Fishing this morning on the Colorado River saw a calm, cold dawn greet patient anglers, with the sun rising around 6:55 AM and setting tonight at 4:43 PM. No tide swings up here in the mountains, but steady, clear flows make things almost tidal in how trout behave: challenge comes in reading the subtle current seams and their feeding cycles.

River clarity is ultra-high, typical for November once irrigation releases drop off and water levels settle. This sharp clarity means fish see everything—your flies, your shadow, a missed drift—so perfection matters. According to Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, small flies are the ticket now: midges in #20–24, sparse Blue Winged Olives, and the occasional scud or leech drifting deep. The bite's not all-day; best window is from late morning through very early afternoon, when water temperature bumps up just enough to nudge trout onto the feed. If you’re hoping for numbers, reset your expectations—right now, it’s about quality fish pulled from deep runs and undercut banks, especially near structure and slow lanes.

Local Deckers reports confirm it’s been a “think micro” week: top patterns are black, olive, and brown midges in all life stages, mostly sizes 20 to 24, paired with a small egg or worm pattern like a size 16 San Juan worm as a lead, and a Top Secret Midge or Mercury Midge as a dropper. Go with a 9-10 foot leader, 5X or finer tippet, and keep your split shot light and just enough to get to depth. Fish are stacked behind boulders and in green seams. Clarity’s brutal—long leaders and gentle casts are the difference between a take or a spooked fish.

For spin anglers, focus on trout patterns with small Rapalas or inline spinners; cast upstream and let them swing naturally past boulders and through deeper holes, especially where the sun’s warming the surface come midday. The Connected Lakes area down by Grand Junction is pulling in decent largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and channel cats where water’s a degree or two warmer. Local anglers report topwater baits still moving bass in the afternoons, while nightcrawlers and cut bait tempt cats and bluegill near drowned timber or brushpiles.

Big news on the invasive species front: zebra mussels have extended their reach from the Eagle River confluence all the way to the Utah border. Parks and Wildlife crews found evidence of both adults and larvae in recent samplings. If you’re boating, make darn sure to clean and dry your gear before you move between stretches—the last thing we need is more spread. And New Zealand mudsnails have appeared as far upstream as the Roaring Fork, so double check those wading boots.

What’s biting lately? Most post-spawn browns have ducked for cover, but a few hefty rainbows and resident cutthroat have shown up in deeper holes, mainly fooled by size 22-24 midge pupae and tiny Baetis. Downriver, some Colorado River regulars near Rifle and Silt have reported a handful of late fall walleyes and a surprising stringer of channel cats, most coming on slow-fished jigs and nightcrawlers in evening hours.

Best bets right now? “The Hogbacks” area near Glenwood Springs provides structure, depth, and some of the most reliable cold-season action. Also, the stretch just below Dotsero down to Gypsum is fishing strong; look for soft seams, tailouts, and deeper mid-river pockets—especially along outside bends and just below gravel bar drops.

Lure up with tiny midges, size 18-22 BWOs, and a single pink egg as an attractor. For gear folks, think slow: use small jerkbaits and marabou jigs twitched softly near bottom, or dead-stick slim profile soft plastics. Always mind that leader and dress for quick shifts in wind and temperature.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s river rundown—this is Artificial Lure. Remember to subscribe to stay sharp and on the bite, wherever you fish.

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