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Colorado River Fishing Update: Trout, Catfish, and Spring Conditions
This is Artificial Lure with your May 3, 2025 Colorado River fishing report, coming to you on a clear and cool Saturday morning. The river flows are up thanks to spring runoff, sitting around 2530 cfs below Glenwood Springs and rising fast. Visibility has been bouncing between brown and clear, depending on how hot it’s been the previous days. Cooler mornings bring better clarity, so if you’re heading out early, you’ll find the water in better shape for spotting fish.
Weather today is shaping up nicely: highs in the upper 60s, partly cloudy skies, and light winds. Sunrise hit just after 6 am and sunset will roll in close to 8 pm, giving you a full day to chase some fish.
We’re sitting right in the pre-runoff window, which means trout are still very active, and catfish action is lighting up in the lower river stretches. Upstream around Glenwood Springs and towards the upper reaches, browns are being caught on the regular. Anglers have been pulling in browns using nymph rigs, streamers, and even some larger dry flies during the afternoon hatches. On warmer days, try large woolly buggers in slack water for a shot at a beefy brown.
Lower down, the catfish bite is starting to peak. Folks are landing a few channel cats near Grand Junction using tried-and-true baits like cut bait, chicken livers, and catfish nuggets. If you’re after trout, drift baits and spinners are still producing, but don’t be afraid to throw a larger streamer or a bugger to entice some bigger fish.
Hot spots right now include the upper river around Glenwood Springs where the clarity is better early, and the slower, deeper pools near Grand Junction if you’re targeting catfish. Look for pockets of calm water behind structure for trout, especially in the morning.
Best lures today: larger dark woolly buggers, flashy streamers, and gold or bronze spinners for trout. For bait: live worms, salmon eggs, and PowerBait are working for trout, while cut shad or chicken livers will put you on catfish in the deeper, slower runs.
River conditions will keep changing as runoff increases, so keep mobile, adjust your tactics, and be ready to move between pools to locate active fish. With water temps hanging in the 40s and 50s, fish are spread out and feeding well.
That’s your Saturday Colorado River update. Tight lines and good luck to everyone heading out today!
Weather today is shaping up nicely: highs in the upper 60s, partly cloudy skies, and light winds. Sunrise hit just after 6 am and sunset will roll in close to 8 pm, giving you a full day to chase some fish.
We’re sitting right in the pre-runoff window, which means trout are still very active, and catfish action is lighting up in the lower river stretches. Upstream around Glenwood Springs and towards the upper reaches, browns are being caught on the regular. Anglers have been pulling in browns using nymph rigs, streamers, and even some larger dry flies during the afternoon hatches. On warmer days, try large woolly buggers in slack water for a shot at a beefy brown.
Lower down, the catfish bite is starting to peak. Folks are landing a few channel cats near Grand Junction using tried-and-true baits like cut bait, chicken livers, and catfish nuggets. If you’re after trout, drift baits and spinners are still producing, but don’t be afraid to throw a larger streamer or a bugger to entice some bigger fish.
Hot spots right now include the upper river around Glenwood Springs where the clarity is better early, and the slower, deeper pools near Grand Junction if you’re targeting catfish. Look for pockets of calm water behind structure for trout, especially in the morning.
Best lures today: larger dark woolly buggers, flashy streamers, and gold or bronze spinners for trout. For bait: live worms, salmon eggs, and PowerBait are working for trout, while cut shad or chicken livers will put you on catfish in the deeper, slower runs.
River conditions will keep changing as runoff increases, so keep mobile, adjust your tactics, and be ready to move between pools to locate active fish. With water temps hanging in the 40s and 50s, fish are spread out and feeding well.
That’s your Saturday Colorado River update. Tight lines and good luck to everyone heading out today!
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By Quiet. PleaseThis is Artificial Lure with your May 3, 2025 Colorado River fishing report, coming to you on a clear and cool Saturday morning. The river flows are up thanks to spring runoff, sitting around 2530 cfs below Glenwood Springs and rising fast. Visibility has been bouncing between brown and clear, depending on how hot it’s been the previous days. Cooler mornings bring better clarity, so if you’re heading out early, you’ll find the water in better shape for spotting fish.
Weather today is shaping up nicely: highs in the upper 60s, partly cloudy skies, and light winds. Sunrise hit just after 6 am and sunset will roll in close to 8 pm, giving you a full day to chase some fish.
We’re sitting right in the pre-runoff window, which means trout are still very active, and catfish action is lighting up in the lower river stretches. Upstream around Glenwood Springs and towards the upper reaches, browns are being caught on the regular. Anglers have been pulling in browns using nymph rigs, streamers, and even some larger dry flies during the afternoon hatches. On warmer days, try large woolly buggers in slack water for a shot at a beefy brown.
Lower down, the catfish bite is starting to peak. Folks are landing a few channel cats near Grand Junction using tried-and-true baits like cut bait, chicken livers, and catfish nuggets. If you’re after trout, drift baits and spinners are still producing, but don’t be afraid to throw a larger streamer or a bugger to entice some bigger fish.
Hot spots right now include the upper river around Glenwood Springs where the clarity is better early, and the slower, deeper pools near Grand Junction if you’re targeting catfish. Look for pockets of calm water behind structure for trout, especially in the morning.
Best lures today: larger dark woolly buggers, flashy streamers, and gold or bronze spinners for trout. For bait: live worms, salmon eggs, and PowerBait are working for trout, while cut shad or chicken livers will put you on catfish in the deeper, slower runs.
River conditions will keep changing as runoff increases, so keep mobile, adjust your tactics, and be ready to move between pools to locate active fish. With water temps hanging in the 40s and 50s, fish are spread out and feeding well.
That’s your Saturday Colorado River update. Tight lines and good luck to everyone heading out today!
Weather today is shaping up nicely: highs in the upper 60s, partly cloudy skies, and light winds. Sunrise hit just after 6 am and sunset will roll in close to 8 pm, giving you a full day to chase some fish.
We’re sitting right in the pre-runoff window, which means trout are still very active, and catfish action is lighting up in the lower river stretches. Upstream around Glenwood Springs and towards the upper reaches, browns are being caught on the regular. Anglers have been pulling in browns using nymph rigs, streamers, and even some larger dry flies during the afternoon hatches. On warmer days, try large woolly buggers in slack water for a shot at a beefy brown.
Lower down, the catfish bite is starting to peak. Folks are landing a few channel cats near Grand Junction using tried-and-true baits like cut bait, chicken livers, and catfish nuggets. If you’re after trout, drift baits and spinners are still producing, but don’t be afraid to throw a larger streamer or a bugger to entice some bigger fish.
Hot spots right now include the upper river around Glenwood Springs where the clarity is better early, and the slower, deeper pools near Grand Junction if you’re targeting catfish. Look for pockets of calm water behind structure for trout, especially in the morning.
Best lures today: larger dark woolly buggers, flashy streamers, and gold or bronze spinners for trout. For bait: live worms, salmon eggs, and PowerBait are working for trout, while cut shad or chicken livers will put you on catfish in the deeper, slower runs.
River conditions will keep changing as runoff increases, so keep mobile, adjust your tactics, and be ready to move between pools to locate active fish. With water temps hanging in the 40s and 50s, fish are spread out and feeding well.
That’s your Saturday Colorado River update. Tight lines and good luck to everyone heading out today!