This is Artificial Lure, bringing you the Colorado River fishing report for Thursday, November 6, 2025, and let me tell ya—the fall bite’s got Colorado anglers talking. Mornings have been crisp with lows in the mid-40s, and afternoons are bouncing into the low to mid-60s—classic November on the river. Sunrise was right at 6:37 AM, and sunset’s coming quick at 5:04 PM. With mostly clear skies and only a gentle northwest breeze, today’s conditions could not be much better for casting a line.

If you’re wondering about the tide, remember: the Colorado River here doesn’t have ocean tides, so our fish react a whole lot more to water temperatures and river flows. With water temps hovering in the low 50s, trout are cruising mid-current seams and the bass are pushing shallower as the sun warms the banks during midday according to the latest regional weather updates and angler chatter.

Reports this week from up and down the river—think stretches between Parshall, State Bridge, and down around Dotsero—show solid activity continuing into early November. Brown trout are the star right now with quite a few 16 to 20-inchers being caught near rocky riffles and the edges of deeper pools. Rainbows are still mixing it up too, particularly on the tailouts. Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s local updates say there’s a consistent afternoon window where fish are sipping midges and small mayflies.

Local anglers have had luck using small streamers in olive or black early, especially swung through shadowy undercut banks. Once the sun’s high, switch to nymphs—think size 20-22 black zebra midges, pheasant tails, or egg patterns. If you’re after browns staging before winter, a gold or copper spoon or a weighted woolly bugger can turn the bigger fish, particularly around woody structure. Ask the locals at Heenan’s in State Bridge and they’ll tell you to tie on a crawfish pattern or toss a jerkbait along riprap when the water’s clearer.

Smallmouth bass catches are slowing down with the cooler temps, but if you’re after them, midday’s best. Toss a green pumpkin tube jig around the sun-warmed rocks and you’ll pull a few—though regulations do require a watchful eye. Recent surveys out of Utah and western Colorado warn about illegal bass introductions—so check regs and respect those endangered species efforts like the razorback sucker and humpback chub, protected as part of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program.

For live bait, worms and nightcrawlers on the bottom near the confluences are a classic option, especially for young anglers. If you prefer hardware, in-line spinners and small jerkbaits are reliable, especially in the early morning calm or at dusk.

If panfish and cats are your game, hit backwater eddies at dusk—channel catfish are still poking around, and chicken liver or cut bait does the trick. Bluegill are pretty sleepy but can be found suspended over deeper brush with a little patience and a bit of worm.

Now, on to hot spots:
- Around the confluence at Kremmling, the river’s bends and gravel bars have produced some hefty browns and rainbow limits this week—locals say split shot nymph rigs are the ticket before 10 AM.
- Downstream below Glenwood Springs, look for trout lurking where the Roaring Fork dumps in, especially late afternoon.
- If you’ve got the time, take a hike to Copeland Lake near Rocky Mountain National Park; anglers there are pulling in rainbows and browns using leech patterns and small spoons.

Don’t forget, the flow can change quickly—check river forecasts before you go, and if you’re wading, tread carefully.

That’s it for today—tight lines, Colorado! Thanks for tuning in to your Colorado River fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a cast or a bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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