Colorado River High Country: Low 50s, Blue Wings, and Evening Glory

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper Colorado in Colorado, from roughly Glenwood Springs up through Parshall and the Kremmling stretch. No tides to worry about here in the high country, but flows and weather matter just as much. Upstream release patterns have the river running a little high but clear enough to fish, with visibility in that 2–3 foot range on many sections. Overnight temps slipped into the 40s and we’re headed for a mild, mostly sunny day with light winds and a small chance of an afternoon thunderstorm. Sunrise comes early over the canyon walls and sunset stretches long; the key is that first cool, calm light and the last hour before dark. Water temps are sliding into the low to mid‑50s on many reaches, and that’s got trout feeding steady. Expect mid‑morning blue‑winged olive and midges, with caddis and yellow sallies building as the day warms. Fish activity has been best from about 8–11 a.m. and again from 6 p.m. to dark. Mid‑day, with bright sun, they’re tucking tight to structure and deeper seams. Local chatter up and down the river has browns and rainbows in the 12–16 inch class caught consistently, with a few pushing 18–20 inches for the patient folks working the deeper runs. Anglers swinging streamers near soft edges have picked up the heavier browns, while nymph rigs under an indicator are putting decent numbers in the net for float and wade anglers alike. For lures, bring your confidence box: – Small to medium **streamers** in olive, black, and white, especially slimmer baitfish patterns and sculpin imitations. – **Spinners** in gold or copper, size 1–3, have been solid in slightly off‑color pockets and tailouts. – **Jigs** or marabou jigs in brown and olive, bounced through slower buckets, can be deadly. If you’re fishing bait where it’s legal, think natural and subtle: – Drifted **nightcrawlers** pinched in half in the deeper holes. – Small **salmon eggs** or egg imitations on light line. – For warm side channels and backwaters that hold a few small bass and other rough fish, small **pieces of shrimp or worms** under a float will do the trick. Couple of hot spots to keep on your radar: – **Pumphouse to Radium**: Classic float water with plenty of shelves, buckets, and riffle‑run combinations. Focus on inside bends and the softer seams off the main current, especially early and late. – **Parshall area**: That public water around the bridge and downstream fishes great for waders. Work the deeper slots and structure, and don’t overlook the skinny riffles; there are more fish in that ankle‑to‑knee‑deep stuff than most folks think. If you’re out in the middle of the day, run a longer leader and smaller flies or downsized hardware. Early and late, you can bump up a size and move fish that are chasing. Keep an eye on afternoon clouds—if a storm pushes in and the light drops, streamer time can get very good, very fast. That’s the word from the Colorado River today. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn