Colorado River Colorado Fishing Report Today

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River fishing report for western Colorado. We don’t worry about tides out here – the Colorado is a freestone/regulated river system, so flows and clarity matter more than anything. With the big snowpack melting down, expect higher, off‑color water in the main stem, especially afternoons, with better clarity on tributary mouths and side channels. Overnight temps have been cool in the 40s and 50s, afternoons pushing into the 70s and low 80s. Skies have been a mixed bag of sun and building clouds, with a chance of those quick mountain showers that can bump color and flow for an hour or two. Sunrise is right around the early 5 o’clock hour, sunset near the mid‑8s, so you’ve got a long fishing window, but the **best bite** is first light to late morning and again the last two hours before dark when the wind lays down and boat traffic fades. Recent reports from local shops along the corridor between Glenwood Springs and Parachute say trout and smallmouth have both been active despite the higher flows. Folks have been seeing steady numbers of 12–16 inch browns with an occasional heavier fish, plus plenty of feisty smallies in the rocky runs and slower eddies. Anglers drifting nymph rigs have been putting double‑digit days together when they find softer seams out of the main push. For **trout**, the river is still a nymph and streamer game. Think big and buggy: - Stonefly nymphs in coffee/black, size 6–10 - Pats Rubber Legs, San Juan Worms, and bright egg patterns as attractors - Behind that, smaller mayfly and caddis nymphs in olive or brown, size 14–18 Streamer junk is doing work on the banks when the light is low: olive or black sculpin patterns, articulated leeches, and flashy baitfish in white/olive. Strip them tight to the bank, especially where there’s a little color line. For **smallmouth bass** down toward the warmer, lower stretches, soft plastics and hardware are the ticket: - 3–4 inch tube jigs in green pumpkin or brown - Ned rigs and small creature baits bounced slowly along the rocks - Small crankbaits and in‑line spinners in shad, perch, or fire‑tiger when the water’s got some stain If you’re partial to live bait where regulations allow, nightcrawlers on a small hook and just enough split shot to tick bottom are hard to beat for both trout and bass in the softer eddies. A couple of local **hot spots** to keep in mind: - The stretch just downstream of Glenwood Springs where the Roaring Fork comes in. That confluence gives you a sweet mix of temps and food; work the inside seams and any slower side channel with nymph rigs under an indicator or a tight‑line setup. - The runs and eddies near New Castle and Silt. As flows come up, the fish push into softer pockets behind boulders and along the edges. Drift those spots thoroughly; most anglers move too fast. In the evenings, watch for caddis and mayfly adults – you can sometimes sneak in a short dry‑fly window along the edges with elk‑hair caddis or parachute patterns in 14–16. With flows up, wade carefully, use a wading staff if you’ve got one, and give the boats plenty of room in the main channel. A short, accurate cast into soft water will beat a long hero cast into the heavy stuff every time right now. That’s the word from the river. 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

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper river around Gore Canyon, Pumphouse, and down toward Dotsero. Let’s start with conditions. The Colorado River isn’t tidal up here, so no tide swings to worry about, just river flow and clarity. With snowmelt easing off, the river’s running a bit high but dropping and clearing, that classic early-summer green‑brown. Overnight lows are sitting in the 40s and 50s, afternoon highs pushing into the 70s and low 80s with mostly clear skies and a light west breeze. Sunrise is right around 5:30 a.m., sunset about 8:35 p.m., giving us a long, bright fishing window. Best bite has been the first three hours after sunrise and the last two before dark. Trout are the main event here: browns, rainbows, and a few cuttbows mixed in. Reports from local shops and river guides over the past few days have browns in the 12–16 inch class being caught steadily, with some 18–20 inch fish pulled out of deeper runs. Rainbows are a touch smaller on average but more active in the faster riffles. Fish activity has been strong on that early light and again in the evening. Midday slows down unless you’re working the deeper slots and shaded banks. Nymph rigs and smaller spinning presentations are doing most of the damage. Folks drifting nymphs under indicators have been putting up double‑digit days, with two‑fish hookups not uncommon when the hatch pops. For fly anglers, top producers have been: - Small mayfly nymphs and emergers in natural olives and browns, sizes 16–20 - Stonefly nymphs, sizes 8–12, in darker patterns - Caddis pupae and soft hackles swung through the riffles late afternoon On top, a mix of elk hair caddis, parachute Adams, and small PMD patterns has been taking fish during evening hatches when the river calms down. For spin and conventional gear, think subtle and natural. The best lures right now: - 1/8 to 1/4 oz inline spinners in gold or copper with a bit of brown or olive - Small jerkbaits and minnow plugs in brown trout or rainbow patterns - Tiny spoons in silver or brass for covering deeper runs If you’re bait fishing where it’s legal, the best bait has been: - Nightcrawlers threaded on light line, drifted just off the bottom - Salmon eggs or trout nuggets in slower pockets - Small pieces of shrimp or scented soft baits when the water is a little off‑color Keep your leader light and your presentation natural; the clearer the river gets, the more line shy these trout turn. A couple of hot spots to circle on your map: First, the **Pumphouse to Radium float**. That stretch has been very consistent: deep bends, undercut banks, and plenty of structure. Work the inside seam of bends where the current softens, and hit every ledge drop with a nymph rig or a slowly retrieved spinner. Second, the **Dotsero area down toward Glenwood Canyon**. As flows settle, those long runs and tailouts are stacking up with browns. Focus on the heads and tails of riffles at first light, then slide into the deeper mid‑river slots as the sun gets higher. Any shady bank with good current has a chance at a bigger fish. Wade anglers should pick the softer edges and side channels; boaters can capitalize on mid‑river structure and those hard‑to‑reach seams. Either way, think stealth: low profile, long casts, and keep your shadow off the water. That’s the Colorado River update from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a 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

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper Colorado in Colorado, from about Glenwood Springs up through Parshall and Kremmling. First off, no tides to worry about here in the high country—this is a freestone and tailwater game, all about **flows, clarity, and weather**. Flows have been running a bit high but steadily dropping after runoff, leaving **slightly off‑color but very fishable water**. That bit of stain is your friend: big bugs, heavier tippet, and fish holding tight to the soft edges. Weather today is shaping up classic mountain summer. Expect **cool mornings in the 40s–50s**, warming into the **70s by afternoon**, with a light breeze and the usual chance of **building clouds and a quick thunderstorm after lunch**. Sunrise hit early, around **5:30 a.m.**, and you’ll start losing good light around **8:30–9 p.m.** Plan to be on the water at first light and again for the evening window. **Fish activity:** Early morning, look for trout sliding into the softer seams and inside bends. As the sun climbs, they’ll drop into deeper buckets, undercuts, and any shade you can find. Midday is more of a nymph and streamer game, with a solid evening ramp‑up in surface feeding once the shadows stretch. Recent reports from local guides along the Colorado around Parshall, Byers Canyon, and down toward Glenwood have been solid: - **Brown trout** in the 12–18 inch range common, with a few pushing past 20. - Plenty of **rainbows** mixed in, especially near tailwater‑influenced sections, 10–16 inches, some bigger. - The odd **whitefish** and **smallmouth bass** lower down near the warmer stretches closer to Glenwood. Anglers have been putting good numbers in the net when they focus on soft edges, current breaks behind boulders, and the deeper slots on the outside bends. Double‑digit half‑days haven’t been unusual when the cloud cover sticks around and the wind behaves. **Best lures and flies right now:** - For spin fishers: small **gold or copper spoons**, **1/8 oz marabou jigs** in olive or black, and **Rooster Tails** in brown, gold, or rainbow patterns. Work them tight to seams and along the drop‑offs. - For fly anglers: - Nymphs: **Pat’s Rubber Legs** (stonefly), size 6–10; **Pheasant Tails**, **Two‑Bit Hookers**, and **Duracells** in 14–18; **RS2s** and **JuJu Baetis** for the tail end of the hatch. - Dries: **Chubby Chernobyls** in tan or purple for a hopper‑dropper rig, **Parachute Adams**, **PMD cripples**, and **caddis** in the evenings. - Streamers: **olive sculpin patterns**, **white/olive articulated bugs**, and simple **black woolly buggers** swung through deep runs. **Best bait** for those fishing natural offerings in legal sections: - **Nightcrawlers** drifted on the bottom in slower runs. - **Salmon eggs** and small **mealworms** in deeper pools. Check local regs carefully—there are plenty of artificial‑only stretches and special rules on the Colorado. A couple of **hot spots** to circle on your map: - **Parshall/Byers Canyon stretch:** Classic riffle‑run water, lots of pockets, and dependable insect life. Hit it early with nymphs and a hopper‑dropper by late morning. - **Pumphouse to Radium:** Bigger water but loaded with structure—shelves, boulders, and deep slots. Great for rafts and pontoons, and a prime place to strip streamers for larger browns along the banks. If you’re nearer Glenwood, focus on the confluence areas and any cooler inflows—those transition zones often hold a pile of fish this time of year. Overall, look for your **best bite at first light and again from late afternoon into dusk**, especially when clouds roll in and flatten the glare. Keep your presentations low and slow, mend early, and don’t be afraid to upsize your bugs in that slightly stained water. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more river intel and lure talk. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report from a local’s angle. We’re sitting on a classic early‑summer pattern. Along the upper Colorado in Colorado, streamflows are running a bit on the high side with snowmelt still easing down but dropping day by day, leaving two to three feet of visibility in most runs. The river has a slight green tint instead of full chocolate milk, which is just about perfect for trout to feel comfortable cruising the seams. No tides here in the high country, of course, but water levels are bumping a bit in the afternoon with melt and any passing showers. Mornings are your money window: cooler water, stable flows, and better bug activity. Up around the Parshall and Byers Canyon stretches, overnight lows are sliding into the 40s, with daytime highs in the 70s and light to moderate winds. Expect partly cloudy skies, with enough sun to get the midges and mayflies moving, but clouds rolling through often enough to keep fish from getting too spooky. Sunrise is just after 5:30 a.m. and sunset is a bit after 8:30 p.m., giving you a long day to work with. Best bite has been from first light until about 10 a.m., and then again from 6 p.m. to dark. Midday you’ll still pick up fish, but you’ll need to go a little deeper and a little smaller. Recent reports from local shops along the Colorado corridor between Kremmling and Glenwood Springs say anglers are into solid numbers of browns in the 12–16 inch range with the occasional 18‑plus, and plenty of rainbows in that 10–14 inch slot. A few whitefish mixed in when nymphing deep, and every now and then a bonus cutbow. Folks floating from Pumphouse down are also picking up a handful of smallmouth bass in the slower, rockier pockets as you get lower in the system. Fish activity has been strong on nymphs in the morning, with fish sliding into softer edges and tailouts. After lunch, trout are tucking tight to structure—undercut banks, boulders, and deeper slots—until shade returns. When clouds move in, you can see fish move up in the column chasing emergers and smaller dries. As for what’s working: - For trout on the upper river, the best “lures” right now are really nymph rigs: think beadhead pheasant tails, hare’s ears, and soft hackles in sizes 14–18, trailed by a midge or small mayfly nymph in 18–22. Add split shot and run them under an indicator just heavy enough to tick bottom. - Spin anglers are doing well with small **gold or copper inline spinners**, 1/8‑ounce **panther‑martin style blades**, and 1/16–1/8‑ounce **marabou jigs** in black, olive, or brown. Work those through the seams and along current breaks. - If you’re targeting the lower stretches closer to warmer water, **small crankbaits**, **2–3 inch paddle‑tail swimbaits** in natural shad or olive, and **tube jigs** around rocks are taking smallmouth and the occasional larger brown. Best bait, where legal, has been **nightcrawlers drifted on light line** through deeper runs and pools, plus **salmon eggs** or **single‑egg imitations** in slower pockets. Always check the regs—some sections of the Colorado are artificial‑only and barbless. A couple of local hot spots to put on your list: - **Pumphouse to Radium**: Classic float or hike‑in water with great structure—riffle‑run‑pool sequences, cutbanks, and bouldery seams. Excellent for browns with spinners or nymphs, and good action early and late. - **Parshall reach and Byers Canyon area**: Walk‑wade water that fishes well when flows are a little high. Focus on inside bends and soft edges behind rocks. Smaller presentations and stealth go a long way here. If you’re planning to be out there tomorrow morning, rig a two‑fly nymph setup, carry a small box of spinners and jigs, and be on the water at gray light. Work upstream methodically, cover each seam, and let the river tell you how much weight and depth you need. 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

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River, Colorado fishing report. We’re rolling into a classic early‑summer pattern on the upper Colorado. River flows are running a bit on the high side with snowmelt, but clarity is decent in the softer edges and side channels, and that’s where most of the fish are staging. No tides here, of course, but the “tide” you’ll feel is from daily flow changes with upstream releases and afternoon melt. Weather today: cool morning in the 40s climbing into the 70s by afternoon, light breeze, and mostly clear skies. Sunrise is right around 5:30 a.m., sunset close to 8:40 p.m. Your best bite windows are first light to mid‑morning and then again from about 6 p.m. to dark, when the sun gets off the water and bugs really get moving. Fish activity has been strong the last several days. Trout numbers have been solid, with anglers reporting plenty of **browns** in the 12–18 inch class and a fair number of **rainbows** mixed in, especially in the faster riffles and tailouts. A few nicer fish over 20 inches have been coming from deeper runs under cut banks and along big boulders. The whitefish are active too if you’re nymphing deeper. Best producers for fly anglers have been **stonefly nymphs**, **gold-ribbed hare’s ears**, **pheasant tails**, and **worm patterns** fished deep under an indicator or euro‑style. Midday, a smaller nymph dropper like a size 18–20 mayfly or midge behind a bigger lead fly has been key. When the sun gets low, **caddis dries** and small **mayfly parachutes** have brought fish up in the softer seams. For spin and gear anglers, small **gold and silver spoons**, **1/8–1/4 oz inline spinners** in brown, gold, and rainbow patterns, and natural‑looking **minnow plugs** have been putting fish in the net. Soft‑plastic grubs on light jig heads, bounced along the bottom of deeper runs, are also working well. Best natural baits have been **nightcrawlers** drifted just off the bottom and **salmon eggs** in the slower pockets, especially for kids and casual anglers. Two local hot spots to circle on your map: • **Glenwood Springs area**: The confluence water adds color, but working upstream on the Colorado you’ll find nice holding water, deep runs, and plenty of bank access. Focus on inside bends and any soft water behind structure. • **Parshall–Byers Canyon stretch**: Classic pocket water and riffle‑run‑pool sequences. Hit the heads of runs at first light with nymphs, then work your way into the tailouts and softer seams as the sun comes up. Wading can be tricky with higher flows, so pick your spots carefully. Overall, if you get out early or fish the evening, stay mobile, and switch between nymphs and small hardware until you dial in the depth and speed, you’re going to find fish. 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

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River, Colorado fishing report. We’re in a classic early‑summer pattern now. Flows on the upper Colorado around Kremmling through Glenwood are running a bit on the high side but dropping and clearing, with two to three feet of visibility in most popular stretches. No tides to worry about on this river system, so it’s all about flow, water color, and temperature. Overnight lows have kept water temps in the low 50s at first light in the higher reaches, warming into the low 60s by midafternoon down toward Glenwood Springs. Air temps today are heading for the 70s to low 80s with mostly clear skies, light morning wind and a typical afternoon breeze and the chance of a quick thunder boomer. Sunrise hit right around 5:30 a.m., with sunset just after 8:30 p.m., giving a long, productive window. Fish activity has been best from first light to late morning, then again the last two hours before dark. Midday is still fishable, but you’ll need to go deeper and smaller. Recent reports from local fly shops and guides on the upper Colorado describe good numbers of wild browns mixed with some chunky rainbows, most in the 12–16 inch range, with a few 18–20 inch fish pulled from the softer seams and deeper buckets. Spin anglers have been sticking the occasional smallmouth in the lower, warmer stretches closer to the Colorado–Roaring Fork confluence. For fly anglers, mornings have seen solid nymph and dry‑dropper action. Think blue‑winged olive and pale morning dun nymphs in sizes 16–20, paired with a size 12–14 stonefly or attractor nymph. Caddis are very much in play now; tan and olive patterns in sizes 14–18 have been consistent producers in riffles and along cutbanks. When the sun gets high, switch to smaller nymphs and add a bit more weight to get down. If you swing conventional gear, small to medium **inline spinners** in gold or copper, 1/8 to 1/4 ounce **Rooster Tails**, and **Panther Martins** in brown, black, or rainbow trout patterns have been dependable. For soft plastics, a 3‑inch **tube jig** or **grub** in natural colors worked slowly through deeper runs is taking both trout and the odd smallmouth. Natural bait regulations vary by stretch, so check the current Colorado Parks and Wildlife regs, but where legal, **nightcrawlers** drifted under a small float through the seams are putting fish in the net. Hot spot number one: the public access pull‑outs between Parshall and Kremmling. Those long riffle‑run‑pool sequences are holding good numbers of browns, and the slightly off‑color water is giving anglers some forgiveness on approach. Work the inside bends and any soft edge below a riffle. Hot spot number two: the Glenwood Springs section, especially just above and below town where there’s good walk‑in access. As the day warms, trout slide into the deeper troughs midriver and along drop‑offs. A deep nymph rig or a small crankbait ticking just off bottom can be deadly here, especially in the evening when fish slide shallow again to chase caddis. Overall, numbers have been solid rather than spectacular, but persistence is paying off. Anglers putting in a full morning are commonly reporting half a dozen to a dozen hookups, with a good mix of browns and rainbows and plenty of willing smaller fish to keep things interesting. This is Artificial Lure wishing you tight lines and safe wading out there. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper Colorado in Colorado, from around Glenwood Springs up through Dotsero and down toward Rifle. We’re on a steady early‑summer pattern. No tides here, of course, but the river is running a little high and off‑color from snowmelt and recent storms, though it’s dropping and clearing a bit day by day. Flow this time of year typically runs strong, so wade carefully and work the softer edges and inside bends. Weather today is classic mountain mix: cool morning in the 40s climbing into the 70s by afternoon, with a light west breeze and a chance of a brief shower or rumble of thunder late. Sunrise comes just after 5:30 a.m., sunset around 8:40 p.m., so you’ve got a long window, but the best bite is early and late when the light is low and temps are mild. Trout activity has been solid. On this stretch you’re looking at browns, rainbows, and a few cutbows. Local shop chatter and recent angler reports put half‑day numbers for competent fly anglers in the 8–15 fish range, with a handful of nicer 16–20 inch browns showing up in the deeper seams. Spin anglers drifting hardware are seeing fewer fish but some heavier ones, especially in the lower, slightly warmer reaches closer to Rifle. Mornings have been a nymph and streamer game. With the river still pushing, big stuff is working: stonefly nymphs, worms, and flashy attractor nymphs under an indicator or tight‑lined along the edges. A size 6–10 Pat’s Rubber Legs, squirmy worm, or a flashy size 14–18 perdigon or jig nymph will do work. As the day warms, expect some caddis and smaller mayfly activity; keep a tan or olive caddis dry and a parachute Adams ready if you see noses in the softer water. For hardware, think “grab their attention.” Gold or copper spinners, small spoons in silver/blue or gold/black, and 2–3 inch minnow plugs in natural trout or rainbow patterns are all good calls. In the slightly stained water, brighter blades and a bit of chartreuse can make a difference. Spin guys floating between Glenwood and New Castle have been picking off solid browns slow‑rolling spinners tight to the bank. If you’re bait fishing where it’s legal, nightcrawlers drifted just off bottom in the softer seams are tough to beat right now. Salmon eggs and a bit of shrimp‑scented corn can also draw strikes, especially lower down where you might tangle with whitefish or the occasional warmwater visitor in slower side channels and backwaters. A couple of hot spots to circle: First, the Colorado through Glenwood Springs, especially the runs just downstream of the confluence with the Roaring Fork. That mixing zone and the next mile or two down hold good numbers of trout right now, with plenty of softer bank water to pick apart. Second, the stretch around New Castle down toward Silt. Slightly warmer, good structure, and excellent for floating; browns have been coming out of the mid‑river boulder gardens and deep bends on nymphs and smaller streamers. Focus on inside bends, foam lines, and any soft pocket behind rocks. Don’t waste time in the heavy mid‑river push. Short, accurate casts with good mends are more important than distance. That’s the word from the water. 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

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for central Colorado. We’re rolling into a classic early‑summer pattern on the upper Colorado: cool nights, mild afternoons, and clear to partly cloudy skies. Daytime highs are running in the low to mid‑70s, with overnight lows in the 40s. Light winds in the morning, picking up to 10–15 mph by mid‑afternoon, so the best bite is early and late. No tides to worry about on this inland stretch, just river flow: expect moderately high, slightly off‑color water from snowmelt, but dropping and clearing a little more each day. First light is creeping in just after 5:30 a.m., with sunrise shortly after that and sunset around 8:30 p.m. That gives you a long window, but the prime activity is the first three hours of daylight and the last two before dark. Midday has been slower, especially on bright, cloudless afternoons. Fish activity has been solid. Anglers from Pump House down through Radium and into the State Bridge reach report good numbers of browns with a mix of rainbows. Recent trips have put a couple dozen fish to the net on float days, with wade anglers seeing 6–12 quality hookups if they stay mobile. Average trout are running 12–16 inches, with enough 18–20 inch browns showing to keep things interesting. A few mountain whitefish are still mixing in on deeper nymph runs. On the bug front, we’re in the heart of the transition: - Blue‑winged olives still hanging on during cloudy spells. - Caddis popping in the evenings. - Stonefly and PMD nymphs are a big ticket sub‑surface. Best setups right now: Lures: - Small **gold or copper inline spinners** for spinning‑gear folks, especially in the softer seams below riffles. - **1/8 oz marabou jigs** in olive, black, or brown bounced along the bottom in deeper runs. - **Small crankbaits** in natural trout or baitfish patterns through deeper slots at dawn and dusk. Flies and bait: - Nymph rigs with a **stonefly nymph** (coffee/black) trailed by a **pheasant tail, hare’s ear, or RS2** in smaller sizes. - Evening **elk hair caddis** or **X‑caddis** in tan/olive skated tight to the banks. - Where legal and appropriate, **nightcrawlers** drifted under a small float in slower eddies and tailouts are putting kids and beginners onto fish consistently. Two local hot spots to keep on your radar: - **Pump House to Radium float**: Classic fast‑to‑moderate water, lots of structure, and steady trout numbers. Focus on inside bends and any softer seam behind boulders; work them thoroughly with nymph rigs or small spinners. - **State Bridge area**: Mix of pocket water and deep runs that fishes well on foot. Slide in early, hit the shaded banks with caddis dries or small streamers, then switch to nymphs once the sun gets higher. Water clarity is sitting in that sweet “two to three feet of visibility” zone: enough stain to let you get close, but clear enough for sighty fishing in the shallows. Downsize tippet in the glassy pockets—4X to 5X—especially if the sun is high and the wind lays down. If you’re planning a trip, think stealth: long casts, light footsteps, and keep your shadow off the water. Work from the bottom of a run up, covering each lane before you move on. The folks who slow down and pick apart good holding water are out‑fishing the bank‑pounders by a wide margin. That’s your Colorado River rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a 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

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

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

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River report for western Colorado. We’re under a cool, clear early‑summer pattern this morning. Up around the Glenwood Springs stretch you’re looking at dawn temps in the low 50s, climbing into the upper 70s to low 80s this afternoon with mostly sunny skies and light winds. A weak front brushed by yesterday, so flows are on the drop and clarity is improving—still a touch of stain from snowmelt, but very fishable. Sunrise hit a little after 5:30 a.m. and you’ll lose the light a bit after 8:30 p.m., so you’ve got long low‑light windows to work. No tides to worry about on this inland river, but flows are the name of the game. On the Colorado around Kremmling down through Glenwood, recent gauge readings from state water data show moderate but receding runoff—banks still full, mid‑river fast, with softer inside seams and flooded edges that are holding fish. Trout activity has been strong at first light and again in the last two hours of the day. Midday slows under the bright sun, but that stained water is keeping fish a little braver than they’d be in true gin‑clear conditions. Reports from local fly shops along the I‑70 corridor mention solid numbers of browns with a mix of rainbows, most fish running 12–16 inches, with the occasional 18‑ to 20‑inch brown coming out of the deeper runs and canyon slots. Best producers right now: - For gear anglers, small **gold or copper spoons**, 1/8‑ to 1/4‑ounce, and **brown or rainbow‑patterned jerkbaits** run along the seams. - Soft plastics like 3‑inch **natural tube jigs** or **olive paddle tails** on 1/8‑ounce heads bounced close to the bottom in softer lanes. - For bait, **nightcrawlers** drifted with just enough weight to tick bottom are still money, and **salmon eggs** or **single‑egg imitations** do well where allowed by regs. Fly guys are doing well on **stonefly nymphs**, larger **pheasant tails**, and **worms** under an indicator in the morning, then switching to **caddis** and **mayfly emergers** as things warm. With the lingering color in the water, a bit of flash or a hot spot on the fly is helping. A few smallmouth bass have been reported in the lower, warmer stretches closer to the Utah line. Think slower pockets, back eddies, and rock gardens. For those bronzebacks, throw **green pumpkin tubes**, **craw‑style plastics**, or a small **chartreuse spinnerbait** when the sun’s high. Couple of hot spots to circle today: - **Glenwood Canyon**: Focus on the pull‑outs and trail access areas where you can reach those deep canyon runs and inside bends. The mix of depth and broken current is holding better‑than‑average browns. - **New Castle to Silt**: Slightly warmer, a bit more stain, and great structure—cutbanks, islands, and side channels. Good numbers of cookie‑cutter browns with a chance at a nicer fish swinging hardware at dusk. Work early and late, keep an eye on changing flows, and don’t be afraid to upsize your offerings a bit in that off‑color water. 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

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper river around Colorado. First thing, no tides to worry about here – this stretch of the Colorado is all freshwater and flow‑driven, not tidal. What matters is river level and clarity. With snowmelt tapering but still feeding the system, expect a moderately high, slightly off‑color river, with better clarity in side channels and slower inside bends. Releases from upstream reservoirs can bump flows midday, so keep an eye on gauges and watch for rising water along the banks. Weather today shapes up mild and dry for most of the upper river corridor. Mornings are cool in the low 40s to low 50s, climbing into the 70s by afternoon with light winds and only a slight chance of an isolated shower or gusty breeze as the day warms. Skies will swing between partly cloudy and mostly sunny. Sunrise is right around 5:40 a.m., sunset near 8:30 p.m., giving a long, generous window for those low‑light bites. Fish activity is classic early‑summer pattern. The coldest part of the morning starts a bit sluggish, but from about an hour after sunrise through late morning the bite picks up nicely. Midday slows in the bright sun and clear shallows, then things fire back up for the evening window, especially the last 90 minutes of light. Trout are still the headliners on this stretch. Anglers have been putting good numbers of browns in the net, with plenty of 12–16 inch fish and a few bruisers pushing 20 inches. Rainbows are mixed in, often a little smaller on average but very aggressive in the riffles and runs. In the deeper holes and slower eddies, smallmouth bass are waking up too, with fish in the 10–15 inch range fairly common when you work structure patiently. For trout, nymphing is still doing most of the damage. Think small mayfly and midge imitations under an indicator, with a bit of weight to get down. A size 18–20 pheasant tail or baetis nymph, paired with a tiny midge or slender attractor, is hard to beat. As the day warms, you can start looking for rising fish in softer seams; small parachute mayflies and caddis dries will take fish when you see noses poking up. A dry‑dropper along grassy banks and undercuts is a great way to cover water and pick off opportunistic browns. Spin anglers are doing well with smaller hard baits and in‑line spinners. Gold or copper blades, 1/8 ounce or so, swung through riffle tails and along current breaks, are putting up steady numbers. Little minnow‑style crankbaits in natural trout patterns are a solid choice in the deeper runs. If you’re after smallmouth, downsized soft‑plastic craws or tube jigs in green pumpkin, worked slowly around rock piles, ledges, and submerged wood, will draw strikes. Best lures and baits right now: - For trout on fly: small pheasant tails, hare’s ears, baetis nymphs, midge patterns, elk hair caddis, and parachute mayflies. - For trout on spin: gold or silver Panther‑Martin or Mepps‑style spinners, 2–3 inch minnow plugs in brown trout or rainbow patterns. - For bass: 3‑inch tube jigs, Ned‑style soft plastics, and small crankbaits bumped along rocky structure. - For bait anglers where it’s allowed: nightcrawlers drifted naturally, or salmon eggs in softer seams and eddies. Couple of local hot spots to put on your list: - The runs and riffles just downstream of Glenwood Springs, where cooler tributary water mixes in and creates great current seams and holding water for both browns and bows. - The bends and deeper slots near New Castle, where mid‑river boulders and broken current give you that ideal combo of depth, structure, and softer edges that hold trout and the occasional decent smallmouth. Focus on that early and late light, adjust your depth as flows change, and don’t be afraid to move until you find active fish. 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

Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River, Colorado fishing report. We’re in classic early‑June pattern now: cool nights, warm afternoons, and the river running high and a bit off‑color from snowmelt. Up around Glenwood Springs through Dotsero, flows are pushy, so pick your wades carefully and work the soft edges and inside seams. No tides to worry about up here in the Rockies—just rising and falling release and runoff flows, so keep an eye on the gauges before you go. Weather today feels made for a long drift: chilly first thing, light wind, then climbing into the 70s by afternoon with a mix of sun and a few building clouds. That cloud cover should help the mid‑day bite. Sunrise is right around 5:35 a.m., with sunset close to 8:30 p.m., so you’ve got a big window, but the best action is stacking up early and late. Bug activity has really picked up. We’re seeing solid blue‑winged olive and caddis life in the mornings, with PMDs and random stoneflies kicking around once the sun gets higher. Evenings bring a nice caddis pop and the first whispers of summer mayflies. Trout have slid in tighter to the banks, tucking behind rocks, along foam lines, and in softer tailouts where they don’t have to fight the heavy current. Recent catches reported along the Glenwood to New Castle stretch include good numbers of healthy browns in the 12–16 inch class, with a few 18–20 inch fish for folks who stick with it. Rainbows are still around but a bit more selective, picking off smaller bugs in the softer seams. Down closer to Rifle, anglers are also moving the occasional smallmouth and some chunky whitefish on deeper nymph rigs and small streamers. Best producers right now have been nymphs and smaller streamers. Think size 16–20 BWO and PMD nymphs, tan or olive caddis pupae, and stonefly patterns dropped off a bit of weight. A two‑fly rig under an indicator, worked tight to the bank, is hard to beat. For the gear folks, small suspending jerkbaits in natural trout patterns, 1/8‑ounce marabou or tube jigs in brown, olive, or white, and in‑line spinners in gold or copper are all taking fish when swung across softer lines or stripped slowly along current breaks. Live bait is more about where you are and local regs, but where it’s legal, small nightcrawlers drifted just off the bottom, or salmon eggs in the deeper slots, are still putting trout in the net. Keep it subtle—lighter fluorocarbon leaders and just enough split shot to tap bottom now and then. A couple of local hot spots to put on the list: - The **Glenwood Springs confluence area**, where the Roaring Fork dumps into the Colorado. That color change and extra flow stack fish in the soft edges and eddies. Work both sides if you can, and don’t ignore the short, choppy pockets tight to shore. - The **New Castle access and downstream bends**. Those long, sweeping runs with broken rock hold browns all day. Hit the inside corners early with nymphs, then come back in the evening and swing caddis soft hackles or strip small streamers as the light drops. If flows dip or clear even a bit over the next day or two, expect the bite to pop—especially the afternoon dry‑dropper game along shady banks and under overhanging willows. That’s the word from the Colorado today. 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

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report from right here in western Colorado. First thing, conditions. The Colorado River’s running a little high and off‑color with continued snowmelt, but visibility’s good enough to fish, especially from mid‑morning on as the water warms. Air temps are cool at first light, climbing into the 70s this afternoon with light winds and only a small chance of a quick shower. Sunrise came early over the mesas and sunset will land in the late evening, leaving you a long window of fishable light. No tides to worry about on this stretch of river—we’re all freshwater and dam‑controlled here—so focus on flows and water temps instead. With these spring levels, fish are sliding out of the heavy current and stacking on inside bends, soft seams, and along flooded willows and grass edges. Trout activity has been solid. Browns and rainbows in the 12–18 inch range have been coming to hand pretty steadily, with a few bigger browns for folks putting in the time. Recent catches reported by local shops up and down the valley include double‑digit days for competent anglers fishing from rafts and drift boats, and slightly slower but steady action for bank anglers who are willing to move. Bug-wise, we’re in that mixed-hatch mode. Blue‑winged olives are still popping on cloudy stretches, and there are midges early and late, plus a growing presence of caddis. During bright sun, nymphing is still king. Run a tandem rig: a small baetis or pheasant tail style nymph, size 16–18, paired with a slightly heavier attractor like a tungsten jig, hare’s ear, or stonefly pattern. Add enough weight to tick bottom in the softer seams. When the light drops or clouds roll in and you see noses, it’s worth switching to BWO or small caddis dries in the 16–18 range with a light tippet. For spin anglers, the trout bite has been hot on small to medium‑sized spoons in gold or copper, inline spinners in brown, black, or olive with a bit of flash, and 2–3 inch soft‑plastics on light jig heads in natural baitfish colors. Work those along current breaks and dropoffs, letting them swing and flutter rather than just burning them straight in. Don’t forget the warmwater side. In slower backwaters and eddies off the main flow, smallmouth bass are starting to wake up. Recent reports have a handful of bronzebacks being caught on 3–4 inch paddle‑tail swimbaits, tube jigs, and craw‑imitating soft plastics bounced around rock piles and wood. If you’re after numbers of “anything that bites,” worms and nightcrawlers drifted under a float along softer banks are producing whitefish, smaller trout, and the odd sucker. For bait, where legal, nightcrawlers and salmon eggs have been the most consistent producers below riffles and at the heads of pools. Check local regulations carefully—some stretches are artificial‑only or have bait restrictions, especially nearer popular trout water. A couple of hot spots to keep on your radar: First, the stretch around Glenwood Springs, where the confluence with the Roaring Fork keeps things rich and fishy. Work the softer water just downstream of the big bends and around any visible shelf drops. Second, the run between Silt and Rifle, where the river meanders more and forms long, gentle riffles feeding into deeper runs—ideal for drifting nymphs or swinging hardware along the seams from a boat or the bank where access allows. As always out here, wade carefully—flows are pushy—and give other anglers and boaters some space. If the water’s off‑color, go a bit bigger and flashier with your flies and lures and push in tight to the banks; if it clears, downsize and lengthen your leader. Thanks for tuning in to this Colorado River fishing check‑in with Artificial Lure, 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

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report out of Colorado. We’re sliding into early-summer patterns now. Up here it’s a true **freestone river**, so no tides to worry about—just snowmelt flows and afternoon bumps as upstream water releases make their way down. Expect the river to be **running high, cold, and a bit off‑color**, especially mid‑day. Mornings are your best bet for wade safety and clearer water. Weather along the central and upper Colorado today is classic shoulder‑season: cool at first light, warming quickly with plenty of sun and a light breeze by afternoon. Dress in layers; you’ll start the morning in a jacket and end it in a sun hoodie. Sunrise is right around the early five‑o’clock hour, with sunset in the low eight‑o’clock range, giving you a long daylight window but the **prime bite** has been early and late. Fish activity has picked up nicely. Cold flows keep trout hugging the softer seams, but they’re feeding. Mornings have seen a **solid subsurface bite**: think mayfly nymphs, caddis larvae, and smaller stoneflies rolled tight to the bottom. As the sun climbs, boat anglers are doing better than bank anglers simply because they can work those mid‑river soft lanes and inside bends. Recent catches have been a good mix of **browns in the 12–18 inch class** with the occasional bigger fish pushing 20, plus **rainbows** still scrappy from the tail end of spawn season. Here and there folks are finding a **few whitefish** in the deeper buckets, and on the slower lower stretches you may bump into **smallmouth bass** nosing back toward the banks as temps rise. Best producers right now: - **Lures:** Smaller **olive or black marabou jigs**, 1/8 to 1/4 oz, swung through soft edges; **gold or copper inline spinners**; and **small crankbaits** in natural trout patterns worked along current breaks. On the lower, warmer stretches, a **green pumpkin or brown soft‑plastic craw** on a light jighead is putting smallies in the net. - **Bait:** Where it’s legal and ethical to use it, **nightcrawlers** drifted on just enough weight to tick bottom have been money in the deeper runs. Salmon eggs and small pieces of shrimp are taking a few bonus fish in slower pockets. Keep your leaders light and your presentations natural; the water may be high, but these trout still see pressure. Fly folks are doing well with a **double nymph rig**: a stonefly or worm pattern up top and a smaller mayfly or midge dropper. When the afternoon warms and the wind puts a chop on the surface, look for **caddis** skittering and be ready with a dry‑dropper. Couple of local hot spots to circle: - **Pumphouse to Radium:** Classic Colorado float water. Work the inside bends, foam lines, and any softer edges behind big rocks. High flows make this stretch pushy, so mind your safety, but the browns here have been thick. - **State Bridge to Rancho Del Rio:** A bit warmer and more spread out, great for mixing trout and the occasional smallmouth. Focus on deeper shelves and shaded banks; this is a smart play for late‑afternoon and evening when boat traffic dies down. If you’re wading, hunt out **side channels, back eddies, and flooded grassy margins**. High water pushes fish tight to those spots, and most folks walk right past them. That’s the latest from the Colorado River here in Colorado. I’m Artificial Lure—thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River, Colorado fishing report. We’re in classic late‑spring conditions on the upper Colorado: cool nights, mild days, and rising flows from snowmelt. No tides to worry about up here, just river levels and clarity. Expect cool, clear to lightly stained water in the headwaters around Granby and Hot Sulphur Springs, with more color as you drop toward Kremmling. Weather today: crisp start in the high 30s to low 40s, warming into the 60s and low 70s with light winds in the morning and a bit more breeze mid‑afternoon. Skies running partly cloudy; watch for a few building clouds after lunch and the usual chance of a quick mountain shower. Sunrise around 5:35 a.m., sunset close to 8:30 p.m., so you’ve got a long, fishable window. Fish activity has been best at first light and again the last two hours of the day. Midday is slower unless you’re nymphing deep seams. Browns and rainbows are the main players, with a few cutbows and the odd whitefish mixed in. Local chatter from the fly shops in Granby and Kremmling has anglers reporting decent half‑day totals: 10–20 trout per rod for those who work the soft edges and keep changing patterns when the bite cools off. For fly anglers, subsurface is still king. Think **stonefly nymphs**, **hares ear**, **pheasant tails**, and **Prince nymphs** in sizes 12–18 under an indicator or tight‑line rig. Add weight—those fish are hugging the bottom in the heavier runs. When the sun is off the water, small **caddis emergers** and **RS2s** have been quietly filling nets. On the hardware side, spin anglers are doing well with **1/8 oz marabou jigs** in olive or black, and small **spinners** in gold or copper. Tiny **crankbaits** in brown trout or rainbow patterns worked across current seams have produced some thicker browns in the low‑light windows. If you’re bait fishing where it’s legal, drift **nightcrawlers** or **salmon eggs** just off the bottom with enough split shot to tick, not drag. A couple of current hot spots: • **Pumphouse to Radium:** Classic Colorado Canyon water. Work the inside bends, soft pockets behind boulders, and the slower tailouts. Great stretch for both wade and float anglers. Focus on nymph rigs in the deeper slots and switch to small spinners when the light drops. • **Below Byers Canyon toward Hot Sulphur Springs:** When flows are reasonable, this section offers good holding water with less pressure. Hit the shaded banks early, then move to riffle‑run combos mid‑morning. Euro nymphers have been picking off nicer fish in the choppy knee‑to‑thigh‑deep water. Best windows: dawn until about 10 a.m., then again from 6 p.m. to dark. Midday, slow down your presentation and go smaller and more natural on both flies and hardware. With runoff still in play, don’t ignore the soft edges—some of the better fish are packed tight to the bank out of the main push. That’s your Colorado River rundown from Artificial Lure. 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

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River fishing report, coming to you like a buddy at the boat ramp. We’re looking at cool, clear late‑spring conditions along the upper Colorado in Colorado. No tides here, just river flow, and the Bureau of Reclamation and USGS gauges have the river running a little high and slightly stained from snowmelt, but very fishable. Overnight temps slid into the low 40s, daytime highs are climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s with light winds under 10 mph. Skies are mostly clear, with a quick bump of clouds in the afternoon. Sunrise is right around 5:45 a.m. and sunset about 8:20 p.m. The bite has been best first light to about 10 a.m., then again from 6 p.m. to dark, when the wind lays and the bugs really get going. Colorado Parks and Wildlife creel checks and local shop chatter out of Glenwood Springs and Dotsero report good mixed‑bag action: browns in the 12–18 inch range, plenty of 10–14 inch rainbows, and a few bigger holdovers in the 18–20 inch class. Some sections near Rifle and below are giving up smallmouth bass in the 10–15 inch range as the water warms and clears. Fish activity has been classic run‑off pattern. Trout are tucking behind structure and into softer edges, avoiding the heavy main current. When the sun is high, they’re sliding deeper and tighter to the bottom; low light has them pushing up into riffles and along inside seams. Smallmouth are sliding out of deeper wintering holes and starting to nose around rocky banks and eddies. For fly anglers, local guides are leaning hard on nymph rigs. Think stonefly nymphs in black or brown, size 6–10, trailed by a beaded pheasant tail, hare’s ear, or caddis pupa in 14–18. A bit of weight and an indicator set deep have been key. Midday, a smaller mayfly nymph or midge dropper has been money. In the late evening, you can get some surface eats on elk‑hair caddis or small parachute Adams when the river calms down. Spin anglers are doing well with 1/8 to 1/4 ounce inline spinners in gold or copper, small silver‑blue spoons, and minnow‑style crankbaits in natural browns and olive backs. For smallmouth, tube jigs in green pumpkin, curly‑tail grubs, and small swimbaits slow‑rolled along rocky ledges have been productive. If you’re bait fishing where it’s legal, nightcrawlers drifted just off the bottom and salmon eggs in the softer seams are putting trout in the net. A couple of hot spots to keep on your list: First, the stretch between Pumphouse and Radium. It’s seeing decent traffic, but the side channels and softer inside bends are loaded with browns right now. Work the heads and tails of islands and any woody structure you can find—keep your drifts short and controlled. Second, the Glenwood Springs area down toward New Castle. Slightly warmer water and a mix of browns, rainbows, and some smallmouth starting to wake up. Focus on the slower banks, back eddies, and the bottoms of riffles where the current eases up. The evening caddis game here can be lights‑out when the weather settles. Overall, conditions are improving day by day as run‑off stabilizes. Waders should be cautious with the higher flows, and boaters should keep an eye on shifting gravel bars and floating debris. But if you hit those prime windows at dawn and dusk, match the local bugs, and stay tight to structure, you’re in for a solid day on the Colorado. Thanks for tuning in to this fishing report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper river here in Colorado. We’re in a spring pattern now, with cool overnight temps and a quick warm‑up after sunrise. Around Glenwood Springs and downstream, expect morning temps in the low 40s climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s by afternoon. Skies are mostly clear to partly cloudy, with a light west breeze building in the afternoon. Flows on the Colorado are running on the high side with runoff, so figure off‑color water, pushy current, and a narrower band of fishable water along the banks. Sunrise is right around 5:45 a.m., with sunset close to 8:20 p.m. The most consistent bite has been from first light until about 10 a.m., then again in the last two hours of daylight once the sun drops behind the canyon walls. Midday fishing is doable, but you’ll want to go deeper and tighter to cover. There’s no real tidal influence up here in Colorado, so you can focus on river levels and clarity instead. With the river up, trout are sliding into the soft stuff: inside bends, eddies behind boulders, and flooded grassy margins. Recent reports from local shops in Glenwood and Rifle indicate solid numbers of browns with a mix of rainbows, mostly 12–16 inches, with the occasional 18–20 inch fish showing up in the softer seams. A few whitefish are still getting picked off on smaller nymphs. No big numbers of warmwater species yet; the river’s still cool and pushing. Best producers lately have been nymph rigs and streamers. For fly anglers, think stonefly nymphs in size 4–8, rubber‑legs in coffee and black, and big attractors like princes and perdigons in size 12–16, all dropped under 3/4–1 ounce of split shot depending on depth. A bright worm pattern or an egg as a point fly has been money in the dirtier water. As the day warms, watch for midges and small BWOs in softer backwaters; a size 18–20 para BWO or Griffith’s gnat will clean up on risers when they show. Spin and gear anglers are doing well on 1/4‑ounce marabou jigs in black, olive, or brown, worked slow along the bottom edges. Small crankbaits in gold or fire‑tiger and 2–3 inch soft‑plastic swimbaits in natural baitfish colors are also taking fish, especially in the lower‑light windows. For bait, nightcrawlers drifted just off the bottom in the soft edges have been steady, with salmon eggs picking up bonus trout and whitefish where regulations allow. Two hot spots to have on your list: First, the stretch just below Glenwood Springs where the Roaring Fork meets the Colorado. That confluence pushes some color and extra food into the system, and trout will stack up in the big soft seam on the Colorado side. Work the inside eddies and that big, slow tongue of water coming off the junction. Second, the water around Rifle — especially the long inside bends and any bank with flooded brush. With flows up, those banks become trout hotels. Hit them from shore or by boat, casting tight to the edges and letting your offering swing into the softer pockets. Overall fish activity is good in the low‑light hours, fair to tough through the bright part of the day. Focus on slower water, get your presentation down, and don’t be afraid to upsize and darken your offerings to give fish a clear target in the stain. That’s your Colorado River report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River fishing report for the upper river in Colorado. We don’t worry about tides up here – the Colorado is a freestone and tailwater mix, so flows and weather matter more than anything. Overnight temps dropped into the upper 30s, and we’re looking at a clear, cool morning warming into the low 70s by mid‑afternoon with light winds. Expect a mix of sun and a few high clouds, which should keep fish comfortable and feeding steadily. Sunrise came early over the canyon walls and you’ll lose useful light around sunset behind the ridges a bit before actual dark. Flows on the middle river reaches have been bouncing with runoff but are still fishable where side creeks aren’t blowing mud. Clarity is a greenish foot to two feet in many stretches—perfect for nymphing and streamers, a little tough for picky dry‑fly work but not impossible if you find softer edges. Trout activity has been best mid‑morning through early afternoon once the water ticks up a few degrees. Rainbows and browns in the 12–16 inch range have been the main players, with a few bruisers over 18 showing up tight to structure where the current softens. Anglers have been reporting steady numbers rather than big numbers—work for them and you’ll get rewarded. Bug‑wise, this is classic late‑spring Colorado River. Blue‑winged olives are still around on cloudy spells, and we’re seeing more caddis and early PMDs sliding into the mix. Stonefly nymphs are moving, even if you don’t see many adults yet. A two‑fly nymph rig has been the ticket: think a size 8–10 stonefly or tungsten worm up top with a size 16–18 baetis, pheasant tail, or caddis pupa behind it. Use enough weight to tick bottom along softer seams, drop‑offs, and the inside of bends. For those who prefer conventional gear, small gold or silver spoons, 1/8‑oz marabou jigs in black or olive, and minnow‑style crankbaits in brown and rainbow patterns have been taking trout and an occasional smallmouth in the slower, deeper runs. With runoff pushing fish toward the banks, cast tight to shore, then work your lure just off the current break. Best baits for those allowed to use them have been nightcrawlers drifted under a small float and natural‑colored salmon eggs rolled along the bottom. Keep your presentations subtle; the water’s got some color but not chocolate milk, so heavy hardware can put fish down in the calmer pockets. A couple of hot spots to consider: First, the stretch near Glenwood Springs where the Colorado meets the Roaring Fork. That confluence has been producing mixed bags: solid browns, chunky rainbows, and the odd whitefish. Focus on the first big soft water below the junction and the slower shelf along the opposite bank. Second, the broader runs and riffles near the Pumphouse to State Bridge corridor. Even with runoff, the inside bends and side channels there are fishing well if you’re willing to walk a bit. Look for milky main current sliding past clearer side water—that color change line is a conveyor belt for food and trout. Overall, fishing isn’t automatic, but if you time your outing around the late‑morning warmup, lean on nymphs and smaller, natural streamers, and work methodically through soft structure, you can put plenty of healthy Colorado River fish in the net today. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more reports and on‑the‑water updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your June 21, 2025, Colorado River fishing report, straight from the banks and bends of Colorado’s mighty flow. Let’s kick things off with the weather: skies are mostly clear with a hint of early summer haze, and temps are warming into the high 70s by afternoon. Sunrise hit at 5:33 a.m., sunset’s at 8:36 p.m., giving us long daylight stretches to chase big fish. There’s no tidal effect to worry about on this stretch, just the steady pulse of snowmelt runoff, which has been dropping; the river is still running higher than average but clearing up nicely according to the latest from Vail Valley Anglers. The Upper Colorado is a mixed bag right now. Water is running below normal in some stretches, flows near Kremmling are about 773 cfs with that crystal clarity we love for sight fishing. Downstream, things can be off-color but still very fishable. That’s classic runoff season, folks, so check your local conditions, but don’t let a little tint scare you off—a heavy river means aggressive fish, especially browns and rainbows, and the float fishing has been excellent lately, according to Fly Fishing Outfitters. Hot hatches this week are Blue Winged Olives, caddis, Yellow Sallies, and midges, with PMDs coming on strong. The big player right now? The Green Drake nymph—the hatch is about to pop, so toss those big, buggy nymphs and get ready for topwater action. Nymphing remains the surest bet: try a chubby dry up top with a Sally or caddis pupa as a dropper. Streamer junkies, your moment is here—Sculpzillas and articulated Dungeons stripped through the current are drawing smashing hits, especially along the banks as reported by Taylor Creek Fly Shops and Golden Fly Shop. Bait anglers, don’t neglect crawdad patterns and jigs along rocky seams and weed lines—bass and trout have been gorging on these, and a natural presentation can turn a slow morning hot in a hurry. For gear, the word on the river is to keep a sculpin streamer, a white-belly Matuka, or a classic olive bugger handy, and don’t be afraid to switch to a Parachute BWO or Elk Hair Caddis when you see mid-morning rises. Recent catches include several chunky browns over 18 inches, plenty of healthy rainbows, and some native cutthroat further up near Pumphouse and Gore Canyon. Quantity isn’t always guaranteed—Colorado is a quality fishery right now—but the fish landed have been feisty and hard-fighting. Hot spots to try: focus on the bends and deep runs below Pumphouse for a shot at big browns, and the confluence areas near Radium where clear water meets a little color for active feeding lanes. Don’t overlook the pocket water downstream of State Bridge—rainbows have been holding in the fast seams. Remember, rainbow trout are starting to spawn—give them space and respect no-fish zones so we can keep the river healthy. Keep ’em wet, snap your photos in the water, and most importantly, have a blast out there. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to su This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.