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Colorado River Fishing Forecast: Autumn Action Heats Up
Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing update for November 1st, 2025, bringing the genuine scoop from the water’s edge.
The fall bite along the Colorado River and its nearby lakes is heating up as the weather cools. Sunrise this morning hit at about 7:28 AM, with sunset set for 6:04 PM—plenty of daylight for anglers who want to maximize those prime feeding windows. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, today’s a “Best Morning” to be on the water, so those hitting the banks early are in for good odds.
Weather-wise, expect crisp autumn air in the low 40s at dawn, warming into the low 60s by midday, with light winds and patchy cloud cover—fantastic for fish activity and a comfortable day outside. No meaningful tidal fluctuation affects the inland stretches here, but moon phase and barometric shifts make this morning especially promising.
Recent action along the river, in lakes like Willow Beach and up near Grand Junction’s Connected Lakes, has been lively. The Arizona Game and Fish Department notes that the post-storm runoff has muddied up the main current just enough to get trout and bass out from cover, making them less wary. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are active in shallow coves early, moving deeper by mid-morning. Anglers have been reporting solid numbers of rainbow and brown trout, with some Gila trout mixed in where stockings have hit recently.
On the hardware front, go-to artificial lures right now are small crankbaits with a rolling action and a bright belly—think the Rebel Deep Wee Crawfish or similar 1/8 to 1/4 oz. models. For bass, try a green pumpkin or crawfish-soft plastic on a light jig head, or a chartreuse spinnerbait if the water’s got color. Trout are eager for 1/8 oz. Kastmasters and little marabou jigs, with silver, gold, or copper the best bets. Fly anglers, this is a strong time for size 10 bead-head Simi Seal Leeches, Prince Nymphs, or a classic Elk Hair Caddis in the riffles during late morning.
Live bait, while popular in some Colorado lakes for cats and panfish, is out for many stretches of the river basin—so check local regulations. Where allowed, nightcrawlers and PowerBait remain staples for stocked rainbows and can outfish lures on slower afternoons.
Recent catches show a mix of species:
- Willow Beach produced several rainbow trout up to 16 inches after the most recent stocking, with PowerBait and nightcrawlers doing damage.
- Striped bass anglers are picking up both slot and schoolie sizes trolling shad-pattern swimbaits and using plugs.
- Up in the Connected Lakes area, largemouth bass are smashing topwater and shallow crankbaits in the mornings, with bluegill and catfish hitting worms along the drops.
For hot spots this weekend:
- Willow Beach remains a sure bet right after trout stockings—work the seams below inflows for hungry holdovers.
- The East Verde and West Clear Creek tributaries are fishing well for both stocked and wild trout, with undercut banks and boulders the ticket.
- For diverse action, try the Connected Lakes near Grand Junction at first light—start with a topwater for bass, then switch to nightcrawlers for panfish and cats as the sun climbs.
Remember to get an early start to beat the midday slowdown and consider shifting presentations as the water warms. Smaller lures and slower retrieves will pay off as fall advances.
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Published on 4 days, 11 hours ago