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Colorado River Fall Trout & Bass Bite is On - Fishing Report Oct 30, 2025
Artificial Lure here with your boots-on-the-bank fishing report for Thursday, October 30, 2025, along the mighty Colorado River in Colorado.
We started the morning with a brisk chill—just under 35°F at sunrise, which hit at 7:27 AM. Sunset’s coming at 6:04 PM, so you’re working with about 10.5 hours of daylight. With light winds early, skies expected mostly clear, and daytime highs touching the low 60s, it’s an ideal fall trifecta: stable weather, little wind, and dropping water temps—perfect conditions for river trout and some late-bite bass action.
The Colorado River’s flows are steady and clarity is up, thanks to cooling overnight lows and little recent rain. That’s got trout—browns, rainbows, and the occasional cutthroat—feeding more aggressively from dawn to late morning and again in the golden hour just before dusk. With water temps falling into the mid-40s by sunrise, the bite’s best once the sun’s warmed things just enough, usually from 9:00 to 11:30 AM and again 4:15 to dusk.
Local anglers in the past 48 hours are reporting solid action near Parshall, especially below riffle systems where browns have started stacking up for the spawn. Rainbows are chasing midges and small baetis below Glenwood, while in the slower tailouts, expect cutts to slip up for a well-presented nymph. Fish size ranges from 12-16” for most browns and rainbows, with a few outliers topping 18” caught in deeper bends after sunset, according to guides at Rise Beyond Fly Fishing.
Prime baits this week—when drift-fished—are egg patterns, small tan or orange globules, and classic bead-head hare’s ear nymphs. For the fly crowd: blue-wing olive (BWO) emergers in size 18-22, zebra midges, and RS2s have all produced, as well as olive leech patterns on a slow swing just off the bottom. Local fly shops, like Angler’s Covey, note that if you’re spin-fishing, a small gold Panther Martin or a 1/8-ounce brown trout spoon does the trick, especially through pocket water. For bait, fresh nightcrawlers and natural salmon eggs are tops with the bank crowd.
On the bass side, below the big lakes—think closer to Horsethief Canyon—the smallmouth action is slowing, but crankbaits and spinnerbaits fished around rocky shoals will fool aggressive late-season fish, especially as the sun warms the rocks by midday, as reported by Moabing.
Hot spots this week are:
- **Pumphouse Recreation Area:** Big browns moving up and persistent rainbows feeding behind them. Drift eggs and midges.
- **State Bridge:** Deep runs are holding hefty fish—egg patterns down low and BWO nymphs in mid-columns.
- **Dotsero Access:** Productive for both spin and fly, especially on small flashy spinners and natural colors.
For those looking to hike a bit, the mouths of tributary creeks entering the mainstem are staging points for migratory browns—use patience, light line, and long leaders.
The 2025 fall bite is on in the high country. Water’s clear, flows are steady, and fish are hungry. Quick reminder—pack out your litter, check regulations for special tackle or bait restrictions, and layer up for those brisk mornings and quick-cooling afternoons.
Thanks for tuning in to the Colorado River angling report with Artificial Lure. Make sure to subscribe for the latest river conditions, local secrets, and gear tips. 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 6 days, 11 hours ago