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Colorado River Fishing Update: Stealth Mode Engaged for Winter Browns and Rainbows
Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River fishing rundown from a local’s angle.
We don’t worry about tides up here in the high country, but we are watching the weather hard. Front Range forecasters and WeatherNation are calling for continued unseasonably warm, dry conditions with strong winds and elevated fire danger along the foothills. That means clear skies, bright sun, and a steady west wind pushing through the Colorado River corridor in Colorado. Layer up for a chilly morning, but expect it to feel almost like April by mid‑day. Sunrise is right around 7:20, with sunset close to 4:45, so your prime light window is short.
According to statewide river and drought updates from Colorado water and snowpack watchers, flows on Western Slope rivers are running on the low side for December, but still perfectly fishable. Low, clear water and bright sky make this a stealth game: long leaders, light tippet, and keep your shadow off the run.
Fish activity has been best late morning into early afternoon once the water bumps a degree or two. Think 10 a.m. to about 2 p.m. Trout are sliding into the softer seams, tailouts, and deeper mid‑river buckets. Reports from guides working similar tailwaters like Elevenmile and the Dream Stream say it’s still very much a midge and tiny mayfly show, and the upper Colorado has been fishing the same way: fewer bugs, but fish looking hard for what’s there.
Recent catches on the Colorado around Pumphouse, Radium, and down toward State Bridge have been mostly **browns** in the 12–17 inch class with a few healthy **rainbows** mixed in and the odd whitefish when you’re dredging deep. Numbers aren’t summer‑crazy, but a half‑dozen good fish in a short winter window is realistic if you stay dialed.
Best producers right now:
- **Nymphs:** tiny **midges** (black, chocolate, cream, 20–24), **baetis** nymphs and emergers (18–22), and small **pheasant tails**. Add a soft hackle midge or RS2 up high when you see noses.
- **Attractor and junk:** small **worms**, **eggs**, and tan/orange **scuds** are still turning bigger fish in the deeper slots.
- **Streamers:** on overcast spells or if wind chops the surface, throw thin-profile **olive or black leeches** and small **bugger‑style streamers**. Strip slow with long pauses; most eats come right as you start to move it again.
- **Bait (where legal):** drifted **nightcrawlers**, **salmon eggs**, or a small pinch of **PowerBait** near the bottom will find stocked bows in slower edges and eddies.
Think 5X–6X tippet, indicators set just above bottom, and a bit of split shot to tick the rocks. Shorten your rig and lose weight if you’re hanging up too much; these fish are spooky, not glued to the floor.
A couple of hot spots to circle:
- **Pumphouse to Radium:** Classic winter water. Focus on the deep bends and mid‑river shelves just downstream of obvious riffles. Walk a bit from the main put‑ins to dodge pressure.
- **State Bridge to Rancho / Catamount area:** Lower traffic in winter and plenty of softer inside seams and long tailouts where browns stack up when flows are low.
Midday is your money time. Sleep in, let the sun hit the water, and fish that 10–2 window hard with tiny bugs and light tippet. If a little cloud cover sneaks in, don’t be shy about swinging a streamer through the guts of a run.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a river check‑in from Artificial Lure. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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Published on 6 days, 7 hours ago