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Colorado River Fishing Report - Late Summer Trout & Bass Action
Good morning from the Colorado River—this is Artificial Lure with your Friday, September 5th fishing report, coming to you before sunrise at 1:40 AM local time. Today promises mild late-summer conditions. According to Taylor Creek Fly Shops, river flows are stable and water temperatures are gradually dropping, setting up near-perfect fishing for early September. Skies will start out clear, with highs expected around the low 70s, and a sunrise right at 6:36 AM—plan your trip around those first few sunbeams for the best action. Sunset’s at 7:29 PM, giving you a fine window for an evening bite.
The Colorado River’s reputation as a must-fish stretch holds strong this week. Recent catches include healthy runs of brown and rainbow trout, averaging 14–18 inches, though a handful over 20 inches have hit the nets for persistent anglers. The Col has also been holding plenty of strong smallmouth bass in slower backwaters and eddy pockets—anglers in the know are switching it up around midday to chase these brawlers.
Fish activity is steady, particularly in faster riffle water and along structure. Those trout are feeding intently on drifting nymphs, so the go-to rigs right now include big golden stonefly nymphs (sizes 8–12), copper Johns, and small “shiny and tiny” mayfly nymphs in the #18–20 range. Olive or brown patterns with a bit of flash are outperforming the naturals, especially in slightly off-color runs. Terrestrials are still in play along grassy banks, and hoppers in tan or yellow are pulling fish to the surface, especially mid-morning before the afternoon breeze picks up.
For spinning and bait anglers, the best results this week have come on smaller Panther Martins, Mepps Aglias, and Rooster Tails in gold, copper, or orange. Soft-plastic grubs and swimbaits are getting the attention of both trout and bass, especially if you work them around submerged rocks and drop-offs. If you’re after walleye or bass, try jigging a 3-inch Gulp! minnow or leech along the bottom—FishUSA notes those baits consistently draw strikes this time of year.
Live bait is legal in some lower stretches of the Colorado—nightcrawlers and fathead minnows have both produced, particularly when drifted through slower pools.
As for hot spots, don’t miss the reach below State Bridge for numbers—lots of riffles, healthy fish, and easy bank access. Pumphouse is another can’t-miss: drift boats have been working their way through the boulder gardens to pull out chunky browns and the occasional cutthroat, especially using dry-dropper rigs and big streamers at dawn.
Flows are still wade-friendly but bring sturdy boots—rocks are slick and water clarity is crystal clear, making for technical but rewarding fishing. Smaller tippet (4x–5x) is important for fooling picky trout, especially under these late-season, clear water conditions.
A quick safety reminder—revive every fish well as you release them, as lower water means less oxygen. And always respect private land boundaries and posted signage.
That’s your local Colorado River fishing report for September 5th. Thanks for tuning in with Artificial Lure—don’t forget to subscribe for real-time local insights before you head out.
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Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago