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Dry Fly Triumph on the Colorado - Stalking Spooky Trout in Low, Clear Conditions
Hey anglers, Artificial Lure here with your on-the-water report for the Colorado River and its neighboring runs, coming at you on this sunny September 3rd afternoon!
The river valleys are holding onto summer’s warmth, with highs in the mid-to-upper 90s and the forecast looking bone dry through the rest of the week, according to the Lower Colorado River Authority. Nights cool down into the 60s, so expect some reprieve at dawn. Sunrise today was at 6:32 AM and sunset will close the day at 7:32 PM. Wind is light, and incidentally, water temps are holding steady mostly in the low 50s in the upper stretches and warming downstream—perfect for targeting finicky trout in the mornings.
The Colorado River is running clear but low. Coyote Gulch notes runoff was a letdown following a dry August, so flows are below average and late-summer aridification has river levels and streamflows lower than ideal. The drought has fish extra sensitive and some voluntary closures are popping up in smaller tributaries—keep an eye out and play it responsible if water warms above safe thresholds.
Fish activity is best from *first light through midday*. On the upper Colorado and clear tailwaters like the Blue River below Green Mountain, expect browns and rainbows rising to *Pale Morning Duns* (PMDs) midmorning, Tricos and Caddis still popping, and terrestrial patterns pulling strikes, especially later in the morning. Rise Beyond Fly Fishing and the recent Blue River report explain that it’s truly a technical dry fly game right now—fish are spooky, pressure’s moderate, but clarity is great and the bite is solid if you bring your stealth.
Most-reported *catches* this week have been healthy rainbows in the 10"-17" class, with the occasional football brown showing up. Nymphers and euro rigs have brought a few fat cutthroat to hand upstream of State Bridge as well. There are fewer anglers at the ramps right now, with most local reports echoing that early risers are leaving with better numbers.
Hot lures and baits today:
- For fly anglers: size 16–18 PMDs, Trico spinners, small Caddis dries, and ant or hopper patterns in tan or olive. If you get no love up top, try dropping a size 18–20 zebra midge or tungsten beadhead below a small foam terrestrial.
- Spin fishermen are reporting success on gold Panther Martins, Rooster Tails, and small Kastmasters in pools and runs.
- Bait folks: Drifting a nightcrawler or a single salmon egg under a small float continues to produce, especially where riffle seams meet deep water.
Spots you can't go wrong today:
- **Pumphouse to Rancho Del Rio:** Abundant pocket water, big boulders, and consistent flows make this classic float stretch fish well all day.
- **Blue River below Green Mountain:** A top cold-water choice with low pressure, ultra-clear water, and trout feeding aggressively mid-morning to early afternoon.
- For walk-waders, try the **section near Radium**—deep cuts and undercut banks become prime real estate for terrestrial hunters.
Pro tips: Go stealth. Downsize your tippet and keep false casts to a minimum—the fish are spooky from low, clear flows and late-season traffic. Please remember to pack a thermometer; if water goes over 68°F, give the trout a break and try again another morning.
Thanks for tuning in to today’s Colorado River fishing update! Don’t forget to subscribe for more local insights and gear picks. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago