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Colorado River Winter Wonderland - Trout Tactics for Frosty Flows
Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report from a local’s eye.
The big river through western Colorado is running low and clear, classic mid‑December conditions. USGS gauges on the upper Colorado show below‑average winter flows and chilly water, so think slower seams and deeper winter holes. With the long warm stretch across much of Colorado lately, overnight temps are cold but days have been mild, which keeps a bit of midday bug activity going.
No tide talk here—this is a freestone Western river—but light levels matter. Sunrise is right around 7:20 a.m., sunset just after 4:45 p.m., so your prime bite has been late morning through mid‑afternoon when the sun warms those softer runs. Mornings have been frosty with light wind and clear skies, afternoons topping out in the 30s and low 40s under high sun.
Recent reports from Colorado fly shops and anglers on the Glenwood and Kremmling stretches say trout fishing is “good” for this time of year: fewer fish than summer, but solid quality. Browns and rainbows from 12–18 inches have been the main players, with the odd bigger brown pushing 20 if you commit to the deep stuff. Most of the action is subsurface: fish are podded up, not spread out, so once you find one, work that lane thoroughly.
Best winter producers right now:
- For fly anglers: small **midge** and **BWO nymphs** (18–22) under an indicator or tight‑line rig, paired with a lead fly like a small stonefly, leech, or worm pattern. Think zebra midges, RS2s, two‑bit hookers, and black or olive leeches.
- For spin anglers: **tiny marabou jigs**, 1/8‑oz spoons, and small suspending jerkbaits in natural trout colors. In the slower back‑eddies, a simple nightcrawler or salmon egg drifted on light line is still putting fish in the net.
Big picture on fish activity: with low sun and cold water, expect short feeding windows. If you see midges lifting off between 11 and 2, that’s your cue—trout will slide just a touch higher in the column, and you might even get a few on small griffith’s gnats or parachute BWOs in the softer edges.
A couple of local hot spots to put on your list:
- **Between Pumphouse and Radium**: Classic winter water with plenty of deep bends and shelf lines. Hit the inside corners with nymph rigs and run them slow and deep.
- **Glenwood Canyon to South Canyon**: Where the river warms a bit and benefits from that Shoshone flow protection work you’ve been reading about, keeping decent winter habitat for trout and those endangered natives downstream. Focus on soft seams behind big structure and along the railroad bank.
On gear, downsize everything: lighter tippet (5X–6X for flies, 4–6 lb fluoro for spin), smaller offerings, and more weight than you think to get down. Fluorocarbon leaders make a difference in this clear water. Work methodically; winter fish won’t move far, but they’ll eat if you put it right on their nose.
That’s the word from the Colorado River today. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a river check‑in.
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Published on 1 week, 6 days ago