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Colorado River Fishing Report May 25, 2025: Caddis Hatch, Murky Flows, and Trout Spawning
Howdy folks, Artificial Lure here with your up-to-date fishing report for the Colorado River, May 25th, 2025.
The Colorado River’s spring runoff is still making its presence felt this weekend. Flows are holding steady around 3300 CFS below Glenwood Springs, up about 10 percent from last week. With those rising temperatures early in the week, water clarity has taken a hit, with visibility down to about a foot in most stretches. You’ll have your best shot at clean water and active fish if you’re out there at first light, around 5:30 AM, before the sun works its magic on the snow up high and sends more sediment downriver. The bite typically slows by early afternoon as water gets dirtier.
Fishing’s been fair to good, but a little spotty. I’d rate it a solid 6 out of 10 thanks to persistent hatches and consistent action for those who time it right. The highlight right now is the caddis hatch—thick blankets of bugs in the late afternoon and evening are making for some outstanding dry fly opportunities. Blue winged olives are still around, especially on cloudier mornings, and midges are working throughout the day. The nymph game has been steady, with Pats Rubber Legs, weighted worms, caddis pupae, and leeches leading the pack. If you’re throwing streamers, hit the banks with an articulated Dungeons or Sculpzilla pattern—especially if things get cloudy or you notice a lull in the hatch.
If you’re spin fishing, small jigs and spinners in duller colors are working best in the murky water. For bait anglers, drifting nightcrawlers or salmon eggs near the bottom of deeper pools has turned up rainbows and browns.
The rainbow trout are beginning their spawn, so please avoid fishing to visible spawners and respect all marked no-fish zones. The numbers caught this week have mostly been healthy browns in the 12-16 inch range, with a few bigger rainbows mixed in below Glenwood and near Parshall.
Hot spots this weekend include the stretch from Pumphouse to Radium—look for softer water below riffles and in eddies. Down by Glenwood Springs, the confluence with the Roaring Fork is worth a stop, especially at sunrise, as fish move in to feed on drifting insects.
Sunrise today is right at 5:36 AM, with sunset around 8:25 PM. No tides to worry about here on the river, just the usual spring flows. Bring layers, as mornings start cool and afternoons can warm up fast.
That’s your rundown for today, May 25th, straight from the water. Tight lines and good luck out there.
The Colorado River’s spring runoff is still making its presence felt this weekend. Flows are holding steady around 3300 CFS below Glenwood Springs, up about 10 percent from last week. With those rising temperatures early in the week, water clarity has taken a hit, with visibility down to about a foot in most stretches. You’ll have your best shot at clean water and active fish if you’re out there at first light, around 5:30 AM, before the sun works its magic on the snow up high and sends more sediment downriver. The bite typically slows by early afternoon as water gets dirtier.
Fishing’s been fair to good, but a little spotty. I’d rate it a solid 6 out of 10 thanks to persistent hatches and consistent action for those who time it right. The highlight right now is the caddis hatch—thick blankets of bugs in the late afternoon and evening are making for some outstanding dry fly opportunities. Blue winged olives are still around, especially on cloudier mornings, and midges are working throughout the day. The nymph game has been steady, with Pats Rubber Legs, weighted worms, caddis pupae, and leeches leading the pack. If you’re throwing streamers, hit the banks with an articulated Dungeons or Sculpzilla pattern—especially if things get cloudy or you notice a lull in the hatch.
If you’re spin fishing, small jigs and spinners in duller colors are working best in the murky water. For bait anglers, drifting nightcrawlers or salmon eggs near the bottom of deeper pools has turned up rainbows and browns.
The rainbow trout are beginning their spawn, so please avoid fishing to visible spawners and respect all marked no-fish zones. The numbers caught this week have mostly been healthy browns in the 12-16 inch range, with a few bigger rainbows mixed in below Glenwood and near Parshall.
Hot spots this weekend include the stretch from Pumphouse to Radium—look for softer water below riffles and in eddies. Down by Glenwood Springs, the confluence with the Roaring Fork is worth a stop, especially at sunrise, as fish move in to feed on drifting insects.
Sunrise today is right at 5:36 AM, with sunset around 8:25 PM. No tides to worry about here on the river, just the usual spring flows. Bring layers, as mornings start cool and afternoons can warm up fast.
That’s your rundown for today, May 25th, straight from the water. Tight lines and good luck out there.
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By Quiet. PleaseHowdy folks, Artificial Lure here with your up-to-date fishing report for the Colorado River, May 25th, 2025.
The Colorado River’s spring runoff is still making its presence felt this weekend. Flows are holding steady around 3300 CFS below Glenwood Springs, up about 10 percent from last week. With those rising temperatures early in the week, water clarity has taken a hit, with visibility down to about a foot in most stretches. You’ll have your best shot at clean water and active fish if you’re out there at first light, around 5:30 AM, before the sun works its magic on the snow up high and sends more sediment downriver. The bite typically slows by early afternoon as water gets dirtier.
Fishing’s been fair to good, but a little spotty. I’d rate it a solid 6 out of 10 thanks to persistent hatches and consistent action for those who time it right. The highlight right now is the caddis hatch—thick blankets of bugs in the late afternoon and evening are making for some outstanding dry fly opportunities. Blue winged olives are still around, especially on cloudier mornings, and midges are working throughout the day. The nymph game has been steady, with Pats Rubber Legs, weighted worms, caddis pupae, and leeches leading the pack. If you’re throwing streamers, hit the banks with an articulated Dungeons or Sculpzilla pattern—especially if things get cloudy or you notice a lull in the hatch.
If you’re spin fishing, small jigs and spinners in duller colors are working best in the murky water. For bait anglers, drifting nightcrawlers or salmon eggs near the bottom of deeper pools has turned up rainbows and browns.
The rainbow trout are beginning their spawn, so please avoid fishing to visible spawners and respect all marked no-fish zones. The numbers caught this week have mostly been healthy browns in the 12-16 inch range, with a few bigger rainbows mixed in below Glenwood and near Parshall.
Hot spots this weekend include the stretch from Pumphouse to Radium—look for softer water below riffles and in eddies. Down by Glenwood Springs, the confluence with the Roaring Fork is worth a stop, especially at sunrise, as fish move in to feed on drifting insects.
Sunrise today is right at 5:36 AM, with sunset around 8:25 PM. No tides to worry about here on the river, just the usual spring flows. Bring layers, as mornings start cool and afternoons can warm up fast.
That’s your rundown for today, May 25th, straight from the water. Tight lines and good luck out there.
The Colorado River’s spring runoff is still making its presence felt this weekend. Flows are holding steady around 3300 CFS below Glenwood Springs, up about 10 percent from last week. With those rising temperatures early in the week, water clarity has taken a hit, with visibility down to about a foot in most stretches. You’ll have your best shot at clean water and active fish if you’re out there at first light, around 5:30 AM, before the sun works its magic on the snow up high and sends more sediment downriver. The bite typically slows by early afternoon as water gets dirtier.
Fishing’s been fair to good, but a little spotty. I’d rate it a solid 6 out of 10 thanks to persistent hatches and consistent action for those who time it right. The highlight right now is the caddis hatch—thick blankets of bugs in the late afternoon and evening are making for some outstanding dry fly opportunities. Blue winged olives are still around, especially on cloudier mornings, and midges are working throughout the day. The nymph game has been steady, with Pats Rubber Legs, weighted worms, caddis pupae, and leeches leading the pack. If you’re throwing streamers, hit the banks with an articulated Dungeons or Sculpzilla pattern—especially if things get cloudy or you notice a lull in the hatch.
If you’re spin fishing, small jigs and spinners in duller colors are working best in the murky water. For bait anglers, drifting nightcrawlers or salmon eggs near the bottom of deeper pools has turned up rainbows and browns.
The rainbow trout are beginning their spawn, so please avoid fishing to visible spawners and respect all marked no-fish zones. The numbers caught this week have mostly been healthy browns in the 12-16 inch range, with a few bigger rainbows mixed in below Glenwood and near Parshall.
Hot spots this weekend include the stretch from Pumphouse to Radium—look for softer water below riffles and in eddies. Down by Glenwood Springs, the confluence with the Roaring Fork is worth a stop, especially at sunrise, as fish move in to feed on drifting insects.
Sunrise today is right at 5:36 AM, with sunset around 8:25 PM. No tides to worry about here on the river, just the usual spring flows. Bring layers, as mornings start cool and afternoons can warm up fast.
That’s your rundown for today, May 25th, straight from the water. Tight lines and good luck out there.