Today on the Colorado River, conditions are classic August — low and clear water, cool in the early morning, warming fast by midday, and fishing smack in the heart of summer rhythm. Sunrise hit at 6:07 am and anglers were out early, beating the heat and pressure with water temps starting in the upper 50s and reaching up into the 60s as the sun climbed. Sunset tonight is at 8:10 pm, so there’s plenty of evening action ahead.

There’s no real tidal influence on the Colorado River way up here, but water releases from upstream reservoirs can affect flow and temp. According to Taylor Creek Fly Shops, the river is running low right now — perfect for sight-fishing but demanding some tricky presentations. Weather’s stable: partly cloudy, with light morning winds and highs pushing to the mid-80s by afternoon. Patchy clouds could give us some streamer windows if we get any shade.

Fish activity is up. The early hours were best for trout — browns, rainbows, and a few cutbows moving in riffled seams and tailouts. Most reports from the water above Glenwood Springs and near Kremmling mention good numbers caught this week, with anglers landing 10–15 fish per day in the best spots. Fish size is mostly 10–16 inches, though there’s always the chance at a fat wild brown behind the deeper rocks.

Recent catches also include some smallmouth bass, especially downstream thanks to warmer conditions and lower reservoir levels — a trend scientists at Canadian Science Publishing say is tied to drought and dam releases. That means the lower river stretches near Grand Junction are running hotter and hosting more bass, so keep an eye out for them mixing with big carp and the occasional channel catfish in the slack water.

Lures and bait recommendations for mid-summer Colorado River: top water dries are working early and late — big foam Chernobyl Ants and hoppers get loud grabs up top but for pure numbers, it’s all about going subsurface. Thin out your patterns: use small mayfly and midge nymphs like RS2s, Zebra Midges, and Flashback Pheasant Tails, size 18–22 on lightweight tippet. Dropper rigs under a hopper or Chubby Chernobyl are catching throughout the day. Caddis larva and beadhead emergers work in the faster water. If clouds roll in, streamer junkies are slinging black Woolly Buggers and olive Mini Leeches with good results, especially where the current breaks near structure.

For bait folks, drifting nightcrawlers or PowerBait in the deeper pools along bends brings in rainbows and, on rare occasion, a scrappy brown. Remember, live bait is restricted on some stretches — check regs.

Suggested hot spots:
- Pump House to Radium: Classic floats and walk-wade runs; best for numbers and variety.
- State Bridge area: Holds bigger browns and some chunky cutbows, especially early morning.
- Lower Glenwood Canyon: Mix of trout and smallmouth bass on sunny days.
- Near Kremmling: Consistent action on dries and nymphs with plenty of easy-access water.

Overall, best windows are early (6–10 am) and late (6:30 pm to sundown), when fish slide out from cover. The bite drops midday as the sun and traffic pick up. With the clear water, you’ll want to sneak up, shorten your casts, and make every drift count.

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