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.
Reporter: Brett Elkman
Report Date: March 13, 2020
Current Conditions:The river has opened up near Glenwood and is floatable. We have had some rain but it is looking great through the weekend and into next week with some cloud coverage making the streamer fishing and BWO hatch a real possiblity. Call for conditions as this might affect the river color. Float fishing has picked up from Whitewater down and we're getting some good bites on dries, nymphs and streamers. The Cottonwood area down has opened up to float fishing but above that the Upper river down to Cottonwood still has some solid ice across the river. Be careful of ice flows and watch the weather. Wade fishing is good as well. Target areas with nice drop-offs on the bank for both nymphing and streamer fishing. The Lower Colorado has been fishing better, but be wary of ice flows coming out of the Roaring Fork when those lows drop below 20. The nymphing had been better in this area than on the upper and there has been a decent amount of bug activity with the occasional fish rising to midges on warmer afternoons.
Guide Tip: Look for that slower, deeper water. If you can find one fish then there will be more in the area!
Hatches: Midges, midges, midges!
Recommended Flies:
NYMPHS: RS2 18-20, Purple Slim Shady 18-20,Two Bit Hooker 16-18, Rainbow Warrior (Red, Black, or Rainbow) 16-20, Flashback Pheasant Tail 16-18, Zebra Midge 18-22, Formerly Prince Nymph 16-18, Egg and Worm flies.
DRIES: Parachute Adams 18-22, Hackle Stacker 20-22, Sprout (Midge or BWO) 18-20, Patriot 14-18, Griffith's Gnat 16-20.
STREAMERS: Baby Gonga, Cream and Olive Sex Dungeon, Motor Oil, Natural Sculpzilla 4.