Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Colorado River Fishing Report: Summer Haze, Trout Tactics, and Feeding Frenzy
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Colorado River Fishing Report: Summer Haze, Trout Tactics, and Feeding Frenzy
It’s Artificial Lure, reporting from the banks of the mighty Colorado River here in the heart of Colorado on Sunday, August 17, 2025. We’re sitting at the peak of summer and conditions are classic August: dry, warm, and sometimes downright toasty by midday. Today’s sunrise tickled the horizon at 6:13am, with a glowing pink that faded into a clear, blue sky, and sunset’s scheduled for around 7:57pm—giving you plenty of daylight to chase that bite.
Weather’s calling for highs in the upper 80s, light winds, humidity hovering below 30%, and haze from distant wildfires may settle in some valleys. Make sure you bring sun protection, lots of water, and keep an eye out for sudden wind gusts approaching midday, especially if you’re launching out on a raft or kayak.
River flows on the main Colorado near Glenwood Springs and through Grand Junction are holding steady, but smaller tributaries are seeing lower than average water. The snowmelt is behind us, and most stretches flow clean but a bit skinny. Water temps are creeping up, reaching the low 70s in the afternoons. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds us that trout don’t appreciate hot bathwater, so the best fishing is early dawn through mid-morning. If you land trout, handle them quick and gentle, and let ’em go without a victory pose to keep them healthy for future runs, per both recent CPW advisories and local biologists.
On the species front: rainbows and browns remain the main attraction. Recent days brought out some stellar catches—rainbows up to 18 inches and several chunky browns in the 14–16 inch range, especially in deeper pools and riffles near Rifle and Parachute. Mountain whitefish are schooling up as well, nipping at nymphs in pocket water. Bass and catfish reports are up at the reservoirs and slow sections near Fruita.
Lure selection is all about matching the hatch. Flies: try Elk Hair Caddis, Amy’s Ant, and stimulators during the early morning caddis and PMD hatches. Stonefly nymphs, San Juan Worms, Black Beauties, RS-2’s, and Murphy’s Bubbleback Midge are absolute killers beneath indicators. For spinning gear, small spinners—Panther Martins in black/gold, Mepps #2, or Rooster Tails in chartreuse—have hooked both trout and whitefish. Those targeting bass or catfish at the edges should toss soft plastics, live nightcrawlers, and cut bait in the slow water, especially sunset hours.
If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots—head upriver to the pools just below Glenwood Canyon for bows and browns sipping dries early, or find the riffle seams near Parachute for high nymph action and surprise whitefish. Downstream, the eddies near Fruita and connected pond inlets are holding feisty smallmouth and plump channel cats for those switching up from trout.
Anglers in the know are hitting the water before the heat builds, tossing dries and nymphs right at the seams and structure. By noon, fish are hugging the bottom and structure—time to switch to deeper presentations or call it and enjoy an iced drink on the bank. Note: voluntary closures on upper reaches are still in effect—especially for the smaller, hotter tributaries—so check with local CPW rangers or look for posted signs.
That’s it for this week’s Colorado River loop—from Glenwood to Fruita. Stay safe, watch the water temps, and treat every catch with respect. Thanks for tuning in to the River Report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest bites, conditions, and fly picks delivered straight to your speaker.
This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Weather’s calling for highs in the upper 80s, light winds, humidity hovering below 30%, and haze from distant wildfires may settle in some valleys. Make sure you bring sun protection, lots of water, and keep an eye out for sudden wind gusts approaching midday, especially if you’re launching out on a raft or kayak.
River flows on the main Colorado near Glenwood Springs and through Grand Junction are holding steady, but smaller tributaries are seeing lower than average water. The snowmelt is behind us, and most stretches flow clean but a bit skinny. Water temps are creeping up, reaching the low 70s in the afternoons. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds us that trout don’t appreciate hot bathwater, so the best fishing is early dawn through mid-morning. If you land trout, handle them quick and gentle, and let ’em go without a victory pose to keep them healthy for future runs, per both recent CPW advisories and local biologists.
On the species front: rainbows and browns remain the main attraction. Recent days brought out some stellar catches—rainbows up to 18 inches and several chunky browns in the 14–16 inch range, especially in deeper pools and riffles near Rifle and Parachute. Mountain whitefish are schooling up as well, nipping at nymphs in pocket water. Bass and catfish reports are up at the reservoirs and slow sections near Fruita.
Lure selection is all about matching the hatch. Flies: try Elk Hair Caddis, Amy’s Ant, and stimulators during the early morning caddis and PMD hatches. Stonefly nymphs, San Juan Worms, Black Beauties, RS-2’s, and Murphy’s Bubbleback Midge are absolute killers beneath indicators. For spinning gear, small spinners—Panther Martins in black/gold, Mepps #2, or Rooster Tails in chartreuse—have hooked both trout and whitefish. Those targeting bass or catfish at the edges should toss soft plastics, live nightcrawlers, and cut bait in the slow water, especially sunset hours.
If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots—head upriver to the pools just below Glenwood Canyon for bows and browns sipping dries early, or find the riffle seams near Parachute for high nymph action and surprise whitefish. Downstream, the eddies near Fruita and connected pond inlets are holding feisty smallmouth and plump channel cats for those switching up from trout.
Anglers in the know are hitting the water before the heat builds, tossing dries and nymphs right at the seams and structure. By noon, fish are hugging the bottom and structure—time to switch to deeper presentations or call it and enjoy an iced drink on the bank. Note: voluntary closures on upper reaches are still in effect—especially for the smaller, hotter tributaries—so check with local CPW rangers or look for posted signs.
That’s it for this week’s Colorado River loop—from Glenwood to Fruita. Stay safe, watch the water temps, and treat every catch with respect. Thanks for tuning in to the River Report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest bites, conditions, and fly picks delivered straight to your speaker.
This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
View all episodes
By Quiet. PleaseIt’s Artificial Lure, reporting from the banks of the mighty Colorado River here in the heart of Colorado on Sunday, August 17, 2025. We’re sitting at the peak of summer and conditions are classic August: dry, warm, and sometimes downright toasty by midday. Today’s sunrise tickled the horizon at 6:13am, with a glowing pink that faded into a clear, blue sky, and sunset’s scheduled for around 7:57pm—giving you plenty of daylight to chase that bite.
Weather’s calling for highs in the upper 80s, light winds, humidity hovering below 30%, and haze from distant wildfires may settle in some valleys. Make sure you bring sun protection, lots of water, and keep an eye out for sudden wind gusts approaching midday, especially if you’re launching out on a raft or kayak.
River flows on the main Colorado near Glenwood Springs and through Grand Junction are holding steady, but smaller tributaries are seeing lower than average water. The snowmelt is behind us, and most stretches flow clean but a bit skinny. Water temps are creeping up, reaching the low 70s in the afternoons. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds us that trout don’t appreciate hot bathwater, so the best fishing is early dawn through mid-morning. If you land trout, handle them quick and gentle, and let ’em go without a victory pose to keep them healthy for future runs, per both recent CPW advisories and local biologists.
On the species front: rainbows and browns remain the main attraction. Recent days brought out some stellar catches—rainbows up to 18 inches and several chunky browns in the 14–16 inch range, especially in deeper pools and riffles near Rifle and Parachute. Mountain whitefish are schooling up as well, nipping at nymphs in pocket water. Bass and catfish reports are up at the reservoirs and slow sections near Fruita.
Lure selection is all about matching the hatch. Flies: try Elk Hair Caddis, Amy’s Ant, and stimulators during the early morning caddis and PMD hatches. Stonefly nymphs, San Juan Worms, Black Beauties, RS-2’s, and Murphy’s Bubbleback Midge are absolute killers beneath indicators. For spinning gear, small spinners—Panther Martins in black/gold, Mepps #2, or Rooster Tails in chartreuse—have hooked both trout and whitefish. Those targeting bass or catfish at the edges should toss soft plastics, live nightcrawlers, and cut bait in the slow water, especially sunset hours.
If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots—head upriver to the pools just below Glenwood Canyon for bows and browns sipping dries early, or find the riffle seams near Parachute for high nymph action and surprise whitefish. Downstream, the eddies near Fruita and connected pond inlets are holding feisty smallmouth and plump channel cats for those switching up from trout.
Anglers in the know are hitting the water before the heat builds, tossing dries and nymphs right at the seams and structure. By noon, fish are hugging the bottom and structure—time to switch to deeper presentations or call it and enjoy an iced drink on the bank. Note: voluntary closures on upper reaches are still in effect—especially for the smaller, hotter tributaries—so check with local CPW rangers or look for posted signs.
That’s it for this week’s Colorado River loop—from Glenwood to Fruita. Stay safe, watch the water temps, and treat every catch with respect. Thanks for tuning in to the River Report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest bites, conditions, and fly picks delivered straight to your speaker.
This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Weather’s calling for highs in the upper 80s, light winds, humidity hovering below 30%, and haze from distant wildfires may settle in some valleys. Make sure you bring sun protection, lots of water, and keep an eye out for sudden wind gusts approaching midday, especially if you’re launching out on a raft or kayak.
River flows on the main Colorado near Glenwood Springs and through Grand Junction are holding steady, but smaller tributaries are seeing lower than average water. The snowmelt is behind us, and most stretches flow clean but a bit skinny. Water temps are creeping up, reaching the low 70s in the afternoons. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds us that trout don’t appreciate hot bathwater, so the best fishing is early dawn through mid-morning. If you land trout, handle them quick and gentle, and let ’em go without a victory pose to keep them healthy for future runs, per both recent CPW advisories and local biologists.
On the species front: rainbows and browns remain the main attraction. Recent days brought out some stellar catches—rainbows up to 18 inches and several chunky browns in the 14–16 inch range, especially in deeper pools and riffles near Rifle and Parachute. Mountain whitefish are schooling up as well, nipping at nymphs in pocket water. Bass and catfish reports are up at the reservoirs and slow sections near Fruita.
Lure selection is all about matching the hatch. Flies: try Elk Hair Caddis, Amy’s Ant, and stimulators during the early morning caddis and PMD hatches. Stonefly nymphs, San Juan Worms, Black Beauties, RS-2’s, and Murphy’s Bubbleback Midge are absolute killers beneath indicators. For spinning gear, small spinners—Panther Martins in black/gold, Mepps #2, or Rooster Tails in chartreuse—have hooked both trout and whitefish. Those targeting bass or catfish at the edges should toss soft plastics, live nightcrawlers, and cut bait in the slow water, especially sunset hours.
If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots—head upriver to the pools just below Glenwood Canyon for bows and browns sipping dries early, or find the riffle seams near Parachute for high nymph action and surprise whitefish. Downstream, the eddies near Fruita and connected pond inlets are holding feisty smallmouth and plump channel cats for those switching up from trout.
Anglers in the know are hitting the water before the heat builds, tossing dries and nymphs right at the seams and structure. By noon, fish are hugging the bottom and structure—time to switch to deeper presentations or call it and enjoy an iced drink on the bank. Note: voluntary closures on upper reaches are still in effect—especially for the smaller, hotter tributaries—so check with local CPW rangers or look for posted signs.
That’s it for this week’s Colorado River loop—from Glenwood to Fruita. Stay safe, watch the water temps, and treat every catch with respect. Thanks for tuning in to the River Report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest bites, conditions, and fly picks delivered straight to your speaker.
This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn