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Colorado River Fishing Report: Spring Hatches, Flows, and Hot Spots
Good morning from the banks of the Colorado River, this is Artificial Lure with your April 23, 2025, fishing report. Let’s get right into what’s happening on the water today.
We’re seeing typical spring behavior on the Colorado right now. The river below Glenwood Springs is running at 2670 CFS and slowly rising. After the warm spells this week, water clarity has gone a bit brown, but you’ll find clearer water if you get out early or after a cool night. Keep in mind, some tributaries like Grizzly, Canyon, Castle, and Elk Creeks are under annual spawning closures, so watch for signs and respect those zones until June 1. These closures are small compared to the amount of open fishing left on the river[1].
Today’s weather is looking mild, with temps starting in the forties at sunrise and pushing into the low sixties by afternoon. We’re under mostly cloudy skies, which should help keep fish active and feeding. Sunrise was right around 6:16 am, and sunset will hit about 7:47 pm, giving you a good long window for casting.
If you’re after trout, the fish are waking up and moving with the flows. We’re right in the heart of spring hatches—expect blue winged olives (BWOs), caddis, midges, and even the start of small green drakes and PMDs on the menu. Recent catches have shown healthy numbers of rainbows, browns, and the occasional cutthroat and whitefish, mostly in the 12 to 18-inch range. Anglers are reporting good action, especially in the transitional water where faster currents slow into pools and seams[3][4].
Nymphing is your best bet during most of the day. Perdigon nymphs, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Zebra midges, and small stoneflies are all producing. Eggs and leeches are also scoring fish. For a dropper, try a North Platte Emerger or a JuJu Baetis. If trout are rising in the afternoon, tie on a Blue Wing Olive Parachute or a Griffith’s Gnat in sizes 18 to 22. Streamer fans can have a blast early or on cloudy days—swing a Woolly Bugger in olive or black or try a Kreelex if the water is off-color[3][4].
For bait anglers in legal sections, try drifting nightcrawlers or salmon eggs deep and slow. Fish are hugging the bottom and holding in slower runs, especially as flows go up.
Hot spots right now include the stretch below Glenwood Springs to South Canyon—a classic float or wade section with access and productive seams. Upstream, the area below Pumphouse around Radium and State Bridge is kicking out solid browns on nymphs and streamers, with less pressure as you move farther west[5].
That’s the scoop for today. Respect those closures, mind the river flows as spring runoff advances, and adjust your rigs to current conditions. Good luck out there and tight lines from Artificial Lure!
We’re seeing typical spring behavior on the Colorado right now. The river below Glenwood Springs is running at 2670 CFS and slowly rising. After the warm spells this week, water clarity has gone a bit brown, but you’ll find clearer water if you get out early or after a cool night. Keep in mind, some tributaries like Grizzly, Canyon, Castle, and Elk Creeks are under annual spawning closures, so watch for signs and respect those zones until June 1. These closures are small compared to the amount of open fishing left on the river[1].
Today’s weather is looking mild, with temps starting in the forties at sunrise and pushing into the low sixties by afternoon. We’re under mostly cloudy skies, which should help keep fish active and feeding. Sunrise was right around 6:16 am, and sunset will hit about 7:47 pm, giving you a good long window for casting.
If you’re after trout, the fish are waking up and moving with the flows. We’re right in the heart of spring hatches—expect blue winged olives (BWOs), caddis, midges, and even the start of small green drakes and PMDs on the menu. Recent catches have shown healthy numbers of rainbows, browns, and the occasional cutthroat and whitefish, mostly in the 12 to 18-inch range. Anglers are reporting good action, especially in the transitional water where faster currents slow into pools and seams[3][4].
Nymphing is your best bet during most of the day. Perdigon nymphs, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Zebra midges, and small stoneflies are all producing. Eggs and leeches are also scoring fish. For a dropper, try a North Platte Emerger or a JuJu Baetis. If trout are rising in the afternoon, tie on a Blue Wing Olive Parachute or a Griffith’s Gnat in sizes 18 to 22. Streamer fans can have a blast early or on cloudy days—swing a Woolly Bugger in olive or black or try a Kreelex if the water is off-color[3][4].
For bait anglers in legal sections, try drifting nightcrawlers or salmon eggs deep and slow. Fish are hugging the bottom and holding in slower runs, especially as flows go up.
Hot spots right now include the stretch below Glenwood Springs to South Canyon—a classic float or wade section with access and productive seams. Upstream, the area below Pumphouse around Radium and State Bridge is kicking out solid browns on nymphs and streamers, with less pressure as you move farther west[5].
That’s the scoop for today. Respect those closures, mind the river flows as spring runoff advances, and adjust your rigs to current conditions. Good luck out there and tight lines from Artificial Lure!
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By Quiet. PleaseGood morning from the banks of the Colorado River, this is Artificial Lure with your April 23, 2025, fishing report. Let’s get right into what’s happening on the water today.
We’re seeing typical spring behavior on the Colorado right now. The river below Glenwood Springs is running at 2670 CFS and slowly rising. After the warm spells this week, water clarity has gone a bit brown, but you’ll find clearer water if you get out early or after a cool night. Keep in mind, some tributaries like Grizzly, Canyon, Castle, and Elk Creeks are under annual spawning closures, so watch for signs and respect those zones until June 1. These closures are small compared to the amount of open fishing left on the river[1].
Today’s weather is looking mild, with temps starting in the forties at sunrise and pushing into the low sixties by afternoon. We’re under mostly cloudy skies, which should help keep fish active and feeding. Sunrise was right around 6:16 am, and sunset will hit about 7:47 pm, giving you a good long window for casting.
If you’re after trout, the fish are waking up and moving with the flows. We’re right in the heart of spring hatches—expect blue winged olives (BWOs), caddis, midges, and even the start of small green drakes and PMDs on the menu. Recent catches have shown healthy numbers of rainbows, browns, and the occasional cutthroat and whitefish, mostly in the 12 to 18-inch range. Anglers are reporting good action, especially in the transitional water where faster currents slow into pools and seams[3][4].
Nymphing is your best bet during most of the day. Perdigon nymphs, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Zebra midges, and small stoneflies are all producing. Eggs and leeches are also scoring fish. For a dropper, try a North Platte Emerger or a JuJu Baetis. If trout are rising in the afternoon, tie on a Blue Wing Olive Parachute or a Griffith’s Gnat in sizes 18 to 22. Streamer fans can have a blast early or on cloudy days—swing a Woolly Bugger in olive or black or try a Kreelex if the water is off-color[3][4].
For bait anglers in legal sections, try drifting nightcrawlers or salmon eggs deep and slow. Fish are hugging the bottom and holding in slower runs, especially as flows go up.
Hot spots right now include the stretch below Glenwood Springs to South Canyon—a classic float or wade section with access and productive seams. Upstream, the area below Pumphouse around Radium and State Bridge is kicking out solid browns on nymphs and streamers, with less pressure as you move farther west[5].
That’s the scoop for today. Respect those closures, mind the river flows as spring runoff advances, and adjust your rigs to current conditions. Good luck out there and tight lines from Artificial Lure!
We’re seeing typical spring behavior on the Colorado right now. The river below Glenwood Springs is running at 2670 CFS and slowly rising. After the warm spells this week, water clarity has gone a bit brown, but you’ll find clearer water if you get out early or after a cool night. Keep in mind, some tributaries like Grizzly, Canyon, Castle, and Elk Creeks are under annual spawning closures, so watch for signs and respect those zones until June 1. These closures are small compared to the amount of open fishing left on the river[1].
Today’s weather is looking mild, with temps starting in the forties at sunrise and pushing into the low sixties by afternoon. We’re under mostly cloudy skies, which should help keep fish active and feeding. Sunrise was right around 6:16 am, and sunset will hit about 7:47 pm, giving you a good long window for casting.
If you’re after trout, the fish are waking up and moving with the flows. We’re right in the heart of spring hatches—expect blue winged olives (BWOs), caddis, midges, and even the start of small green drakes and PMDs on the menu. Recent catches have shown healthy numbers of rainbows, browns, and the occasional cutthroat and whitefish, mostly in the 12 to 18-inch range. Anglers are reporting good action, especially in the transitional water where faster currents slow into pools and seams[3][4].
Nymphing is your best bet during most of the day. Perdigon nymphs, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Zebra midges, and small stoneflies are all producing. Eggs and leeches are also scoring fish. For a dropper, try a North Platte Emerger or a JuJu Baetis. If trout are rising in the afternoon, tie on a Blue Wing Olive Parachute or a Griffith’s Gnat in sizes 18 to 22. Streamer fans can have a blast early or on cloudy days—swing a Woolly Bugger in olive or black or try a Kreelex if the water is off-color[3][4].
For bait anglers in legal sections, try drifting nightcrawlers or salmon eggs deep and slow. Fish are hugging the bottom and holding in slower runs, especially as flows go up.
Hot spots right now include the stretch below Glenwood Springs to South Canyon—a classic float or wade section with access and productive seams. Upstream, the area below Pumphouse around Radium and State Bridge is kicking out solid browns on nymphs and streamers, with less pressure as you move farther west[5].
That’s the scoop for today. Respect those closures, mind the river flows as spring runoff advances, and adjust your rigs to current conditions. Good luck out there and tight lines from Artificial Lure!