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Colorado River Fishing Report: Fall Transition Trout
Artificial Lure here, bringing you today’s Colorado River fishing report for Saturday, September 20th, 2025.
Fall is setting in, and you won’t find a better time to be out on the Colorado River. Locals know September brings that magical transition—less crowded banks, cooler mornings, and fish getting aggressive before winter. We kicked off the morning with a chilly breeze, following a beautiful sunrise just after 6:50 AM. Expect sunset to fall around 7:06 PM tonight, so you’ve got solid hours of daylight to chase your catch.
Weather’s in our favor: highs in the low 70s, lows dipping toward 45°F. The river is running clear with decent flow thanks to recent rainfall upstream, but keep an eye for sections with low, skinny water. Warm weather midday means fish will be more active during the early hours and again toward evening, with mid-afternoon showing a slight lull. No tidal movement here in Colorado, but river current shifts mid-morning can spur feeding.
Over the past week, anglers have reported memorable days on the water. Rainbows and browns are the hot ticket, but folks are picking up a handful of cutthroat (especially further upriver near Glenwood Springs). Several nice rainbows in the 14” to 18” range were landed around Dotsero and State Bridge. Browns ran a bit smaller, but their numbers are good—prime for streamer tossing.
Recent catches lean heavily on fly patterns matching fall hatches—pale morning duns and the last green drake showings are still present, but get ready for that blue winged olive abundance. Dry fly action is prime from noon to late afternoon. Green drake emergers, BWO dries (size 18-20), and pale morning dun spinners are pulling in fish. If you’re after brown trout, bigger streamers—think black or olive woolly buggers—can tempt territorial fish, especially right after a passing cloud cools the water. If nymphing, stick to pheasant tails, hare’s ear, and prince nymphs below riffles.
Conventional anglers: small silver spinners and spoons, plus PowerBait or live worms, remain reliable. Catfish and the occasional smallmouth from slower sections near Rifle have been taken on cut bait and scented dough balls. Always check local regulations—some stretches are artificial lure only, so keep those plastics tucked away when needed.
For hot spots, locals are banking solid results in two areas:
- State Bridge: The classic gravel bars and deep bends right below the bridge are stacked with aggressive rainbows and browns, especially during the midday hatch window.
- Pumphouse Recreation Area: Miles of walkable shore, good current, and pockets holding hungry trout ready to hammer a well-presented hopper or streamer.
Streamer tossers are enjoying “big fly” season as territorial fish start defending prime lies. Elk are bugling in the distance, aspens are turning, and the river feels alive. It’s the sweet spot between summer crowds and winter’s chill—so whether you’re ten-minute local or drove all night, now’s the time to get after it.
Thanks for tuning in to today’s Colorado River report—don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a bite. 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 ago