This is Artificial Lure, bringing you your Colorado River fishing report for Sunday, August 10th, 2025. Grab your hat and sunscreen, because the day’s looking classic Colorado—plenty of sun early, temperatures warming up into the mid-80s to low 90s, with a chance of those afternoon thunderstorms rolling over the high country. According to the National Weather Service, the morning’s mostly clear, but keep your radar handy as isolated but potentially severe storms could spark up by noon, especially near the Palmer Divide and down through southern stretches. If you’re heading out after lunch, plan for wind in the 10–15 mph range and be ready to bail for cover if you see those anvil clouds brewing. Sunrise hit around 6:09 AM and sunset will set the mood just after 8:06 tonight.

Although the Colorado River in Colorado isn’t tidal, keep in mind flows can fluctuate due to upstream snowmelt and those fast-moving summer thunderstorms. With temperatures rising, water is running warmer, which means most species are active early and taper off as the sun climbs. Late afternoons and dusk are your best bets for action.

The fishing’s been pretty lively this week. Reports from across the basin, including Sloan Lake and reservoirs just off the main channel, highlight solid numbers of smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, channel cats, and even the occasional pike if you poke around the backwaters. On Lon Hagler, for example, northern pike have been taking big spoons, spinners, and spinnerbaits, especially later in the day. Bass are cruising shallow right at sunrise and just before sunset, smashing topwater baits, while panfish like bluegill and crappie are holding tight to submerged structure and rocky dams. Crappie, in particular, are getting fooled by chartreuse curly-tail jigs after dark.

For those targeting cats on the Colorado proper or in connected lakes—big hunks of cutbait, chicken livers, or shrimp drifted near the bottom are bringing in solid blue and channel cats. According to Snoflo, Sloan’s blue cats are best targeted along weed edges with both lures and classic cut bait.

If you’re wondering what’s hot in the tackle box, now’s the time to lean on versatile baits. Early mornings, tie on a topwater popper or a frog for bass—once the sun’s high, switch to deeper-running crankbaits, jerkbaits, or live worms for variety. If you’re after pike or big predator fish, large spoons and jointed swimbaits are the ticket—just remember, pike love some flash and vibration. Spinners in chrome or fire tiger will do damage in stained water. Trout seekers on cooler tributaries should stick to natural-colored nymphs and streamers; reports from Williams Creek Angler mention jigged hare’s ears, prince nymphs, and chubby dry flies pulling in rainbows and cutthroats.

A couple of hot spots you can’t miss: Near Parshall, the river’s classic riffle-run-pool structure is home to feisty browns and rainbows—try just downstream of the confluence with the Williams Fork. For stillwater action, target the back coves of connected reservoirs like Shadow Mountain or the northern fingers off Granby, working weed lines for bass and cruising the deeper channels for cats and walleye on live bait rigs or blade baits.

Overall, expect action to slow by midday, so set your alarm and focus your efforts in the first and last two hours of daylight. Keep one eye on the clouds and don’t be shy about moving if the bite dies; those fish will sometimes push tight against cover or seek deeper, cooler water as the heat builds.

Thanks for tuning in to your Colorado River fishing report—don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates and hot bite alerts. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more, check out quietplease dot ai.

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