Good morning from the banks of the Colorado River—Artificial Lure here with your up-to-the-minute fishing report for Wednesday, November 5th, 2025. We’re hitting that late-fall stretch where conditions are as changeable as a rainbow trout on a sunny day, but there’s plenty of opportunity if you know where and when to wet a line.

Weather’s the wildcard this week. Last month’s heavy rains gave the whole basin a bit of drought relief, which bumped up streamflows and helped recharge the soils, but according to Peter Goble, Colorado’s assistant state climatologist, over half the watershed is still in a severe drought. Even so, the flow below Shadow Mountain Reservoir is currently running steady at 46 cubic feet per second, which is pegged right at normal for this stretch—a welcome sign with all the low water we’ve seen the past few years. Reservoirs like Powell and Mead are still sitting low, so conservation’s the name of the game, but for now, we’ve got cooperative water on the upper river.

Temperature-wise, we’ve got mornings starting crisp in the high 30s to low 40s, warming up into the 70s or even low 80s by afternoon. Skies are mostly clear after the last bout of rain, but keep an eye out for afternoon wind and the chance of a sneaky high-country shower. Fire risk is up with these dry downslope winds, so be mindful around any open flames.

On the fishing front, the full moon last night kicked up fish activity, especially for those prowling after hours. The best bite today will likely run late morning through early afternoon—think 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.—once the sun takes the chill off and gets the bugs moving.

Here’s what’s hot right now: nymphing and small streamers. The big brown trout have wrapped up their spawn and are moving deep to recover, with rainbows and cutbows shadowing them for stray eggs and active midges. Ideal nymph patterns are:

- Juju Baetis in size 20 for those afternoon seams
- Black Beauty midges in size 22 under 6X tippet
- Egg patterns in pink or peach, size 14, behind active riffles

If you’re itching to throw a streamer, go with a mini black leech in size 12, slow-crawled through those deep bends between 2 and 4 p.m.—but bring your patience and a low profile, especially if the wind’s up, and favor long leaders with subtle presentation.

For the hardware crowd, this is the time for a Rebel Wee Crawfish crankbait in natural craw or the Strike King Colorado blade spinnerbait. Both are stellar for targeting browns and rainbows in these clear fall waters, offering just the right amount of vibration and flash. If the water’s stained, upsize your swimbait or try a soft plastic in white or chartreuse. PowerBait in yellow or rainbow dough still draws the occasional stocker from the deeper holes, especially later in the day.

Bait reminders: live bait is a no-go, but dead or artificial baits are fine where posted—double-check the regs if you’re downstream or near a special use area.

Recent catches have included healthy browns topping 20 inches out of Elevenmile and the Dream Stream, with a solid push of rainbows in the upper river, a mixed bag of cutbows mid-river, and occasional kokanee hanging on in the lower reaches—though the main run has faded.

For hot spots, start at Charlie Meyers SWA parking lot for an easy walk to the bends on the Dream Stream, or give Coyote Run a shot for deeper nymph water with a bit less traffic. If you’re feeling adventurous, the Upper Dream is holding some big browns still worn out from the spawn, but it’ll test every knot in your tippet.

Sunrise hit at 6:39 a.m. and sunset sets the curtain at 4:54 p.m. Plan to fish those warmer middle hours for the best chance of connecting with an autumn brute.

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Artificial Lure here reporting from the banks of the Colorado River, and folks, it’s shaping up to be a prime fall fishing day up and down the corridor. Sunrise hit about 6:38 AM, with sunset expected around 4:58 PM—plan your casts for the golden windows when those fish wake up and shut down. Weather’s unseasonably warm, running nearly 10 to 15 degrees above the November norm, so it feels more like late September than the start of winter, and we’re blessed with clear skies and light winds, making for smooth casting and relaxed hours on the water according to Western Colorado local reports.

With the dry spell holding strong, water clarity’s excellent, and river levels stable across most stretches—no cold fronts or muddy runoff to speak of, and statewide snowpack sits at 26 percent of average, so the flow’s mellow. No tidal influence on Colorado’s river here, just steady current. These conditions are ideal for both lure and bait anglers.

Fish activity saw a nice uptick: locals have been pulling in healthy numbers of rainbow and brown trout—most rainbows running 12 to 16 inches, with a few solid browns in the 18-inch class showing up near deeper pools. Reports say the bite was best in the early hours and late afternoon. Flatwater spots like Corn Lake have produced largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. Bass are aggressive on warm afternoons, hitting spinnerbaits and squarebill crankbaits tight to riprap and submerged timber. Catfish, meanwhile, prefer worms worked slow in deeper holes; crappie were stacking in thick duckweed and taking small Minnow-style soft baits.

The lure of choice right now for trout is either a Panther Martin spinner or small jerkbait, but fly anglers are doing well with beadhead nymphs—think Pheasant Tail and Prince, with small streamers like Woolly Buggers moving the bigger fish. For bass, Wired2Fish recommends 3/8 to 1/2 ounce tandem Colorado/willow leaf spinnerbaits and late season squarebill crankbaits in craw or shad patterns, with the ever-reliable buzzbait still getting bites on top in slow stretches.

Best live bait remains earthworms and small minnows—those work for everything from bass to catfish and crappie. Locals at Corn Lake and near Grand Junction keep things simple, dropping worms or minnows for steady action, especially from shore.

If you’re hunting hotspots, here’s two to check out:

- The stretch between Parachute and Rifle: River’s deep, plenty of holding water for both trout and the occasional walleye, plus decent pull-outs for boats and bank anglers alike.

- Corn Lake at Colorado River State Park: Shore fishing’s hot for bass, crappie, and bluegill, with good access and lots of reports of steady catches.

The bite’s lively, the weather’s perfect, and the fish are cooperating better than a lot of years past. Warm spells like this keep late-season fishing rolling strong—expect a bit of afternoon lull, but if you time it right for dawn and dusk, you’ll be rewarded. Watch for slight breezes picking up towards the afternoon, especially near open water and the higher ridges.

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Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for Monday, November 3, 2025. Conditions on the upper stretches are autumn-perfect—a crisp sunrise at 7:35 AM and sunset rolling in at 6:07 PM, with cooling temps expected to stay low through the week. After a brief cold snap, today’s forecast brings mostly clear skies and daytime highs near 54°F. Winds should stay below 10 mph, making for smooth casts and easy drifts.

No tidal action affects flow here, but don’t ignore the water releases upstream—recent reports mention streamflows holding steady, and active snowmelt earlier in fall has primed the aquatic ecosystem for above-average fish activity. According to Coyote Gulch’s November update, local species include the **Colorado River cutthroat trout**, roundtail chub, flannelmouth sucker, and bluehead sucker. Anglers pulling close to the headwaters are seeing healthy populations, with cutthroat numbers up, especially where deep pools and shaded banks offer cover.

The lower Colorado near Grand Junction, per Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, continues to produce strong bites. Trout are chasing streamers, woolly buggers, and sculpin patterns—dark colors, especially olive and black, are drawing aggressive strikes in the colder morning water. Midges and BWOs are the ticket for mid-day hatches. For those drifting bait rigs, nightcrawlers and smaller minnows fished deep have landed a mix of hefty rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. Reports from local fly shops indicate a few anglers hooked up with roundtail chubs and even a couple of bluehead suckers on small nymphs.

Bass and walleye catches have slowed compared to early fall, but persistent anglers are still bringing in smallmouth using crankbaits and soft plastics in sun-warmed shallows. Pueblo Reservoir’s update last weekend confirmed bass are feeding in the early mornings; similar patterns hold for edge water along the Colorado, especially where rocky structure and weed beds meet open channels.

Recent catches? Local guide chatter tells of half a dozen cutthroat landed per morning, averaging 12–16 inches, with rainbows and browns in the mix. Roundtail chubs are less frequent but worth targeting with slow presentations—try using a small white streamer or nymph under an indicator.

Hot spots this week:

- **Gore Canyon** for experienced waders after big trout, with the best action just above the confluence with the Eagle.
- **Parshall stretch** (near Kremmling) is producing solid catches of cutthroat and rainbows. Drift below the bridge, focusing on undercut banks and deep runs.
- **Grand Valley** in the lower river for chunkier browns and roundtail chub, with best results at dawn and dusk.

Best lures and bait right now:

- **Streamers:** black/olive woolly buggers, sculpins, white Zonkers.
- **Nymphs:** zebra midges, copper johns, and small stoneflies.
- **Spin fishers:** use inline spinners, jerkbaits, and craw-pattern crankbaits.
- For bait: salmon eggs, worms, or small live minnows.

A reminder: regulations on some Colorado River stretches require *artificial lures only*, so double-check local rules before heading out. Watch for wildlife—zebra mussels are an increasing concern (per KUNC), so always clean your gear at the launch.

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Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for Sunday, November 2nd, 2025.

First light hit at 7:33 this morning and sunset’s coming up at 6:02 this evening—so you’ve got a prime late-morning to mid-afternoon window. The bite isn’t all-day, but this time of year, those midday hours are the bullseye when water temps inch up and fish get active.

Weather-wise, according to Durango Weather Guy and the National Weather Service, it’s another mild, dry day, highs swinging into the upper 50s and low 60s near Kremmling, with plenty of sun and barely a breeze. Water temps on the lower stretches have been running in the upper 50s to low 60s—plenty for trout, but cool enough to put them deeper and make them a little lazier. Stable flows and clear water reported by USGS keep conditions technical, so stealth matters out there.

Drought conditions remain pretty darn persistent, says Western Water and the U.S. Drought Monitor, but there’s been enough flow for decent action and some respectable pockets are holding good fish.

As for the fishing—according to recent updates from Rise Beyond Fly Fishing and Fly Fishing Outfitters, November might just be the sneak ace of the year on the upper and middle Colorado. Trout don’t hibernate, they just slow down. Post-spawn browns are hungry and late-season rainbows are eating, especially on midges and blue-winged olives (BWOs). Anglers landing browns and rainbows in the 14-to-20-inch range aren’t rare, with a few big surprises thrown in thanks to the lack of crowds.

Midges, baetis, and the occasional sculpin are what’s for dinner. Your best producers right now: RS2s in gray (#22), Mercury Black Beauties, and WD-40s brown (#22-24). Don’t overlook a CDC Midge or a Parachute BWO if you catch a hatch under cloudy skies. For streamer fans, swing an olive Slumpbuster or go bigger with a gold or black Mini Leech. Nymph rigs with light split shot—let 'em ride the bottom slow. Fish are moving slow but feeding with purpose.

Spin and bait anglers: small inline spinners like Panther Martins in gold or black, and 1/8 oz jigheads tipped with a floating worm or a minnow pattern soft plastic get reliable grabs. In lakes or slower backwaters, a classic nightcrawler floated just off bottom can coax a sluggish brown or cutbow.

Hot spots? Pair your gloves with hand warmers and head to these:

- The “Fraser Confluence” just outside Granby—deep bends and logjams here hold brown trout still recovering from the spawn but feeding steady mid-day.
- Pumphouse-Bond stretch below Kremmling: with clear water and less pressure, swing streamers on the soft inside bends.
- For the fly crowd, don’t ignore side channels and slow tailouts near State Bridge—look for risers when the afternoon sun gets high.

Reports out of the lower river near Grand Junction, from Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, tell of steady but not lights-out nymph action with a consistent mix of rainbows and browns, most caught midday on small midge patterns.

Fishing is mostly technical—expect to earn each strike. The real trophy this time of year is solitude and wild river air. The trick is to be there when the sun warms the water, be deliberate, and stay patient. Trout are feeding, just not chasing.

Stick with tiny flies and thin tippet, watch your shadows, and slow your presentation. Crowds are gone and fish are wary but beatable. With a mild spell stretching through the week, you’ve got a golden window before winter clamps down.

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Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing update for November 1st, 2025, bringing the genuine scoop from the water’s edge.

The fall bite along the Colorado River and its nearby lakes is heating up as the weather cools. Sunrise this morning hit at about 7:28 AM, with sunset set for 6:04 PM—plenty of daylight for anglers who want to maximize those prime feeding windows. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, today’s a “Best Morning” to be on the water, so those hitting the banks early are in for good odds.

Weather-wise, expect crisp autumn air in the low 40s at dawn, warming into the low 60s by midday, with light winds and patchy cloud cover—fantastic for fish activity and a comfortable day outside. No meaningful tidal fluctuation affects the inland stretches here, but moon phase and barometric shifts make this morning especially promising.

Recent action along the river, in lakes like Willow Beach and up near Grand Junction’s Connected Lakes, has been lively. The Arizona Game and Fish Department notes that the post-storm runoff has muddied up the main current just enough to get trout and bass out from cover, making them less wary. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are active in shallow coves early, moving deeper by mid-morning. Anglers have been reporting solid numbers of rainbow and brown trout, with some Gila trout mixed in where stockings have hit recently.

On the hardware front, go-to artificial lures right now are small crankbaits with a rolling action and a bright belly—think the Rebel Deep Wee Crawfish or similar 1/8 to 1/4 oz. models. For bass, try a green pumpkin or crawfish-soft plastic on a light jig head, or a chartreuse spinnerbait if the water’s got color. Trout are eager for 1/8 oz. Kastmasters and little marabou jigs, with silver, gold, or copper the best bets. Fly anglers, this is a strong time for size 10 bead-head Simi Seal Leeches, Prince Nymphs, or a classic Elk Hair Caddis in the riffles during late morning.

Live bait, while popular in some Colorado lakes for cats and panfish, is out for many stretches of the river basin—so check local regulations. Where allowed, nightcrawlers and PowerBait remain staples for stocked rainbows and can outfish lures on slower afternoons.

Recent catches show a mix of species:
- Willow Beach produced several rainbow trout up to 16 inches after the most recent stocking, with PowerBait and nightcrawlers doing damage.
- Striped bass anglers are picking up both slot and schoolie sizes trolling shad-pattern swimbaits and using plugs.
- Up in the Connected Lakes area, largemouth bass are smashing topwater and shallow crankbaits in the mornings, with bluegill and catfish hitting worms along the drops.

For hot spots this weekend:
- Willow Beach remains a sure bet right after trout stockings—work the seams below inflows for hungry holdovers.
- The East Verde and West Clear Creek tributaries are fishing well for both stocked and wild trout, with undercut banks and boulders the ticket.
- For diverse action, try the Connected Lakes near Grand Junction at first light—start with a topwater for bass, then switch to nightcrawlers for panfish and cats as the sun climbs.

Remember to get an early start to beat the midday slowdown and consider shifting presentations as the water warms. Smaller lures and slower retrieves will pay off as fall advances.

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Artificial Lure here with your boots-on-the-bank fishing report for Thursday, October 30, 2025, along the mighty Colorado River in Colorado.

We started the morning with a brisk chill—just under 35°F at sunrise, which hit at 7:27 AM. Sunset’s coming at 6:04 PM, so you’re working with about 10.5 hours of daylight. With light winds early, skies expected mostly clear, and daytime highs touching the low 60s, it’s an ideal fall trifecta: stable weather, little wind, and dropping water temps—perfect conditions for river trout and some late-bite bass action.

The Colorado River’s flows are steady and clarity is up, thanks to cooling overnight lows and little recent rain. That’s got trout—browns, rainbows, and the occasional cutthroat—feeding more aggressively from dawn to late morning and again in the golden hour just before dusk. With water temps falling into the mid-40s by sunrise, the bite’s best once the sun’s warmed things just enough, usually from 9:00 to 11:30 AM and again 4:15 to dusk.

Local anglers in the past 48 hours are reporting solid action near Parshall, especially below riffle systems where browns have started stacking up for the spawn. Rainbows are chasing midges and small baetis below Glenwood, while in the slower tailouts, expect cutts to slip up for a well-presented nymph. Fish size ranges from 12-16” for most browns and rainbows, with a few outliers topping 18” caught in deeper bends after sunset, according to guides at Rise Beyond Fly Fishing.

Prime baits this week—when drift-fished—are egg patterns, small tan or orange globules, and classic bead-head hare’s ear nymphs. For the fly crowd: blue-wing olive (BWO) emergers in size 18-22, zebra midges, and RS2s have all produced, as well as olive leech patterns on a slow swing just off the bottom. Local fly shops, like Angler’s Covey, note that if you’re spin-fishing, a small gold Panther Martin or a 1/8-ounce brown trout spoon does the trick, especially through pocket water. For bait, fresh nightcrawlers and natural salmon eggs are tops with the bank crowd.

On the bass side, below the big lakes—think closer to Horsethief Canyon—the smallmouth action is slowing, but crankbaits and spinnerbaits fished around rocky shoals will fool aggressive late-season fish, especially as the sun warms the rocks by midday, as reported by Moabing.

Hot spots this week are:
- **Pumphouse Recreation Area:** Big browns moving up and persistent rainbows feeding behind them. Drift eggs and midges.
- **State Bridge:** Deep runs are holding hefty fish—egg patterns down low and BWO nymphs in mid-columns.
- **Dotsero Access:** Productive for both spin and fly, especially on small flashy spinners and natural colors.

For those looking to hike a bit, the mouths of tributary creeks entering the mainstem are staging points for migratory browns—use patience, light line, and long leaders.

The 2025 fall bite is on in the high country. Water’s clear, flows are steady, and fish are hungry. Quick reminder—pack out your litter, check regulations for special tackle or bait restrictions, and layer up for those brisk mornings and quick-cooling afternoons.

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Artificial Lure here with your Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Colorado River fishing report. The skies are mostly clear and we’re looking at a daytime high around the mid-60s today. Overnight temps dipped into the low 30s, so expect a crisp start. There’s a slight southern breeze picking up, but overall, it’s prime autumn weather for working the water. If you’re heading out early, bring a thermos—it’s chilly at dawn, but warms up nicely by late morning.

Sunrise hit at 7:23 AM and sunset will roll in at 6:05 PM—giving you a good nearly 11-hour window for casts and tight lines. Tides aren’t a factor here on the upper Colorado yourself, but if you’re fishing the lower Colorado River reservoirs, like Lake Havasu, you’ll notice fluctuating flows based on scheduled water release—expect mid-morning and mid-afternoon lifts which usually get fish active, especially around cover and deeper structure.

Fish activity has been picking up with these colder nights and consistent flows. Reports from Lake Havasu, a Colorado River hotspot, say the bass bite is on. Largemouth and smallmouth are feeding steady, with most fish in the 2-4 lb range for largemouth and 1-3 lb for smallmouth. Trophy size is always possible in these waters—keep an eye on brush, cattail coves, and those submerged structures. Havasu’s Copper Canyon and Steamboat Cove have both lit up in the last week, often seeing good numbers on jerkbaits and swimbaits according to Desert Vegas Fishing. Folks hitting the Bill Williams River arm and Tire Reef also reported strong mornings, mostly on reaction baits.

On the main Colorado River stretches through Colorado proper, trout action rules the roost. Brown trout are finishing up their spawn, so rainbows are hot on their tails, picking up loose eggs and getting aggressive in deeper runs and seams. Recent catches: abundant rainbows up to 18", a few browns pushing the 20" mark, and even some cutthroat reported further upriver. October means Blue-Winged Olive hatches mid-day—parachute BWOs, RS2s, and zebra midges (#20–22), with the bite strongest from 11 AM until 3 PM when those bugs are popping off according to Rise Beyond Fly Fishing. Early mornings are slow; wait for sun on the water. Griffith’s Gnats and Parachute Adams cover your surface action, while WD-40 nymphs under indicators are taking fish consistently.

Best lures and baits right now:
- **For bass**: jerkbaits, swimbaits in shad pattern, crankbaits, green pumpkin weightless senkos, and Ned rigs. Frogs along reeds early, plastics throughout the day. Top picks include Yamamoto Senko, Keitech swimbait in sexy shad, money crankbaits, and the Berkley Chapo and Strike King Rage Bug, especially near structure and points.
- **For trout**: small natural nymphs like RS2s and zebra midges, Parachute BWOs and dry-dropper setups with Slumpbuster streamers in olive or natural. If flows are low and water’s clear, lighten up on tippet and use smaller flies.

A couple of current hot spots:
- On Lake Havasu: Copper Canyon, Steamboat Cove, and the Tire Reef are pulling in both numbers and quality bass. Around the Bill Williams arm, especially during flow changes, the chunkier largemouth have been cruising for reaction baits.
- On the upper Colorado in Colorado proper: Just upstream of Glenwood Springs near the confluence with the Roaring Fork has produced the best recent trout action, especially post-11 AM. Down in the mid-canyon stretches, target deep seams and pocket water with nymphs and be ready for BWOs once the clouds roll in.

Quick tips: On clear days, go with more subtle presentations and lighter leaders. Move a lot, target structure for bass, and follow temperature shifts for trout. The numbers game still rules—more casts mean more fish.

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Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Sunrise hit at 7:27 AM and we’ll see sunset at 6:08 PM. The weather along the central Colorado River corridor today is shaping up bluebird and chilly: morning temps in the low 30s, climbing into the low 60s by afternoon, with just a whisper of wind and clear autumn skies. There’s no tide action to speak of this far upstream, but water flows are steady—around 90-100 CFS, and clarity is excellent thanks to cool, stable fall conditions.

The bite is dialed in late morning through mid-afternoon. Browns have wrapped up most spawning but are still fired up and hungry; rainbows are on the feed, and you’ll spot the odd kokanee salmon running in tributaries if you’re near confluence areas.

Anglers around Parshall and State Bridge report great results drifting nymph rigs—RS2s and zebra midges in sizes 20–24 are landing healthy rainbows and eager browns. Egg patterns are solid all day, especially just downstream of redds (always steer clear of spawning beds and gravel). If you like swinging streamers, try a black or rust mini leech pattern deep in the tailouts—bite’s best on overcast or in low light.

Several folks have weighed in this week with their hauls: mostly rainbows in the 12–16 inch class, a few chunky browns pushing 18, and the occasional cutthroat sneaking in below Kremmling. No monsters landed, but plenty of action. The Lower Blue River, feeding into the Colorado, is still producing big hatchery rainbows, though densities have slipped since last fall according to the Vail Daily. Still, that stretch delivers shot after shot at “dinosaur” trout if you’re persistent.

Your top baits and lures today:
- Natural or pink egg patterns under a small indicator
- Tiny black or olive zebra midges
- RS2s or WD-40s as droppers
- Parachute BWOs #20–22 if you see heads up on cloudy spells
- For hardware, small gold Kastmasters have enticed rainbows in deeper holes

If you’re packing hardware, little spoons or spinners fished slow and deep can pick up fish when nymphing slows down. No need for heavy line—5X leaders give the best stealth in this clear water.

Hot spots to try:
- **State Bridge area:** Wide riffles and deep pools, easy access, and less pressure during the week.
- **Lone Rock and confluence with Muddy Creek:** Reliable mid-day action on nymphs.
- **Below Parshall:** More solitude and consistent rainbow activity, especially 11 AM–2 PM.

Most anglers are having success with numbers, not size this week, and that’s classic late October on the Colorado. Fish are transitioning and putting on calories for winter, but pickier on bright mornings. Nymph deep, keep leaders long, and if things slow, switch to a streamer for a surprise.

A quick reminder: with the browns’ spawn wrapping up, please tread lightly around vulnerable gravel beds and keep those wild fish healthy for next season.

That wraps up the latest from your Colorado River beat! Thanks for tuning in. Remember to subscribe for more fishing reports and local tips.

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Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River (Colorado section) fishing report for Monday, October 27, 2025.

Sunrise is at 7:27 am, with sunset coming at 6:14 pm—so you’ve got a solid window, especially for those early risers and the after-work bite. Weather’s starting chilly: upper 30s at dawn, not getting far above the low 60s through the day. We’re in that late-October pattern with crisp mornings, cool afternoons, and clear skies—so bring an extra layer for those shaded canyon runs. Wind is forecast light this morning, maybe gusting up a bit midday, but nothing that should chase you off the water. No tides to worry about, just steady river flow, and conditions have kept the water cool and slightly bumped with recent autumn moisture.

Fish activity on the Colorado has kicked up, true to fall form. According to Rise Beyond Fly Fishing’s report last week, trout are still active across several river stretches, especially near Grand Junction and on the Middle Colorado. The crowds are gone, but the trout haven’t left—brown trout have just come off their spawn, and rainbows are sliding into feeding lanes. I’ve seen fresh reports of browns up to 20 inches, with plenty of 12–16 inch bows caught over the weekend. Here and there, you’ll spot a whitefish on a nymph dropper, but the main event is still trout. Local guides have told me streamer fishing right now is hot—especially in low-light—so don’t sleep in.

Go-to lures and bait: Streamers have been lights out, especially black or olive patterns in the mornings and flashy silver for sunnier afternoons. Try an articulated leech or a classic woolly bugger. Nymphing has also been productive on smaller patterns—think size 18-20 pheasant tails, midges, and baetis imitations—keep it subtle, the fish are keyed in after the post-spawn. If you’re after the odd big brown, toss a larger streamer near undercut banks or deep tailouts, and hang on.

For bait anglers, drifted nightcrawlers or salmon eggs can tempt trout, though remember regulations: many stretches of the Colorado are artificial-lures only, so check your section before dropping in.

Hot spots to target today:
- **Horsethief Canyon** west of Fruita—long riffles, some deep back-eddies, lots of structure and typically holds solid trout numbers this time of year.
- **Pumphouse to Radium** – This float or wade stretch consistently produces in late October, and streamer fanatics will find hungry browns staging in deeper margins.

Porter Reservoir #1 remains a good bet for an easy-access side trip, with brown and rainbow trout plus yellow perch—mimic the natural food source for best results.

Recent angler chatter highlights that the lower river sees sporadic big fish right before storms. If you fish today and notice clouds building, be ready—the bite often picks up as the barometer drops, as seen in that recent “Caught Trout at 7,000 Feet—Right Before the Storm Hit” YouTube account.

Public river access is still a hot topic up and down the state, with local advocates pressing for more wading rights, but you’re well within legal bounds at major access sites along the Colorado. Just be respectful—access is a work in progress.

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Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for Sunday, October 26, 2025. Sunrise came at 7:27 AM, and sunset will drop at 6:14 PM, so anglers have right around 11 hours to make the most of today’s solid fall bite.

Weather this morning started brisk—low 40s near dawn with highs pushing into the mid-60s by early afternoon. Skies are mostly clear, with a light breeze from the northwest. These classic Colorado October conditions mean you’ll want to dress in layers and keep a wind shell handy out on or near the water.

There’s no tidal report for this stretch—Colorado is landlocked—but water clarity is fair to good and flows are moderate. Recent rains in the high country bumped the river just enough to get fish active and moving around. If you’re wading, boots with good grip are a must and always check water levels before stepping in.

Fish activity is improving, especially in the afternoons. According to the Colorado River Colorado Daily Fishing Report, hungry trout and stripers have been showing up in good numbers. Recent catches include plenty of rainbow and brown trout in the 16-19” range and steady action on smallmouth and largemouth bass closer to Grand Junction. Catfish and bluegill remain consistent for shore anglers at slower stretches and backwater pockets.

For bait and lures—trout are striking spinners, especially Colorado blade spinnerbaits and small spoons, as recommended in recent YouTube angler tips. Fly anglers are having luck with midges, small nymphs, and streamers, adapting to colder water per Rise Beyond Fly Fishing’s cold water guide. Bass are still chasing crankbaits with a gold or fire-tiger pattern and soft plastics in green pumpkin. Channel cats are keyed onto fresh-cut bait and nightcrawlers in muddy pockets and deep holes—right on cue for late fall.

Top baits right now include:
- Live nightcrawlers or salmon eggs for trout
- Colorado blade spinnerbaits for bass
- Cut shad and stink baits for catfish
- Small crankbaits, tubes, and jigheads in natural colors

Corn Lake, part of Colorado River State Park, is red hot. Reports from Snoflo and area locals confirm catches of largemouth bass on topwater lures at dusk, and channel cats taken with chicken liver or dough bait off the bottom. Connected Lakes in Grand Junction is another destination—crappie and bluegill are biting well in shallow reeds, with bite-sized pieces of worm or small jigs producing fast action.

If you’re after trout, the upper river near Kremmling is producing, with action in riffles and undercut banks—use small streamers or olive/black woolly buggers, per Rise Beyond’s fly report. For a mixed bag, hit the slow pools downstream from Parachute or Rifle.

Looking for hotspots? Here are my top picks:
- Corn Lake for largemouth bass and steady catfish action.
- Connected Lakes for crappie, bluegill, and some excellent evening bass.
- The tailouts and bends near Rifle and Parachute for chunky browns and rainbows.

On the calendar, Farmers’ Almanac calls tonight “Fair” for evening fishing—expect modest results but steady pickup after 4:30 PM once the shadows start casting across the water. Early risers got a bit of breakfast bite, but that evening window looks strongest.

To recap: mid-60s and clear skies, rivers are active, fish are feeding ahead of next week’s cold snap, and the top lures are blades and live baits. Best bets for success—keep it small, natural, and move between deep pools and shallow outsides.

Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Colorado River fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily updates and stories from the river! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River, Colorado fishing report for October 25, 2025. After grabbing my thermos and flicking on my headlamp, I made it down to the river just as the first blue hues of dawn started creeping over the horizon—today’s sunrise came at 7:21 a.m., with sunset expected at 6:12 p.m. We’ve got upper 40s at daybreak, warming into the low 60s by the afternoon, with light winds and just a slight chance for showers after lunch—pretty classic fall Colorado river weather.

Now, onto the action. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, today rates on the poorer side for fishing, especially in the evening, so those riffs of early morning energy might be your best bet for any real bites. River conditions around Kremmling and State Bridge are solid: flows are steady, water’s clear, and temps are running in the upper 50s to low 60s, ideal for active trout and resident bass.

Reports from local anglers and recent outings show decent numbers of brown and rainbow trout on the fly; look for pockets behind rocks, seams, and riffles. Aggressive browns are still in post-spawn mode and will chase bigger presentations if you get them in their feeding lanes. For the bass folks, smallmouth are slowing down but still responding to slow-rolled plastics and craw imitations, especially near rocky drop-offs.

Best baits and lures right now: For the fly casters, try a size 14-16 blue wing olive or caddis dry, and don’t overlook midge patterns in the earlier, cooler hours—March Browns and Foam Run Caddis have been producing fish. Nymphers should drop a two-fly rig: a thin-mint, AR’s Perdigon, or jigged leech paired with a smaller baetis or caddis pupa. Spin anglers are having luck with Kastmasters in gold or silver, and folks trolling or drifting are getting bent rods on the Yakima Bait Spin-N-Fish loaded with nightcrawler or garlic scent. Z-Man GrubZ on a Ned rig has been pulling some larger bass out of the slack water—those grubs really shine in the fall.

For those after panfish, some solid sunfish and the occasional crappie are showing up near submerged brush and slow current zones—cast a small soft plastic or worm-tipped jig into the shadows. If you’re after something a bit bigger, the pike bite is just starting to tick up, especially in the cooler mornings, so don’t be shy with a big swimbait or DeLong Lures’ Twister Tail.

Recent catch logs: Mixed bags this week, but several limits of 12-to-16-inch browns reported near Pumphouse and State Bridge, with rainbows in the 14- to 18-inch range caught on nymphs below riffles. Bass have been a little slower, but focused anglers have bagged a few chunky smallmouth up to 16 inches off ledges and rock points.

Hot spots to check:
- Pumphouse Recreation Area: Productive water, easy access, and always a shot at a mixed bag—including bonus fall rainbows.
- State Bridge stretch: Consistent trout, some bigger browns holding deep, and dependable bass around rocky structure.

That’s the intel for today, folks. Whether you’re slinging flies, bait, or hardware, be patient—work those seams, cover water, change your pace, and fish deeper as the sun climbs. The leaves are fire-orange, the river is alive, and every cast is a chance at a river memory.

Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates and more river wisdom. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your October 24th, 2025, Colorado River fishing report—local knowledge, cold hands, and all.

Looks like we’re sliding into a classic high-country fall pattern along much of the upper Colorado. Temps start chilly, with sunrise around 7:20 AM and sunset just before 6:10 PM—so daylight’s disappearing fast, plan to be on the water at first light for your best shot. The day starts cold, climbing to the low 50s, but keep an eye on passing storms; rain and even flurries can sneak in. Dress in layers, windproof if you can, and mind your footing on those icy morning rocks.

Now, if you’re looking to check tide charts, remember the Colorado's up this high don’t have ocean tides—so forget tides, focus on flow and temperature. Water is running a bit low and clear this week, typical for fall, which means smarter fish and technical presentations will win the day. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, today’s fishing is rated “poor” for the evening, so aim for early morning and late afternoon windows for the most activity.

On the fish front, trout are front and center up here—browns making their spawning runs, with rainbows and cutbows dogging them for dropped eggs. Around Eleven Mile and Spinney Reservoir stretches, action for big trout has picked up from both shore and boat. Anglers are nailing them with nightcrawlers and PowerBait off the bank. If you prefer hardware, Tas Devils, white or green Kastmasters, and small jigging spoons have been doing work. Word from the Eleven Mile Marina experts is tube jigs—especially in pumpkin pepper or “Demented” color—are catching fish when worked slow and low.

Salmon in the river are plentiful but on the smaller side—think 10–14 inches. Egg patterns and San Juan Worms on light tippet are consistent flyers, and a few boaters pulling a Dodger with a Wiggle Hootchie in 60 feet managed limits, so don’t be afraid to mix techniques. Pike are still around, especially in those east coves by Witchers and the Denver Water boat dock area. Try big spinners, stickbaits, and large tube jigs for a chance at something over 35 inches in the slacker water.

If catfish are more your speed, especially in the lower, warmer reaches around Grand Junction, Berkley PowerBait Catfish Chunks—new stronger formula—are pulling in channel and flatheads after dark. As evening comes on, drift or fish deep holes with stink bait or chicken liver.

Hatches: The callibaetis have slowed, but damsels and midges are present. Subsurface nymphing with 10–14 foot indicator rigs is working at Spinney. If you’re a fly angler, running a hopper-dropper with an egg pattern for the browns and Czech nymphs or damsel nymphs for the rainbows is a solid bet.

For hot spots:
- Witchers Cove and the Denver Water dock area at Eleven Mile for pike and trout.
- Tarryall near the Dream Stream for rainbow runs.
- Below Granby and near Hot Sulphur Springs for brown trout in spawning mood—work the tailouts and gravel beds with small spoons or egg imitations.
- For catfish, deep bends below Grand Junction and the Highline Lake confluence have produced well.

Quick local tip: Zebra mussels were recently detected in isolated parts of the Colorado. Make sure to clean, drain, and dry everything—boots, boats, coolers. It helps keep our fishing great and waters clean.

Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe for the next report and all things Colorado angling. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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It’s your local fishing pro, Artificial Lure, coming at you with today’s fishing report for the Colorado River and its favorite hot spots around Colorado on this fine Thursday, October 23rd, 2025.

Sunrise greeted us at 7:23 AM, with sunset hitting right about 6:18 PM—so there’s a tight window for those magic hours when fish are most active. We’ve moved deep into the fall pattern, with overnight lows in the high 30s and afternoon temps reaching the low 60s. Expect cloudier skies and a chance of passing showers thanks to those lingering monsoon patterns we’ve seen this week. The barometric pressure is settling after some recent fronts, which should help activate those bites, especially during late morning and right before the afternoon weather rolls in.

Water clarity is good, with flows holding steady and a slight chill—great conditions for hungry fall fish. The Colorado River and its impoundments like Corn Lake and Rifle Gap are showing classic cool-season behavior: fish are a bit more deliberate, holding tight to structure and deeper runs, and feeding windows are shorter but intense.

Recent catches have been solid, with reports from local anglers and Snoflo pointing to strong showings of rainbow trout, brown trout, and cutbows making their way up the river for the fall spawn, with several browns pushing over 18 inches. Corn Lake, nestled along the river near Grand Junction, has yielded everything from largemouth bass to nice-sized catfish and even the odd crappie. Most consistent success has been with worms or live minnows, but don’t rule out small jigs and grubs for that panfish bite.

Fly-fishing action is picking up as water temperatures cool. According to the latest from Golden Fly Shop and Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, late October is prime time for nymphing and streamer work. Fish are responding best to natural presentations like Chubby Chernobyls, Elk Hair Caddis, small beatis, and caddis patterns in the mornings, and smaller midge and mayfly imitations as the day warms. Subsurface, go with a Splitback PMD, Jig Duracell, or Lightning Bug under a hopper-dropper rig. For the deep-pocket lurkers, a Mayer’s Mini Leech or San Juan Worm has turned up several chunky rainbows just below feeder creeks.

If hardware’s your game, focus on smaller, subtle lures. Lake Homes and recent angler blogs stress that finesse worms, downsized swimbaits, or compact jigs fished slow are the top bets right now. The fish’s metabolism is down as the water chills, so try a more deliberate retrieve—let those lures pause and linger in eddies and deep runs. Don’t forget about vertical tactics: a jigging spoon or a blade bait right off the bottom around ledges can seal the deal, especially on Bass and those sly post-spawn catfish.

Hot spots for today and the coming weekend:
- **Corn Lake:** Morning and late afternoon bite for largemouth bass and cats, especially near the weed lines and the old river channel; best baits are live worms, cut bait, and small soft plastics.
- **Rifle Gap Reservoir:** Trout and pike are active along the drop-offs by the dam and creek mouths, with spoons, crankbaits, and streamer flies picking up strikes.
- **Below Glenwood Springs:** Brown trout stacking up below riffles and creek mouths; top flies are BWOs, caddis pupae, and rubber-legged nymphs fished deep and slow.

With fall colors still popping in the canyons and crisp air rolling off the river, this is about as good as angling gets in Colorado. Remember, it’s always worth checking local regulations—especially with trout runs in full swing and changing flows.

Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s daily fishing check-in! Hit that subscribe button for more local reports, tips, and river tales.

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