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Colorado River Fishing Report: Cold Temps, Steady Flows, and Willing Trout
Mornin’ folks, Artificial Lure here, and it’s a crisp one out on the Colorado River this morning. If you’re thinking about getting out there today, here’s the lowdown.
Sunrise was just before 7:20 AM, and sunset’s around 4:40 PM, so you’ve got a short window of daylight. The sky’s mostly clear right now, temps in the low 30s, and a light west wind kicking up in the afternoon. It’s cold, but not ice-out cold, so the river’s fishable if you’re dressed right.
No tides to speak of on the Colorado River, but flows are steady. Down near the Utah state line, the river’s running around 2,700 cubic feet per second, which is pretty normal for this time of year. Up near Palisade, it’s a bit lower, around 1,500 cfs, so the water’s moving but not raging. That’s good news for nymphing and streamer work.
Fish are slow but willing. Trout are holding deep in the winter runs, and most of what’s being caught is brown trout and rainbow trout in the 12- to 18-inch range. A few bigger bulls are still out there, especially in the deeper holes and tailouts. Smallmouth bass are pretty quiet this time of year, but if you’re down near the lower stretches, there’s still a chance at a chunky one if you’re willing to grind it out.
Last reports out of the Yampa River Valley and connected lakes show folks picking up some panfish and a few bass on small jigs and nightcrawlers. Up in the San Juan Mountains, Williams Creek Reservoir is still producing, but it’s cold up there, and early ice is starting to form on the smaller ponds around Fort Collins.
For lures, keep it simple. Small streamers like a Zonker or a Woolly Bugger in olive, black, or brown are working well, especially with a slow, deep retrieve. If you’re throwing spinners, a #3 Colorado blade on a small jig or trolling rig can draw some attention, especially in stained water or under cloud cover. For flies, try a Pat’s Rubber Legs, a San Juan Worm, or a small midge pattern under an indicator.
Best bait right now? Nightcrawlers and small minnows. If you’re not fly fishing, a small jig tipped with a crawler or a tiny minnow under a float will catch fish in the slow, deep runs.
Two hot spots to hit: First, the stretch of the Colorado River near Cameo. It’s accessible, the water’s clear, and there’s a good mix of runs and pools. Second, Williams Creek Reservoir in the San Juans. It’s a bit of a drive, but if you’re after trout and don’t mind the cold, it’s worth it.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local reports. 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 2 weeks, 6 days ago