Colorado River Fishing Report: Summer Haze, Trout Tactics, and Feeding Frenzy

It’s Artificial Lure, reporting from the banks of the mighty Colorado River here in the heart of Colorado on Sunday, August 17, 2025. We’re sitting at the peak of summer and conditions are classic August: dry, warm, and sometimes downright toasty by midday. Today’s sunrise tickled the horizon at 6:13am, with a glowing pink that faded into a clear, blue sky, and sunset’s scheduled for around 7:57pm—giving you plenty of daylight to chase that bite.

Weather’s calling for highs in the upper 80s, light winds, humidity hovering below 30%, and haze from distant wildfires may settle in some valleys. Make sure you bring sun protection, lots of water, and keep an eye out for sudden wind gusts approaching midday, especially if you’re launching out on a raft or kayak.

River flows on the main Colorado near Glenwood Springs and through Grand Junction are holding steady, but smaller tributaries are seeing lower than average water. The snowmelt is behind us, and most stretches flow clean but a bit skinny. Water temps are creeping up, reaching the low 70s in the afternoons. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds us that trout don’t appreciate hot bathwater, so the best fishing is early dawn through mid-morning. If you land trout, handle them quick and gentle, and let ’em go without a victory pose to keep them healthy for future runs, per both recent CPW advisories and local biologists.

On the species front: rainbows and browns remain the main attraction. Recent days brought out some stellar catches—rainbows up to 18 inches and several chunky browns in the 14–16 inch range, especially in deeper pools and riffles near Rifle and Parachute. Mountain whitefish are schooling up as well, nipping at nymphs in pocket water. Bass and catfish reports are up at the reservoirs and slow sections near Fruita.

Lure selection is all about matching the hatch. Flies: try Elk Hair Caddis, Amy’s Ant, and stimulators during the early morning caddis and PMD hatches. Stonefly nymphs, San Juan Worms, Black Beauties, RS-2’s, and Murphy’s Bubbleback Midge are absolute killers beneath indicators. For spinning gear, small spinners—Panther Martins in black/gold, Mepps #2, or Rooster Tails in chartreuse—have hooked both trout and whitefish. Those targeting bass or catfish at the edges should toss soft plastics, live nightcrawlers, and cut bait in the slow water, especially sunset hours.

If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots—head upriver to the pools just below Glenwood Canyon for bows and browns sipping dries early, or find the riffle seams near Parachute for high nymph action and surprise whitefish. Downstream, the eddies near Fruita and connected pond inlets are holding feisty smallmouth and plump channel cats for those switching up from trout.

Anglers in the know are hitting the water before the heat builds, tossing dries and nymphs right at the seams and structure. By noon, fish are hugging the bottom and structure—time to switch to deeper presentations or call it and enjoy an iced drink on the bank. Note: voluntary closures on upper reaches are still in effect—especially for the smaller, hotter tributaries—so check with local CPW rangers or look for posted signs.

That’s it for this week’s Colorado River loop—from Glenwood to Fruita. Stay safe, watch the water temps, and treat every catch with respect. Thanks for tuning in to the River Report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest bites, conditions, and fly picks delivered straight to your speaker.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Its artificial lure. Reporting from the banks of the Mighty
Colorado River here in the heart of Colorado on August seventeenth,
twenty twenty five. We're sitting at the peak of summer
and conditions are classic August dry, warm, and sometimes downright
toasty by midday. Today's sunrise tickled the horizon at six
thirteen am with a glowing pink that faded into a

(00:21):
clear blue sky, and sunsets scheduled for around seven fifty
seven PM, giving you plenty of daylight to chase that bite.
Weathers calling for highs in the upper eighties, light winds,
humidity hovering below thirty percent, and haze from distant wildfires
may settle in some valleys. Make sure you bring sun protection,
lots of water, and keep an eye out for sudden

(00:42):
wind gusts approaching midday, especially if you're launching out on
a raft or kayak. River flows on the main Colorado
near Blenwood Springs and through Grand Junction are holding steady,
but smaller tributaries are seeing lower than average water. The
snow melt is behind us, and most stretches flow clean
but a bit skinny. Water temps are creeping up, reaching

(01:03):
the low seventies in the afternoons. Colorado Parks and Wildlife
reminds us that trout don't appreciate hot bathwater, so the
best fishing is early dawned through mid morning. If you
land trout, handle them quick and gentle and let them
go without a victory. Pose to keep them healthy for
future runs. For both recent CPW advisories and local biologists.

(01:24):
On the species front, rainbows and browns remain the main attraction.
Recent days brought out some stellar catches rainbows up to
eighteen inches and several chunky browns in the fourteen to
sixteen inch range, especially in deeper pools and riffles near
Rifle and Parachute Mountain. Whitefish are schooling up as well,
nipping at nymphs and pocket water. Bass and catfish reports

(01:45):
are up at the reservoirs in slow sections near Fruida.
Lower selection is all about matching the hatch flies. Try
elcare Catus, Amy's aunt and stimulators during the early morning.
Cadis and PMD hatches, stonefly nymphs, San Juan worms, black
Beauty's RS two's, and Murphy's bubble backinage are absolute killers.

(02:06):
Beneath indicators for spinning gear. Small spinners, panther martins in
black gold maps to or rooster tails in churtrews have
hooked both trout and whitefish. Those targeting bass or catfish
at the edges should toss soft plastics, live nightcrawlers and
cut bait in the slow water, especially sunset hours. If

(02:27):
you're looking for a couple of hot spots, head up
river to the pools just below Glenwood Canyon for bows
and brown sipping dries early, or find the riffle seams
near Parachute for high ninfaction and surprise whitefish. Downstream, the
eddies near Fruida and connected pond inlets are holding feisty
small mouth and plump channel cats For those switching up

(02:49):
from trout. Anglers in the know are hitting the water
before the heat builds, tossing dries and nymphs right at
the seams and structure. By noonfish you're hugging the bottom
and structure. Time to switch to deeper presentations, or call
it and enjoy an ice drink on the bank. Note
voluntary closures on upper reaches are still in effect, especially

(03:13):
for the smaller, hotter tributaries, so check with local CPW
rangers or look for posted signs. That's it for this
week's Colorado River Loop from Glenwood to Fruida. Stay safe,
watch the water temps, and treat every catch with respect.
Thanks for tuning in to the River Report with artificial lure.
Don't forget to subscribe to get the latest bites, conditions,

(03:36):
and fly picks delivered straight to your speaker. This has
been a quiet please production. For more check out Quiet
Please dot ai