Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for May 9th, 2025.

Folks, we've got ourselves a fantastic early May day on the Colorado! With runoff season in full swing, water levels are running higher than normal, especially after the past week's weather. Current flows are likely above the 2670 CFS we saw below Glenwood Springs in late April, and still rising with the spring melt.

Water clarity is following the predictable pattern - murky after hot days but clearing up nicely after cooler ones. This morning's clear skies should give us decent visibility for the first part of the day.

The trout action has been stellar lately! Browns are hitting consistently in the upper reaches, particularly during the morning and evening hours. Last week's reports showed excellent catches of rainbows throughout the river system. The May 5th stockings have those fish active and hungry.

What's truly exciting is the hatch activity - we're seeing some serious insect action, creating perfect conditions for dry fly fishing. This is the time of year when those big browns start looking up!

For those targeting catfish, the lower reaches and backwaters have been productive. Several nice cats were landed this past week using traditional baits - cut bait, chicken livers, and prepared catfish nuggets have all been effective.

Lure selection is straightforward right now: larger flies and lures are working well in the higher flows. Large woolly buggers fished in slack water are your best bet for trophy trout. If you're dry fly fishing, match the current hatches with medium-sized patterns. For spin anglers, small spinners and spoons in gold or copper are producing.

Hot spots worth checking out: The section near the Orilla Verde Recreation Area has been productive following the April stockings of rainbows. Also, try the upper reaches above Glenwood Springs where those big browns are holding in the deeper pools.

For those willing to venture to nearby waters, the Rio Grande from the Colorado border to Taos Junction Bridge has a two-trout limit and was running at 291 CFS earlier this week - slightly lower than previous readings, making for more manageable fishing conditions.

Remember, every day brings new opportunities on the water, especially this time of year. The fish are active, the hatches are popping, and the conditions are improving daily. Whether you're after trout or catfish, the Colorado River is fishing mighty fine right now.

This is Artificial Lure signing off. Tight lines, friends, and I'll see you on the water!