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Colorado River Fishing Report: Early Fall Bites & Hatches
Published 6 months, 1 week ago
Description
It’s Artificial Lure checking in with your September 19, 2025 fishing report for the mighty Colorado River and surrounds. Sunrise splashed the water at 6:46 a.m. and sunset will hit around 7:07 p.m.—plenty of daylight for working your favorite holes.
Weather today across the upper Colorado is classic early fall, with cool mornings and a warm-up to the mid-70s by afternoon. Low wind means good casting conditions and minimal surface disruption. River flows are holding steady around 950 CFS near Kremmling, with water temps in the upper 50s and remarkably clear visibility between two to three feet. No tidal swings to worry about on the river, so it’s pure current and clarity to factor in as you plan your day.
We’re fully into that September bite: Tricos, PMDs, caddis, red quills, and crane flies are hatching heavy. Fish are still keyed in on terrestrials as well—think grasshoppers and beetles, especially during the afternoon drift. According to Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, that window from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. is still prime time for hatch chasers, with a late-day bump in surface activity as the sun dips behind the canyon walls and terrestrials get moving.
Fishing pressure is moderate, but fish are pretty spread out. Trout are running healthy and wild, including lots of browns and rainbows in the upper sections. Reports from around Kremmling say stringers have included several fish in the 16-20 inch range this week, with even bigger bows coming out of some of the deeper pools. Folks drifting the North Shore near Eleven Mile Marina are adding nice kokanee and even the odd pike—30-inchers have been landed on white spinnerbaits and tubes, mostly close to sundown, according to recent anglers at 11 Mile Marina.
Flies and lures are hopping right now. Hopper-dropper setups along grassy banks are dynamite. For the dries, it’s tough to beat a well-placed Trico spinner or PMD dun in smaller sizes—think 18s and 20s for technical sips in the seams. Underneath, small emergers like RS2s or soft hackles in gray and olive are pulling numbers. Streamer buffs will want to strip smaller, more subdued patterns through the deep water—think black or olive buggers early, then switch to flashy patterns if clouds roll in.
Spin fishers are connecting on Panther Martins and small gold or bronze Colorado spoons, especially at structure or transition points. Live bait is fair, but artificial presentations are out-producing this week. A few locals are reporting marshmallows floated with nightcrawlers working well for rainbows on the shallower sandbars, but fly and lure action rules the day.
Hot spots to hit include the tailwater stretch just below Pumphouse for technical trout action and the riffle-run combos around Radium for volume. If you’re looking for bigger fish or a more remote stretch, try the pocket water just downstream of State Bridge—proven this week for hopper eats and some solid brown trout pushing two feet.
Overall, the bite is best early and late. Midday slows with the sun high, so that’s a prime time to tie rigs or scout fresh water. Afternoon shadows bring back terrestrial action—keep a hopper handy and prepare for explosive takes along cutbanks and overhanging willows.
That wraps today’s Colorado River action. Thanks for tuning in to the Artificial Lure report. Be sure to subscribe, and remember: This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Weather today across the upper Colorado is classic early fall, with cool mornings and a warm-up to the mid-70s by afternoon. Low wind means good casting conditions and minimal surface disruption. River flows are holding steady around 950 CFS near Kremmling, with water temps in the upper 50s and remarkably clear visibility between two to three feet. No tidal swings to worry about on the river, so it’s pure current and clarity to factor in as you plan your day.
We’re fully into that September bite: Tricos, PMDs, caddis, red quills, and crane flies are hatching heavy. Fish are still keyed in on terrestrials as well—think grasshoppers and beetles, especially during the afternoon drift. According to Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, that window from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. is still prime time for hatch chasers, with a late-day bump in surface activity as the sun dips behind the canyon walls and terrestrials get moving.
Fishing pressure is moderate, but fish are pretty spread out. Trout are running healthy and wild, including lots of browns and rainbows in the upper sections. Reports from around Kremmling say stringers have included several fish in the 16-20 inch range this week, with even bigger bows coming out of some of the deeper pools. Folks drifting the North Shore near Eleven Mile Marina are adding nice kokanee and even the odd pike—30-inchers have been landed on white spinnerbaits and tubes, mostly close to sundown, according to recent anglers at 11 Mile Marina.
Flies and lures are hopping right now. Hopper-dropper setups along grassy banks are dynamite. For the dries, it’s tough to beat a well-placed Trico spinner or PMD dun in smaller sizes—think 18s and 20s for technical sips in the seams. Underneath, small emergers like RS2s or soft hackles in gray and olive are pulling numbers. Streamer buffs will want to strip smaller, more subdued patterns through the deep water—think black or olive buggers early, then switch to flashy patterns if clouds roll in.
Spin fishers are connecting on Panther Martins and small gold or bronze Colorado spoons, especially at structure or transition points. Live bait is fair, but artificial presentations are out-producing this week. A few locals are reporting marshmallows floated with nightcrawlers working well for rainbows on the shallower sandbars, but fly and lure action rules the day.
Hot spots to hit include the tailwater stretch just below Pumphouse for technical trout action and the riffle-run combos around Radium for volume. If you’re looking for bigger fish or a more remote stretch, try the pocket water just downstream of State Bridge—proven this week for hopper eats and some solid brown trout pushing two feet.
Overall, the bite is best early and late. Midday slows with the sun high, so that’s a prime time to tie rigs or scout fresh water. Afternoon shadows bring back terrestrial action—keep a hopper handy and prepare for explosive takes along cutbanks and overhanging willows.
That wraps today’s Colorado River action. Thanks for tuning in to the Artificial Lure report. Be sure to subscribe, and remember: This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI