Upper Colorado High Water Report: Browns and Rainbows Biting Early and Late

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper Colorado around Kremmling, Dotsero, and Glenwood Springs. First off, no tides to worry about here – this is all river flow. Flows on the upper Colorado are running a bit high but very fishable, with decent clarity in the mornings before afternoon runoff colors things up. Expect cooler, clearer water early, then a little stain and rising levels as the day warms and snowmelt kicks in. Weather-wise, plan on a classic Colorado mix: cool mornings in the 40s to low 50s, climbing into the 70s by afternoon with a chance of wind gusts and a stray storm building over the high country late day. Light cloud cover can push the bite later into the morning; bright sun will tighten fish up to structure and deeper seams. Sunrise is right around 5:30 a.m., with sunset near 8:30 p.m. That gives a long window, but the **prime bite** has been first light to late morning, then again the last two hours of daylight. Midday is tougher, especially on the clear stretches. Fish activity has been solid. Recent reports from local guides along the Colorado between Pumphouse and State Bridge mention good numbers of **brown trout** with a mix of healthy **rainbows**, plus the occasional **whitefish**. Down closer to Glenwood Springs, anglers have been picking up browns and rainbows along with some **smallmouth bass** in the slower, rocky edges where the river widens and warms. Numbers-wise, competent drift-boat crews have been putting a dozen to twenty trout in the net on half-day floats when flows and clarity line up, with a few better fish in the 16–19 inch class. Wading anglers are doing best by cherry-picking prime seams and soft edges rather than trying to cover miles of bank. As for what’s working: Best artificial “lures” and flies: - For trout, think **nymph rigs and streamers** early: small stonefly nymphs, mayfly nymphs in olive and brown, and caddis patterns under an indicator or tight-line rig. - Streamers in olive, black, or sculpin colors swung through deeper buckets and against cutbanks have moved bigger browns, especially under overcast skies. - On spin gear, small **Rapalas**, **Panther Martins**, and **Mepps** in gold or copper have been consistent producers in the broken water below riffles. Best bait where legal: - **Nightcrawlers** drifted naturally through seams are deadly when the water’s a bit off-color. - **Salmon eggs** and small **crayfish-imitating soft plastics** can also score, especially around rocky structure and drop-offs. Always check local regulations before using bait; some stretches are artificial-only or flies-and-lures only. Two hotspot suggestions: 1. **Pumphouse to Radium stretch** Classic upper Colorado float water. Look for browns tucked tight to undercut banks and in the soft inside seams below rapids. Hit it early before the sun gets high and the recreational traffic builds. Waders can work the access near Pumphouse and Radium, focusing on the tailouts and the first deep slot below each riffle. 2. **Glenwood Springs area** Where the Colorado meets the Roaring Fork, you get a nice mix of food and temperatures. Fish the confluence seams, eddies below the bridge pilings, and any shaded banks in the evening. Here you can find trout and some bonus smallmouth; try a small swimbait or tube jig along the rocks for the bass and nymphs or small spinners for the trout. Overall, think early and late, fish the soft water next to the heavy stuff, and adjust from nymphs to streamers as the light and clarity change. Keep an eye on rising afternoon flows and any fast-building weather rolling off the peaks. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t 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