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Autumn Trout Blitz on the Colorado River
This is Artificial Lure reporting from the banks of the Colorado River on a crisp October morning, 2025. The cottonwoods are flaming yellow, the banks are aglow, and the fishing right now is just as hot as these fall colors. Sunrise hit around 7:06 AM today, and sunset will slide in just after 6:41 PM, giving you a solid window for action. Weather is classic Colorado autumn—cool, with a soft breeze, and the chance for a surprise shower later, so bring your shells and an extra layer.
With stable flows and that autumn snap, the trout bite is picking up, especially between Radium and State Bridge. According to Michael Salomone—a longtime local guide—the Colorado River float sections have been producing excellent brown and rainbow trout. Anglers using both dry flies and nymphs are reporting solid numbers, with streamer junkies landing those aggressive autumn browns in the deeper slots. Salomone says Blue Wing Olives and tiny midges are the ticket for dries—think size 18–20 to match our fall hatches. Nymphing with soft hackles and foamback emergers is also lighting ‘em up; classic pheasant tails and zebra midges in the mid-to-upper column are must-haves.
Streamer anglers, this is your time. Articulated streamers in two-tone patterns are turning heads, especially for foot-long browns sulking under the cutbanks. Bring a 6-weight and split-shot if you’re fishing deep—these fish will chase, especially during low, moody light.
Recent catches have been impressive. Apex Sport Fishing in Silt reports recent trips with clients boating northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, rainbows, and browns. One lucky angler landed a 34" pike, while family crews remarked on steady catches of smallmouth and walleye in the slower river sections. Jigging and tossing small swimbaits and jerkbaits has been productive. For the multispecies crowd, perch up to four pounds are making occasional appearances, especially in backwater pockets.
Best lures and bait this week, hands-down:
- Z-MAN GrubZ and TRD CrawZ in green pumpkin or craw colors are “like magic” for both bass and trout, according to user reviews on Discount Tackle.
- Rapala Gold Minor 30 FireTiger crankbaits work especially well for both walleye and pike.
- For those chasing trout from the bank, nightcrawlers continue to be a go-to, especially later in the evening.
- If you’re fly fishing, stick to those Blue Wing Olive patterns and small black midges, and keep a few egg flies handy for the fall run.
Colorado River hot spots right now include:
- Horse Creek to Luark Ranch: Easy access, quieter water, and stunning colors.
- Below State Bridge to Two Bridges: Prime float water with lots of structure for trout and bonus species.
- Connected Lakes near Grand Junction: Good for bass, crappie, and catfish, with topwater in the low light.
Remember, Colorado weather can flip on a dime, and afternoon breezes can build, so plan for variable conditions. The trout are eating in the slow bankside cushions and tailouts, while the pike and bass are hunting in deeper slots and along weed lines.
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s river run-down. Tight lines, respect those fish, and get out before the colors fade. Be sure to subscribe for more local angling intel every week.
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago