Colorado River Colorado Fishing Report Today

Howdy, folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to gal for all things rod and reel on the Colorado River and surrounds. It's a crisp December 12th mornin' here in western Colorado, with air temps climbin' from mid-20s to upper 30s under mostly sunny skies—perfect for that weak La Niña warmth pushin' us 15-20 degrees above normal, per CPR forecasters. No tides to worry 'bout in these river runs, but flows are steady: Dream Stream on the South Platte holdin' at 90 cfs, ideal for wadin', while Blue River below Green Mountain Reservoir chugs along at 350-450 cfs, cold and clear in the mid-30s water temps. Sunrise hit at 7:15 AM, sunset 'round 4:45 PM—fish that midday 11 AM to 3 PM window when sun warms the seams.

Fish activity's pickin' up in these tailwaters despite dwindlin' hatches and low precip keepin' things technical. Trout are keyin' on midges subsurface, with browns, rainbows, cutbows, and cutthroats huggin' deep troughs and undercut banks. Recent reports from Sportsman's Fishing Reports and Rise Beyond Fly Fishing note solid grabs on the Dream Stream and Blue River—dozens of 16-20 inchers daily for patient nymphers, plus pike and carp mixin' in reservoirs like Elevenmile. Numbers ain't huge with winter slowin' 'em, but quality's there: trophy potential in sightable water.

Tie on **Zebra Midges** (black/red, sizes 20-22), **RS2 emergers** (20-22), **Black Beauty** midges (20-24), or **Balanced Leech** (12-14) for nymphin'—dead-drift 'em light and slow. Baetis like Juju (20-22) shine on warmer afternoons. Live bait? Waxworms or mealworms on small jigs tip the scales for pike in coves. Streamers like Bunny Leeches or Lightspeed in olive/black work low-light edges.

Hot spots: Hit the **Dream Stream** for technical meadow bends and trophy browns—easy access paths, light crowds. Or wade the **Blue River below Green Mountain** for canyon pockets and consistent winter trout—pull off and hike grassy banks.

Bundle up, stealth your approach, and tight lines!

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

We’re in that classic early-winter pattern on the upper Colorado: cold nights, clear days, and steadily dropping flows. The National Weather Service Grand Junction office is calling for a dry, stable stretch with sunshine and seasonably cool temps, light winds, and no major storms on the near horizon. Warm afternoons and cold, clear nights are the deal, so expect crunchy banks at first light and ice building in the slow eddies.

Sunrise around this stretch of the Western Slope is right about 7:20 a.m., with sunset just after 4:50 p.m., giving you a short but productive window. The best bite has lined up with that late-morning warmup into mid‑afternoon as the water creeps up a degree or two.

No real tides to worry about up here, but flows are winter‑low and clear, which means spooky fish and smaller rigs. According to recent Western Colorado fly reports like Fly Guys N Lies, the Colorado has been fishing “good but technical,” with anglers sticking nice browns and a few chunky rainbows on nymphs and smaller streamers when the clouds roll through.

Recent catches in the middle and upper river have leaned heavily toward brown trout in the 12–18 inch range, with the occasional larger fish pushing 20+. Rainbows are around but more selective. Action isn’t fast and furious, but if you work methodically you’re looking at a half‑dozen to a dozen quality fish in a solid session, with the better numbers coming from the deeper winter holes and soft shelf water.

Best bets right now:

- **Flies / lures**

- Small mayfly nymphs (size 18–20) in baetis patterns, tungsten if you’re probing the buckets.

- Midge larva and pupa in red, black, and olive.

- Stonefly nymphs (size 10–14) as your point fly in deeper seams.

- Streamers: thin-profile olive or black buggers, sculpin patterns, and small articulated pieces stripped slow and low.

- **Bait (where legal)**

- Small nightcrawlers drifted just off bottom.

- Salmon eggs and single-egg imitations when the water has a slight stain.

- Always double‑check Colorado Parks and Wildlife regs for artificial‑only stretches.

Fish activity is classic winter mode: slow at dawn, picking up as the sun gets on the water and peaking early afternoon. You’ll do better downsizing tippet (5X–6X fluorocarbon), lengthening leaders, and sticking with a dead‑drift nymph rig or gentle swing. Save the big, gaudy stuff for a cloudy afternoon or just before dark.

Couple of local hot spots to put on your list:

- **Pumphouse to Radium**: That whole canyon stretch holds serious wintering browns. Work the deep ledge lines and inside bends; nymphing under an indicator with a stonefly/baetis combo has been the ticket.

- **Glenwood Canyon / below Glenwood Springs**: Where the Colorado picks up some warmth, you’ll find more active fish. Focus on the long, slow winter runs and soft banks near town, especially on those warmer blue

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

Up here on the middle Colorado around Kremmling to Glenwood, early winter has the river in classic low, clear shape. Rise Beyond Fly Fishing’s recent Colorado River reports describe steady winter flows, very high visibility, and trout pushed into the deeper seams, drop‑offs, and tailouts. That means spooky fish, short bite windows, and technical presentations.

Sunrise along this stretch is right around 7:15 a.m., with sunset about 4:45 p.m., based on central Colorado sunrise/sunset tables. The best activity has been late morning into early afternoon once the frost burns off and water temps bump a degree or two. Think that 10:30 to 2:00 window for your prime feeding.

Weather-wise, the National Weather Service out of Pueblo is calling for typical early‑December conditions: cold nights, highs in the 30s to low 40s, light winds, and the chance of light snow in spots. Calm, overcast days are fishing best; bluebird skies make those trout even warier.

No tides to worry about here, just flow. USGS river gauges on the mainstem show stable, moderate winter cfs, enough to keep good depth in the runs but skinny along the banks. That concentrates fish, which is great if you’re accurate and quiet.

Recent catches reported by local guides and shops along the I‑70 corridor include healthy browns in the 12–18 inch range with the occasional 20‑inch class fish, plus solid rainbows mixed in. Numbers aren’t summer‑fast, but good anglers are still moving a half‑dozen to a dozen fish on a focused half day.

Best approach right now is nymphing. Following the Rise Beyond winter playbook, downsize:

- Flies: size 20–24 black, olive, or red midges; small BWO patterns; eggs and tiny worms as attractors.

- Rigs: 5X–6X tippet, light indicators, plenty of micro‑shot to get down quickly in those deeper lanes.

- Technique: short, precise drifts, minimal casting, and long pauses between adjustments.

If you’re throwing hardware, keep it subtle:

- Small 1/8–1/4 oz silver or gold spoons, worked slow and deep.

- Tiny marabou jigs in black or olive.

- Natural‑colored minnow plugs in the slower buckets at first and last light.

For bait where it’s legal, a single salmon egg, small crawler, or piece of nightcrawler drifted tight to the bottom will still pick up trout and the odd whitefish. Go small and sparse; big globs just spook fish in this clear water.

Couple of hot spots to circle:

- The Colorado near Kremmling: that upper river has classic deep winter runs and shelves, with trout stacked in the softer inside seams.

- The middle river around Glenwood Springs: confluence water and tailouts below riffles are holding mixed browns and bows, with just enough color from side creeks to give you a little cushion.

Fish slow, dress warm, and think “winter patience” – one good lane fished right will out‑perform a dozen rushed spots.

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Mornin’ folks, Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River, Colorado fishing report.

According to the National Weather Service Grand Junction office, the central Colorado River basin’s under a wintry mix today: light snow and rain showers, highs in the 30s, west winds 10 to 20 with gusts pushing 30. That’s a layers-and-gloves kind of day, but the fish don’t mind it nearly as much as we do.

Sunrise around the Grand Junction stretch is right about 7:20, with sunset near 4:50, so your real window is that late‑morning to mid‑afternoon warmup. No tides to worry about on this upper river, just flows and temps. Snoflo’s gauges show the Colorado near Cameo running in the mid‑1000 cfs range, and near the Colorado–Utah line just under 3,000 cfs, a nice winter level with decent clarity.

Recent reports from local anglers along the Fruita and Connected Lakes section say the trout bite has picked up on the softer edges and tailouts, with mostly 12–16 inch browns and rainbows and the odd 18‑plus pushing up out of the deeper buckets. Folks bouncing nymph rigs are putting a half‑dozen to a dozen fish in the net on a half‑day if they stick with it, fewer but bigger fish coming to those swinging streamers tight to structure.

Best winter producers right now:

- For trout: small pheasant tails, RS2s, and midges in 18–22 under an indicator, or a stonefly with a tiny midge dropper. Keep it deep and dead‑drifted.

- Hardware: 1/8 to 1/4‑ounce spoons in silver or copper, and small brown or olive marabou jigs.

- If you’re after warmwater in the Connected Lakes, Snoflo notes good populations of largemouth, crappie, bluegill, and cats. This time of year it’s slow, but a small underspin or swimbait crawled painfully slow can still tempt a cold‑stunned bass.

Baitwise, where it’s allowed, nightcrawlers and salmon eggs drifted near bottom will out‑fish just about anything for numbers. For strictly artificial stretches, think tiny midges and mayfly nymphs on light tippet, or a sculpin‑style streamer when the clouds roll in.

Couple of local hot spots for you:

- The **Cameo to Palisade** reach: deeper bends and shelf drop‑offs are holding pods of browns; work the inside seams and slower side channels.

- The **Fruita / Colorado River State Park** area: good public access, plus those Connected Lakes nearby if you want to mix in a little warmwater action between trout runs.

Fish activity will be slow at first light, then noticeably better from late morning through early afternoon as the water bumps a degree or two. Short, precise drifts and a good mend matter more than fly pattern right now. Move your feet, change depth often, and once you tag a fish, work that lane hard—winter trout stack up.

That’s it from the banks of the big river. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss tomorrow’s update.

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Mornin’ folks, Artificial Lure here, and it’s a crisp one out on the Colorado River this morning. If you’re thinking about getting out there today, here’s the lowdown.

Sunrise was just before 7:20 AM, and sunset’s around 4:40 PM, so you’ve got a short window of daylight. The sky’s mostly clear right now, temps in the low 30s, and a light west wind kicking up in the afternoon. It’s cold, but not ice-out cold, so the river’s fishable if you’re dressed right.

No tides to speak of on the Colorado River, but flows are steady. Down near the Utah state line, the river’s running around 2,700 cubic feet per second, which is pretty normal for this time of year. Up near Palisade, it’s a bit lower, around 1,500 cfs, so the water’s moving but not raging. That’s good news for nymphing and streamer work.

Fish are slow but willing. Trout are holding deep in the winter runs, and most of what’s being caught is brown trout and rainbow trout in the 12- to 18-inch range. A few bigger bulls are still out there, especially in the deeper holes and tailouts. Smallmouth bass are pretty quiet this time of year, but if you’re down near the lower stretches, there’s still a chance at a chunky one if you’re willing to grind it out.

Last reports out of the Yampa River Valley and connected lakes show folks picking up some panfish and a few bass on small jigs and nightcrawlers. Up in the San Juan Mountains, Williams Creek Reservoir is still producing, but it’s cold up there, and early ice is starting to form on the smaller ponds around Fort Collins.

For lures, keep it simple. Small streamers like a Zonker or a Woolly Bugger in olive, black, or brown are working well, especially with a slow, deep retrieve. If you’re throwing spinners, a #3 Colorado blade on a small jig or trolling rig can draw some attention, especially in stained water or under cloud cover. For flies, try a Pat’s Rubber Legs, a San Juan Worm, or a small midge pattern under an indicator.

Best bait right now? Nightcrawlers and small minnows. If you’re not fly fishing, a small jig tipped with a crawler or a tiny minnow under a float will catch fish in the slow, deep runs.

Two hot spots to hit: First, the stretch of the Colorado River near Cameo. It’s accessible, the water’s clear, and there’s a good mix of runs and pools. Second, Williams Creek Reservoir in the San Juans. It’s a bit of a drive, but if you’re after trout and don’t mind the cold, it’s worth it.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River fishing report, coming to you like a neighbor leaning over the tailgate at the boat ramp.

Up here in Colorado River country, winter has its claws in the valley. Expect below-freezing starts, a light breeze funneling down the canyon, and highs scraping just above freezing for a few mid‑day hours. Sunrise is right around seven and sunset about four‑thirty, so the real bite window is that late‑morning to early‑afternoon thaw.

There’s no true tide on this stretch, just subtle changes in flow from upstream releases. Think “hydro‑tide”: flows ease overnight, then often bump a bit late morning to midday. Fish respond the same way they do to a moving tide line—best action when the river is nudging up or down rather than dead steady.

Trout are the main players here now: browns, rainbows, and the occasional cuttbow. Activity is classic winter mode. Early hours, they’re glued to the bottom in the softer stuff: inside bends, deeper buckets, and tailouts with walking‑pace current. As the sun warms the surface, you’ll see a light midge trickle and a small window of more aggressive feeding between about 11 and 2.

Recent catches have mostly been solid 12–16 inch rainbows with a smattering of thicker browns pushing 18–20 inches where there’s deeper structure and less pressure. Anglers running small nymph rigs have been quietly putting half‑dozen to dozen fish days together when they slow down and really work the seams. Numbers aren’t summer silly, but the quality is there if you grind.

Best producers right now are subtle, winter‑style offerings:

- Tiny natural nymphs (midge and mayfly imitations in the 18–22 range) under a small indicator.

- Egg patterns and small worms as attractors when the water has a bit of color.

- Streamers in olive, black, or brown, stripped slow and low in the deeper slots for those heavier browns.

If you’re spin fishing, think small and natural:

- 1/8 oz marabou or tube jigs in brown, olive, or white, crawled along the bottom.

- Small in‑line spinners in silver or gold with a slow retrieve in the softer edges.

- Bait where legal: nightcrawlers pinched in half and drifted just off bottom; salmon eggs or PowerBait on still pockets and eddies.

Two local hot spots to target:

- The state park section around Corn Lake: easier access, slower winter flows, and plenty of deeper runs that hold pods of trout.

- The bends and deeper shelves just upstream of town access points, where the river tightens and then spills into longer tailouts—perfect winter holding water with less foot traffic.

Fish slow, think small, and focus on that late‑morning warmup. Keep your hands dry, your line mended, and you’ll find a few willing mouths in every good run.

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# Colorado River Fishing Report – December 4th, 2025

Hey there, I'm Artificial Lure, and welcome to today's Colorado River fishing report. We're looking at a beautiful December morning here in Colorado, with sunrise hitting around 6:53 AM and sunset coming in at 5:52 PM, giving us just under 11 hours of daylight to work with.

**Weather and Conditions**

We've got some light snow lingering from yesterday's system, but conditions are clearing out as we head into the afternoon. The National Weather Service is calling for that snow to wrap up by sunset, with milder conditions expected as we push through the week. It's classic winter fishing weather, so bundle up.

**Fish Activity and Recent Catches**

The Colorado River near Las Vegas is actively producing stripers and bass right now despite the winter conditions. Anglers have been hitting fish consistently, and there's solid action happening across multiple sections of the river. Over on the San Juan River—another premium Colorado destination—December is actually proving to be one of the most overlooked gems in Western trout fishing, with hot and consistent action happening despite the colder mornings.

**Best Lures and Tactics**

For stripers and bass, you'll want to bring spinnerbaits—specifically something with a small gold Colorado blade paired with a larger silver willow blade in clearer water. Chartreuse patterns have also been working well early in the day. Jerkbaits are absolutely crushing it right now, and don't sleep on soft plastics in natural colors around structure.

**Hot Spots**

The lower Colorado River near the Las Vegas area is firing for stripers and bass. If you're willing to drive, the San Juan River down in New Mexico is absolutely deserving of your time this month—fewer crowds and better fishing than most expect.

**Best Times**

Your major bite windows are hitting early morning from 1:02 AM to 3:32 AM, with another strong push from 4:53 PM to 7:23 PM. Plan accordingly.

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# Colorado River Winter Fishing Report - December 3rd, 2025

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your daily Colorado River fishing report.

We're deep into early winter conditions now, and Mother Nature's really settling in. This morning we're looking at sunrise around 7:01 AM and sunset at 4:37 PM, so you're working with a tight window—get out early if you can.

**Weather and Water Conditions**

Winter's officially here. A significant winter storm system moved through yesterday into last night, with snow accumulating across the central mountains and I-25 corridor. Conditions remain unstable through Wednesday and into Thursday, so use extreme caution if you're heading up to higher elevations. Down on the Colorado River, flows are low and stable with ultra-clear water—classic late-fall conditions. This means visibility is excellent for sight fishing, but stealth is absolutely everything. The colder overnight temperatures have made mornings slow until midday sun hits the water and triggers activity.

**Fish Activity and Recent Catches**

The action this time of year is all about patience and precision. Most trout are holding tight in slower, deeper water—they're not roaming much. Midges are absolutely running the show right now, with occasional baetis popping when cloud cover hangs over the region. Flatiron Reservoir to the north has been slowing down, with anglers picking up fish on red and white spoons and Powerbait, but your best bets on moving water like the Colorado will be nymphing-focused.

**Best Baits and Lures**

This is midge season. Small is beautiful right now. Light tippet and small flies are essential—we're talking size 18-22 midges in black, gray, and olive. If you're throwing hardware, small spoons work, but honestly, the real magic this time of year is in the subsurface game. V&M jigs and vibrating jigs that mimic the natural forage have been producing elsewhere in Colorado's winter fisheries, so don't sleep on them for the Colorado.

**Hot Spots**

The Waterton Canyon stretch of the South Platte (just outside Denver) has been showing consistent midday midge activity along the shaded canyon walls where trout are tucked tight. If you're further upstream, focus on deeper mid-channel slots where the water provides refuge. The Dream Stream near the Cattle Guard Section is another solid option with excellent clarity for sight nymphing—wide flats and subtle troughs are holding quality fish right now.

**Final Thoughts**

Remember, stealth wins in December. Move slowly, watch for wakes, use light tippet, and don't expect explosive action. But if you're patient and precise, you'll absolutely get shots at quality trout.

Thanks for tuning in to the Colorado River fishing report. Make sure you subscribe for daily updates, and remember to stay safe out there with this winter system moving through.

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# Colorado River Fishing Report - December 2, 2025

Well folks, this is Artificial Lure coming to you with today's fishing report for the Colorado River and the surrounding waters here in Colorado. We're heading into December now, and let me tell you, conditions are shifting as we move deeper into winter.

First things first – we've got a winter storm inbound according to yesterday's Colorado River report, so keep an eye on those conditions before you head out. That said, the water temperature around Fort Collins is holding steady, and Horsetooth Reservoir and the Cache la Poudre are maintaining pockets of open water even as smaller ponds start icing over. This is your window right now.

Here's what's been happening on the water. Rio Grande cutthroat trout have started showing up thanks to earlier stockings. From the Colorado border down to the Taos Junction Bridge, you're looking at a two-fish limit, and anglers have been connecting with these beautiful native trout. For bait, you can't go wrong with the classics – worms and PowerBait are absolutely putting fish in the boat, especially if you're targeting stocked rainbows. If you're a fly angler, don't sleep on this time of year – winter fly fishing in Colorado is often called the "Secret Season" for a reason, and it can be one of the most productive times to get on the water.

Now, if you're planning a trip, I'd suggest hitting Horsetooth Reservoir or getting into the Cache la Poudre – those are your best bets right now with consistent open water. For tackle, work shallower areas with soft plastics, and don't hesitate to throw some flippin' jigs around any structure you find. Early morning and evening are still your prime windows before that weather rolls in.

Get out there while you can, folks. Thanks for tuning in to this report, and make sure you subscribe for more updates on the water. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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# Colorado River Fishing Report - Monday, December 1st, 2025

Well folks, it's your boy Artificial Lure here with today's fishing report for the Colorado River and surrounding waters. December's finally here, and let me tell you, conditions are shaping up interesting.

**Weather and Conditions**

We're looking at mostly cloudy skies this morning with temperatures sitting around 12 to 15 degrees up in the high country. Don't let that fool you though – we've got a major winter storm system moving in that's going to track through the state starting today and carrying through Wednesday. Snow's already developing across the northern Rockies and pivoting south, so we could see snow showers hitting Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico before this system pushes into the Plains. Bundle up out there, and if you're planning an extended trip, pay attention to those storm updates.

**Sunrise and Sunset**

Sunrise this morning is around 7:08 AM, and we're looking at sunset right around 4:35 PM. That gives us a pretty tight window of daylight, so get out early and make those hours count.

**Fish Activity and Recent Catches**

The Colorado River sections from Gore Canyon down to the Rifle bridge are fishing decent right now. Vail Valley Anglers reports the river's running wider and slower with some faster canyon sections mixed in – good structure for holding fish. Fall spawning activity for browns has been strong, and anglers have been seeing good maneuverability this season. The Kokanee salmon have been holding at depth where they like to congregate.

**Best Lures and Bait**

For the Colorado, you're going to want to focus on small lures and flies – that's your bread and butter here. Spinnerbaits have been producing reaction strikes on bass and pike, and if you're targeting trout, classic offerings like small jigs and beaver-style baits are working. Hard metal lures and spinnerbait kits give you versatility for pretty much any predatory fish swimming these waters.

**Solunar Activity**

According to the fishing forecast data for Estes Park area, we're looking at major bite times throughout the day. The current waxing crescent moon phase isn't ideal, but there are still solid windows to get into fish.

**Hot Spots**

I'd recommend hitting sections near the Gore Canyon area – structure there consistently holds fish. Lake Isabelle up in the high country is another solid option if you're willing to venture higher elevation; small lures and flies work best there too.

**Final Thoughts**

With this storm system moving in, today might be your last solid day before conditions deteriorate mid-week. Get out there early, keep an eye on that weather, and respect Mother Nature. Tight lines, everyone!

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