Salmonflies Hatch on the Upper Colorado - Fishing Report for June 6, 2025

Hey there, river rats and hook-setters! This is Artificial Lure coming at you with your Colorado River fishing report for this fine Friday, June 6th, 2025.

## River Conditions

The big news today – SALMONFLIES! That's right, folks, the big bugs are hatching thick on the Upper Colorado as of this week. Water levels are running a bit high with some off-coloration, but it's absolutely fishable. Golden Fly Shop rates the Upper C at a solid 5 out of 5 right now, so you know it's prime time.

The flows are sitting around 600 CFS at Pumphouse, increasing as you move downstream. We've got decent clarity on the upper sections, though you'll find some color in patches, especially after any precipitation or warm days.

## What's Biting

The rainbows and browns are absolutely feasting right now! Reports from up and down the river show inconsistent but potentially incredible fishing. Some anglers are landing dozens while others are working harder for their catches. The trick is finding where they're holding in these higher flows.

Colorado River cutthroats are also active, especially in the upper reaches. These native beauties are deserving of some extra care – remember to handle them gently if you're practicing catch and release.

## Hot Spots

Two hot zones to hit today:
- The stretch below Gore Canyon around Pumphouse boat launch is producing well, with fish holding in pools and eddies
- The section from State Bridge down to Dotsero has been giving up some bigger browns on streamers

For wade fishers, the upper stretches are fishing more technically now with the clearer water. Approach like you would the Fryingpan – stealth is key.

## Fly Selection

Your fly box should include:
- Dries: Salmonfly patterns (obviously!), BWOs (size 18-24), Caddis, and some Midges
- Nymphs: Pat's Rubber Legs, worm patterns, Caddis larvae, Golden Stonefly nymphs, and Green Drake nymphs
- Streamers: Articulated Dundgeons and Sculpzillas working well

The winning combo lately has been a weighted worm or Pat's Rubber Legs as your lead fly with a Caddis pupa trailing behind. For the streamer junkies, work those banks hard or cast to the middle and strip on the swing.

## Technique Tips

With these conditions, don't be afraid to throw some larger nymphs in faster, deeper water. The fish are definitely looking up with these hatches, but they're still taking subsurface offerings readily.

For the technical sections, small indicators, light tippets, and careful approaches will be rewarded. Remember the rainbows are still in post-spawn mode, so give them some extra space if you spot any redds.

Thanks for tuning in to your Colorado River fishing report! If you're heading out this weekend, remember it's Free Fishing Weekend across Colorado on June 7-8, so no license required! Don't forget to subscribe for weekly reports straight from the river. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey there, river rats and hooksetters, This is artificial lure
coming at you with your Colorado River fishing report for
this fine Friday, June sixth, twenty twenty five. River conditions.
The big news today salmon flies. That's right, folks, The
big bugs are hatching thick on the upper Colorado as
of this week. Water levels are running a bit high

(00:21):
with some off coloration, but it's absolutely fishable. Golden Fly
Shop rates the upper sea at a solid five out
of five right now, so you know it's prime time.
The floes are sitting around six hundred cfs at Pumphouse,
increasing as you move downstream. We've got decent clarity on
the upper sections, though you'll find some color in patches,

(00:42):
especially after any precipitation or warm days. What's biting. The
rainbows and browns are absolutely feasting right now. Reports from
up and down the river show inconsistent but potentially incredible fishing.
Some anglers are landing dozens, while others are working harder
for their catches. The trick is finding where they're holding

(01:03):
in these higher flows. Colorado River cutthroats are also active,
especially in the upper reaches. These native beauties are deserving
of some extra care. Remember to handle them gently if
you're practicing catch and release hotspots. Two hot zones to
hit today. The stretch below Gore Canyon around Pump House

(01:24):
boat launch is producing well with fish holding in pools
and eddies. The section from State Bridge down to Dotsero
has been giving up some bigger browns on streamers. For
wade fishers, the upper stretches are fishing more technically now
with the clearer water approach like you would the frying pan.
Stealth is key fly selection. Your fly box should include dryes,

(01:46):
salmon fly patterns obviously bews size eighteen twenty four, caddis
and some midges, nymphs, pats, rubber legs, worm patterns, cattis larvae,
golden stone fly nymphs and green drake nymphs. Streamers, articulated
dungeons and sculpzillas working well. The winning combo lately has
been a weighted worm or pat's rubber legs as your

(02:08):
lead fly with a cattus pupa trailing behind For the streamer. Junkies,
work those banks hard or cast to the middle and
strip on the swing technique tips With these conditions don't
be afraid to throw some larger nymphs in faster, deeper water.
The fish are definitely looking up with these hatches, but
they're still taking subsurface offerings readily. For the technical sections,

(02:31):
small indicators, light tippets, and careful approaches will be rewarded.
Remember the rainbows are still in post spawn mode, so
give them some extra space if you spot any reds.
Thanks for tuning in to your Colorado River fishing report.
If you're heading out this weekend, remember its free fishing
weekend across Colorado on June seven to eighth, so no

(02:54):
license required. Don't forget to subscribe for weekly reports straight
from the river. This This has been a quiet please production.
For more check out Quiet Please dot aid and that
is it for today. Hit the subscribe button and never
miss out. Keep those tips up in lines wet. This
has been a quite please production with the help of AI.

(03:15):
Thanks for listening.