulders.

- **Rifle to Debeque canyon water**: Put‑ins around Rifle and float or walk‑in where you can. Target mid‑river rock gardens and side channels for smallmouth, and the deeper bends for browns hugging the bottom.

Water is still powerful, so wade cautiously and use a belt and staff. Keep an eye out for afternoon thunderstorms that can color things up in a hurry.

That’s the Colorado River scoop from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local fishing talk.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for western Colorado.

We’ll start with conditions. The Colorado River isn’t tidal up here, so no tide swings to worry about, just **river flow and clarity**. Flows are running a bit on the high side but dropping and clearing after recent runoff, leaving 1–3 feet of visibility on many stretches. Water temps are mostly in the **mid‑50s to low 60s**, warmer in the afternoons, which is waking the fish up nicely.

Weather along the corridor from Glenwood Springs down past Rifle is seasonable: cool mornings, warming quickly into a mild, sunny afternoon with only a slight chance of an isolated storm late day. Light winds early, bumping up to a breeze by midafternoon. Sunrise came early over the canyon walls and sunset will tuck behind the hills fairly late, giving a long window of low‑light fishing at both ends of the day.

Fish activity has been **best at first light and last light**, with a slower window across the bright mid‑day except in deeper runs and under cut banks. Trout are sliding into the softer seams and inside edges, while smallmouth bass are tightening up to structure and rock gardens as the sun climbs.

Recent catches on the Colorado have been solid. Local reports from shops in Glenwood and Rifle mention **good numbers of rainbows and browns** in the 12–16 inch class, with the occasional 18–20 inch fish showing for anglers who work the deeper slots with nymphs and streamers. Smallmouth bass action has been picking up too, with pods of fish in the 10–14 inch range and a few heavier bronzebacks mixed in around slower eddies and rocky points.

For the trout crowd, the most consistent producers have been:

- **Nymphs:** bead‑head pheasant tails, caddis pupa, and small mayfly patterns in size 14–18, run under an indicator with enough weight to tick the bottom.

- **Dries:** late‑day caddis and small mayflies when the bugs pop, with elk‑hair caddis and parachute variations getting eats in the softer foam lines.

- **Streamers:** olive or black buggers, sculpin patterns, and smaller articulated streamers stripped tight along the banks during low light.

If you’re throwing conventional gear, **small inline spinners, 1/8‑ounce marabou jigs, and slim minnow‑style plugs** in natural browns and olives are producing rainbows and browns in the deeper runs and tailouts. Keep your retrieve moderate with a few pauses; most strikes are coming as the lure swings or hesitates.

For smallmouth, focus on:

- **Soft plastics:** 3–4 inch green pumpkin tubes, grubs, or ned‑style baits fished slowly along the bottom.

- **Crankbaits and small swimbaits:** in crawdad and shad patterns bumped across rock piles and ledges.

- **Live bait where legal:** nightcrawlers and leeches drifted just off the bottom are still tough to beat.

Couple of **hot spots** to put on your list:

- The **Glenwood Springs stretch** where the Roaring Fork joins the Colorado: that confluence area and the first mile or so downstream has been a steady producer for trout, especially in the softer seams on the Colorado side.

- The **Rifle area**, both above and just below town: look for deeper bends, inside corners, and mid‑river boulders for a mixed bag of browns, rainbows, and smallmouth, especially in the later afternoon as shadows hit the water.

Best windows today: crack of dawn until mid‑morning, then again from early evening through dusk. Mid‑day, go deeper, go smaller, and don’t be afraid to slow everything down.

That’s your Colorado River rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

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