FISHING REPORT: COLORADO RIVER
OVERVIEW
The Colorado River originates in Rocky Mountain National Park. We generally fish the sections from Gore Canyon to the town of Rifle bridge. The Colorado is generally a wider and slower river with some faster canyon stretches and excellent hatches and beautiful scenery along the river corridor. The sections below Glenwood Springs are the first to be available in the early season for float fishing. As the spring gives way to summer the focus shifts from Glenwood Springs and Dotsero, upstream to State Bridge and just below Gore Canyon and the Pumphouse boat launch. The Colorado offers more remote stretches of water and a slower pace to the day with an opportunity to view wildlife and unique geology along the way.
Temperature(Seasonal)
Discharge
Reporter: JP Modderno
Report Date: November 21, 2020
Current Conditions: While you can still have good days here and there on the upper Colorado, fishing has become hot or cold. The unseasonably warm weather has kept pretty much every stretch free of ice dams and floatable though. On the lower it seems like the best fishing is around Glenwood with consistant nymphing, streamer fishing and the occassional dry fly hatch on certain days. They are being pretty darn picky with the dry so make sure you go small and have some emergers to throw behind your dry. Below Glenwood I would describe it as pretty inconsistant but you can still find sporadic streamer eats if you commit. If you are nymphing and find a fish then definitely work that water and change up your depth and flies before moving on.
SPAWNING ALERT: Brown trout have pretty much finished spawning on the Colorado and it's tributaries but still be mindful of redds. Closures are in place until Novemer 30th on the lower C within 50 yds of Canyon Creek, Grizzly Creek, and No Name Creek. Please be respectful of the fishery and don't fish in these areas or around redds to help protect the future of this amazing resource.
KEEP EM WET: We tend to associate keeping fish wet with warm temps and that is good, however, the same goes for Keeping Em Wet in the freezing winter temps too. Trout are susceptible frostbite and their gills can freeze. With winter on the approach, remember to try to keep the fish wet, continue to limit photos and leave the fish in the water.
Ramp Closures:On the lower Colorado, Grizzly Creek boat ramp and the whole rest area continues to be closued due to the Grizzly Creek Fire.
Guide Tip: Have a dry fly ready for thee ocassional mid day hatch on warmer days. Try throwing an emerger like an rs2 or a roy's special emerger behind the dry
Hatches: Midges, midges, midges
Recommended Flies:
NYMPHS:Red Collar PT 14 or a 20 Incher as a heavy dropper. Eggs, all colors of zebra midge, foam back emergers, rainbow warriors(we have a new pink bead one that is awesome for winter), demon midge, neon nightmare. Think as small as possible for the midge patterns like size 20-24
DRIES: Renegade, GT Adams, sprout midge, griffiths gnat
STREAMERS: This is a good time to go big or go home and fish those articulated streamers. Sex Dungeons, Wedgeheads, Heisenburgs in all colors should do the trick.