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Colorado River Fishing Report: High Flows, Caddis Hatch, and Nymphing Tactics
Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you the latest fishing report for May 28, 2025, from the Colorado River in Colorado.
Spring runoff is still causing high and murky flows along much of the main river. Flows near Glenwood Springs are sitting around 3300 CFS, which is up a bit from last week. Most stretches are running off-color, with visibility usually about a foot or less, especially by mid-morning as snowmelt picks up. Early risers are rewarded—your best window for clean water and active fish is first light, around 5:30 AM. That bite window tends to fall off after noon as clarity drops with the warming sun.
Weather today calls for cool, clear early hours, warming into the low 70s by afternoon, with a light breeze building midday. There is no tidal influence here, of course. Sunrise came at 5:36 AM, and sunset is set for about 8:22 PM.
Fishing has been fair to good, with action best in the morning and again late in the evening. The big news is the thick caddis hatch in the afternoons and evenings, which is drawing trout to the surface. Blue-winged olives are still hatching, especially on cooler or cloudy mornings, and midges are present throughout the day. For nymphing, anglers are reporting strong results with Pat’s Rubber Legs, caddis pupae, weighted worms, and leeches. If the water is stained, tie on a big, flashy streamer like an articulated Dungeon or Sculpzilla and work the banks—especially productive when there’s a lull in hatch activity.
Recent catches include plenty of brown trout and rainbow trout, with most fish averaging 12–16 inches. A few larger browns have been reported by folks stripping streamers tight to the bank, especially in deeper pools and eddies. Nymphing remains consistent and is probably your best bet if you’re looking for numbers, especially below riffles and at the heads of deeper runs.
Hot spots worth trying include the stretch from Pumphouse down to Radium and the banks just above Glenwood Springs, particularly early in the day. Upstream near Kremmling, you’ll find clearer water and steady action, especially with midges and caddis patterns.
As always, note that rainbow trout are starting to spawn. Please respect their spawning beds and avoid targeting them on reds or in clearly marked no-fish zones.
Best flies and lures right now are:
- Pat’s Rubber Legs, Girdle Bugs, and weighted worms for nymphing
- Caddis pupae, blue-winged olive, and midge imitations for dries and nymphs
- Articulated Dungeon, Sculpzilla, and similar patterns for streamers
- Natural colored leech imitations
Bait fishing is less common here, but if you head downstream to less pressured stretches, nightcrawlers and salmon eggs can get bites from browns and the occasional whitefish.
That’s your report for today. Tight lines, be safe, and enjoy the Colorado River this week.
Spring runoff is still causing high and murky flows along much of the main river. Flows near Glenwood Springs are sitting around 3300 CFS, which is up a bit from last week. Most stretches are running off-color, with visibility usually about a foot or less, especially by mid-morning as snowmelt picks up. Early risers are rewarded—your best window for clean water and active fish is first light, around 5:30 AM. That bite window tends to fall off after noon as clarity drops with the warming sun.
Weather today calls for cool, clear early hours, warming into the low 70s by afternoon, with a light breeze building midday. There is no tidal influence here, of course. Sunrise came at 5:36 AM, and sunset is set for about 8:22 PM.
Fishing has been fair to good, with action best in the morning and again late in the evening. The big news is the thick caddis hatch in the afternoons and evenings, which is drawing trout to the surface. Blue-winged olives are still hatching, especially on cooler or cloudy mornings, and midges are present throughout the day. For nymphing, anglers are reporting strong results with Pat’s Rubber Legs, caddis pupae, weighted worms, and leeches. If the water is stained, tie on a big, flashy streamer like an articulated Dungeon or Sculpzilla and work the banks—especially productive when there’s a lull in hatch activity.
Recent catches include plenty of brown trout and rainbow trout, with most fish averaging 12–16 inches. A few larger browns have been reported by folks stripping streamers tight to the bank, especially in deeper pools and eddies. Nymphing remains consistent and is probably your best bet if you’re looking for numbers, especially below riffles and at the heads of deeper runs.
Hot spots worth trying include the stretch from Pumphouse down to Radium and the banks just above Glenwood Springs, particularly early in the day. Upstream near Kremmling, you’ll find clearer water and steady action, especially with midges and caddis patterns.
As always, note that rainbow trout are starting to spawn. Please respect their spawning beds and avoid targeting them on reds or in clearly marked no-fish zones.
Best flies and lures right now are:
- Pat’s Rubber Legs, Girdle Bugs, and weighted worms for nymphing
- Caddis pupae, blue-winged olive, and midge imitations for dries and nymphs
- Articulated Dungeon, Sculpzilla, and similar patterns for streamers
- Natural colored leech imitations
Bait fishing is less common here, but if you head downstream to less pressured stretches, nightcrawlers and salmon eggs can get bites from browns and the occasional whitefish.
That’s your report for today. Tight lines, be safe, and enjoy the Colorado River this week.
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By Quiet. PleaseGood morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you the latest fishing report for May 28, 2025, from the Colorado River in Colorado.
Spring runoff is still causing high and murky flows along much of the main river. Flows near Glenwood Springs are sitting around 3300 CFS, which is up a bit from last week. Most stretches are running off-color, with visibility usually about a foot or less, especially by mid-morning as snowmelt picks up. Early risers are rewarded—your best window for clean water and active fish is first light, around 5:30 AM. That bite window tends to fall off after noon as clarity drops with the warming sun.
Weather today calls for cool, clear early hours, warming into the low 70s by afternoon, with a light breeze building midday. There is no tidal influence here, of course. Sunrise came at 5:36 AM, and sunset is set for about 8:22 PM.
Fishing has been fair to good, with action best in the morning and again late in the evening. The big news is the thick caddis hatch in the afternoons and evenings, which is drawing trout to the surface. Blue-winged olives are still hatching, especially on cooler or cloudy mornings, and midges are present throughout the day. For nymphing, anglers are reporting strong results with Pat’s Rubber Legs, caddis pupae, weighted worms, and leeches. If the water is stained, tie on a big, flashy streamer like an articulated Dungeon or Sculpzilla and work the banks—especially productive when there’s a lull in hatch activity.
Recent catches include plenty of brown trout and rainbow trout, with most fish averaging 12–16 inches. A few larger browns have been reported by folks stripping streamers tight to the bank, especially in deeper pools and eddies. Nymphing remains consistent and is probably your best bet if you’re looking for numbers, especially below riffles and at the heads of deeper runs.
Hot spots worth trying include the stretch from Pumphouse down to Radium and the banks just above Glenwood Springs, particularly early in the day. Upstream near Kremmling, you’ll find clearer water and steady action, especially with midges and caddis patterns.
As always, note that rainbow trout are starting to spawn. Please respect their spawning beds and avoid targeting them on reds or in clearly marked no-fish zones.
Best flies and lures right now are:
- Pat’s Rubber Legs, Girdle Bugs, and weighted worms for nymphing
- Caddis pupae, blue-winged olive, and midge imitations for dries and nymphs
- Articulated Dungeon, Sculpzilla, and similar patterns for streamers
- Natural colored leech imitations
Bait fishing is less common here, but if you head downstream to less pressured stretches, nightcrawlers and salmon eggs can get bites from browns and the occasional whitefish.
That’s your report for today. Tight lines, be safe, and enjoy the Colorado River this week.
Spring runoff is still causing high and murky flows along much of the main river. Flows near Glenwood Springs are sitting around 3300 CFS, which is up a bit from last week. Most stretches are running off-color, with visibility usually about a foot or less, especially by mid-morning as snowmelt picks up. Early risers are rewarded—your best window for clean water and active fish is first light, around 5:30 AM. That bite window tends to fall off after noon as clarity drops with the warming sun.
Weather today calls for cool, clear early hours, warming into the low 70s by afternoon, with a light breeze building midday. There is no tidal influence here, of course. Sunrise came at 5:36 AM, and sunset is set for about 8:22 PM.
Fishing has been fair to good, with action best in the morning and again late in the evening. The big news is the thick caddis hatch in the afternoons and evenings, which is drawing trout to the surface. Blue-winged olives are still hatching, especially on cooler or cloudy mornings, and midges are present throughout the day. For nymphing, anglers are reporting strong results with Pat’s Rubber Legs, caddis pupae, weighted worms, and leeches. If the water is stained, tie on a big, flashy streamer like an articulated Dungeon or Sculpzilla and work the banks—especially productive when there’s a lull in hatch activity.
Recent catches include plenty of brown trout and rainbow trout, with most fish averaging 12–16 inches. A few larger browns have been reported by folks stripping streamers tight to the bank, especially in deeper pools and eddies. Nymphing remains consistent and is probably your best bet if you’re looking for numbers, especially below riffles and at the heads of deeper runs.
Hot spots worth trying include the stretch from Pumphouse down to Radium and the banks just above Glenwood Springs, particularly early in the day. Upstream near Kremmling, you’ll find clearer water and steady action, especially with midges and caddis patterns.
As always, note that rainbow trout are starting to spawn. Please respect their spawning beds and avoid targeting them on reds or in clearly marked no-fish zones.
Best flies and lures right now are:
- Pat’s Rubber Legs, Girdle Bugs, and weighted worms for nymphing
- Caddis pupae, blue-winged olive, and midge imitations for dries and nymphs
- Articulated Dungeon, Sculpzilla, and similar patterns for streamers
- Natural colored leech imitations
Bait fishing is less common here, but if you head downstream to less pressured stretches, nightcrawlers and salmon eggs can get bites from browns and the occasional whitefish.
That’s your report for today. Tight lines, be safe, and enjoy the Colorado River this week.