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Colorado River Fishing Report: Cool Temps, Clear Water, Hungry Fish
Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing report for Wednesday, October 8th, 2025. Let’s break down the river action and lake hotspots for anglers heading out today.
Weather across most of the Colorado River corridor this early fall morning is cool and mild, with daytime highs pushing up toward the low-70s and overnight lows dipping into the 40s. Expect calm to moderate winds, with mostly clear skies. Sunrise was at 7:13 a.m., and sunset will be at 6:37 p.m. today, so plan your outings for those golden hours — especially with the nearly full moon boosting night predator activity.
The river itself is prime. According to ArkAnglers, flows near Hecla Junction are running at 242 cubic feet per second, with water temps swinging from the high 40s into the low 60s. The water’s clear, perfect for sight fishing, but keep in mind construction near Buena Vista may kick up a little silt downstream. Trout are holding along midstream boulders, in troughs, and deep pools. Hopper-dropper combos are pulling fish, and classic nymph rigs — especially with baetis, red quills, tricos, and caddis (sizes 14-22) — are scoring well throughout the day. Don’t forget your midges; a size 18-22 zebra or black beauty can turn a slow window into a hot bite. Four- to five-x tippet is a must; water’s clear and fish are spooky this time of year.
Down the valley, spots like Corn Lake and Connected Lakes are a sure bet for multispecies action. Snoflo lists Corn Lake as loaded with largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, and even a few big carp cruising the flats. Fall is one of the best times to fish these western Colorado lakes, with air temps being comfortable and the lakes producing before that first hard freeze shuts things down. Local anglers at Connected Lakes are reporting solid numbers on soft plastics and crankbaits, with Z-Man GrubZ and Strike King medium divers working for both bass and crappie, and Gulp! minnow imitations tempting walleye and perch. Live bait, like worms and minnows, are still the top choice for catfish and sunfish at these spots. Bluegill and crappie are thick in the brush piles and near dam riprap — so drop a small jig or a piece of crawler there.
If trophy stripers are your game, Willow Beach is famous for big linesides — with state record fish over 60 pounds documented. Local guides, like Capt. Ray from Hooked On Stripers, report the best action is on overnight trips starting about an hour before sunset. Nighttime brings the monsters into the shallows — big swimbaits and heavy topwaters can get crushed. Just remember, those trips fill up fast in October, so book ahead.
Back on the Colorado River proper, as flows drop, fish are glued to structure, so approach pools and cutbanks slow, make longer casts, and expect subtle eats. Dream Stream junkies up near South Platte are seeing light pressure and strong bites, with small midges, tricos, and a resurgence in caddis larva getting grabs. Try nymphing deeper slots with double rigs and switch to a hopper in the afternoon if you see terrestrial activity. Dream Stream also has some kokanee salmon showing up, and egg patterns can fool both them and aggressive fall browns.
Best spots to try this week:
- The section around Hecla Junction for quality trout action on dries and nymphs.
- Corn Lake for anyone after bass, slabs, or easy-action with the kids.
- Connected Lakes for multispecies fun — bring a few soft plastics and a light jig box.
Remember, river levels mean you can wade nearly everywhere right now, but revive every fish carefully, especially the big ones as we roll into brown trout spawning time. Keep an eye out for those surprise wildlife encounters, too — the river corridor is home to otters and muskrats, but you'll need some luck to catch a glimpse.
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Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago