Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast Episodes
Colorado River Update: Lean Flows, Tricky Trout, and Stillwater Salvation
This is Artificial Lure reporting on August 28, 2025, with your boots-on-the-ground update for the Colorado River and surrounding fisheries in Colorado.
The Colorado River’s late-summer temperament is officially here—flows have hovered just below 700 cfs in the 15-mile stretch near Grand Junction this week, according to Aspen Journalism. While that’s still fishable, it’s noticeably lean for this time of year, with decreased habitat for trout and stressed fish; most of the flow lately comes from upstream reservoir releases, specifically to help endangered species hang on through the tail end of this hot, dry summer. Water temps are running warm in the afternoons, so target early mornings and evenings when the river is coolest. Sunrise landed at 6:25 AM, sunset is on the dot at 7:45 PM, lending nearly thirteen hours of daylight to get after it.
No measurable tidal swing here in the Rockies—the only “tide” you’ll notice is the pulsed releases from reservoirs, which should bump flows in spurts through September. Expect light morning breezes, but afternoon gusts can pick up, especially as storms start rolling down out of the high country.
Fishing action on the Colorado and its big tributaries has been classic late August: finicky but punctuated by bursts of good activity if you match natural forage and stay stealthy. Trout—rainbows, browns, and a few cutbows—are the main quarry, with some healthy reports of browns up to 23 inches near Parshall and rainbows in the 12-18 inch class up by State Bridge earlier this week.
Bait and technique are critical under these conditions. Streamers have been king on the main Colorado: classic black or olive Woolly Buggers, olive and white Sculpzillas, and flashy Clouser Minnows will get noticed, especially if you use a cross-stream swing or a dead drift to mimic injured baitfish. According to Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, mixing up retrieves—sometimes fast and erratic, other times slow and deep—is the ticket when fish are pressured. Dead drifting a smaller streamer just above the rocky bottom in mid-depth runs worked wonders just before dusk last night. For those fishing hardware, locally made Colorado spinnerbaits fished over weed beds and around submerged rock outcrops have also scored fat browns and the odd smallmouth lately.
If you’re a bug guy (or gal), late summer means tiny stuff: on the fly side, tricos, midges, and small PMDs remain active—#20–#24 tricos are hatching in the morning, drifting just above riffles and tailouts. Mid-river islands and undercut banks are holding feeding fish when the hatch is on. Terrestrial patterns (think black beetles, standard hoppers, small ant imitations) produced solid surface eats on sunny afternoons.
Reports north of Kremmling are similar, but if you want numbers, get in line with state biologists electrofishing Bear Creek this week—they netted healthy populations of greenback cutthroat and some chunky brookies as part of ongoing surveys, proving the smaller creeks hold their own when the big river gets pressured.
For stillwater fans, Spinney Mountain Reservoir has been excellent. Angler’s Covey mentions rainbows, cutthroats, and even some northern pike biting on pearly damsel nymphs, Poxyback Callibaetis, balanced leeches in black/green, and natural-pattern Double Gongas. The best action is early or at dusk when the wind lays down; bring 4-5X tippet and make long casts.
Best hot spots?
- The upper Colorado near Parshall and Byers Canyon is fishing very well for trout with streamers and small dries in the mornings.
- Gore Canyon below Pumphouse, especially in shaded pocket water, is holding bigger browns tight to structure.
- Spinney for stillwater, where big bows and cutthroats are schooling along the weed beds.
Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Colorado River update. Remember to handle fish carefully and revive them fully before re
Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago