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.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI