Colorado River
Middle (Pumphose to Dotsero)

The Colorado River is rising as runoff peaks. Flow is 3710 CFS

Technicality: 2/5

Fishing on the Middle Colorado is tough to say the least. However, you can still get into a few fish if you are persistent and take the right approach. Water clarity is poor as a result of runoff and the trout are feeding selectively along the banks. Bigger bugs with a little flash will go a long way. When nymphing, stoneflies, leeches and worms have made for great lead flies. Trail any of the aforementioned patterns with a flashy search pattern like a Flashback Pheasant Tail, Hares Ear or red Copper John in the #14-16 range. Focus on the banks where water clarity is best and be persistent with changing flies and depth. Streamers seem to be producing the most consistent results as trout are feeding opportunistically on bigger bites. Black and white streamers with a little flash will turn a few heads when fished along the banks.

Ideal Days to Fish: Thursday through Sunday

Go to flies:

Surface - Parachute Adams (#20-24), Elk Hair Caddis (#16-18), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24), Chubby Chernobyl (#8-12), Amy's Ant (#10-12), Water Walkers (#8-10), Fat Freddies (#8-10).

Subsurface - Pat's Rubber Leg (#8-12), Kaufmann Stonefly (#6-10), Golden Stonefly (#8-10), Electric Caddis (#16-18), Super Pupa (#16-18), San Juan Worm, Olive RS2 (#20-22), Stalcups Baetis (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Hare's Ear (#18 - 20), Psycho Prince Nymph (#18 -20), Pheasant Tail (#18-20), Black Beauty (#20-22), Zebra Midge (#18-20).

Streamers - white Sparkle Minnow (#6), black Wooly Bugger (#4-5), Cheech Leech (#6)

Clarity: Poor

14 Day Forecast: The Colorado is experiencing spring run-off. Stonefly nymphs under the surface and squirmy worms as the water will be constantly stirred from the beginning of run-off

Tips and Other Information: The Colorado is experiencing spring run off and the water is off color. Anglers can still catch fish on the lower river with large stonefly patterns. Otherwise, use your standard fare of high water flies that will get down quickly.

Effective Patterns: #10 Pats Rubber Legs, Egg patterns, #14 San Juan Worm, Chamois Leeches, and other brightly colored patterns and flashy beachheads, MOPS and Squirmys fished in tandem or behind a MOP fly.

COLORADO RIVER REPORT

June 17, 2019
FLOW: 17,000 cfs in Glenwood Springs (Check out the link below to the real-time video camera on the river in Glenwood!)
WATER CONDITIONS: Brown-Town
OVERALL RATING: 1 out of 10 Conditions are tough until we see runoff subside
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis adults, pupa and larvae, BWO adults, emergers and nymphs, midges, golden stonefly nymphs, PMD nymphs, worms, craneflies
THE LOW DOWN: The Colorado will be brown town for a few more weeks, we'll let you know when it's turning green again.

Make sure to check the real-time flow graphs below or give the shop a call for updated conditions and water clarity.
HATCHES: Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-20, Midges 16-22

Appropriate Patterns
NYMPHS: Prince 10-18, BLMs 18-20, San Juan Worm 10, Tung Bead Baetis 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, RS2s 20, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Imposters 20-22, Assassins 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20, Biot Midge 20-22, Cat Poop 8-12, San Juan Worm 10
DRIES: Foam Body Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Collett's Para BWO 18-20, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, BWO Sparkledun BWO 18-20, Morgan's Para Midge 20, Biot Wing Midge 20, Hatching Midge 20, CDC Transitional Midge 20, Hi Vis Griffith's Gnat 18-20
HINTS: Use sink tips with your streamers! Can be make or break sometimes to getting in the strike zone.

https://www.coloradowebcam.net/camera/glenwood-springs-webcam-west-glenwood

Technicality: 2/5

Flows on the Middle Colorado have held steady, but are expected to rise consistently in the coming days and weeks as runoff from the northern Rockies continues to stain the river. Water clarity is poor making for difficult fishing conditions. However, trout are feeding heavily on the banks and outer seams where water clarity is best. The salmonfly hatch is wrapping up, but can still be productive. Often times the lower volume of bugs can work in your favor. You wont have to compete with the hoards of bugs on the water for your fish and your flies will stand out more. When fishing dries we like to lead with a larger stimulator pattern like a Water Walker or Fat Freddie followed by either another smaller dry fly pattern or attractor nymph. Streamers have been and will continue to be productive. Make sure to go with contrasting colors like black or white and choose flies with a little flash. Otherwise, the heavy nymph rig with plenty of flash will pay dividends. We like to use patterns with tungsten bead heads in order to get our flies deep. Pats Rubber Legs, San Juan or Squirmy Worms, Pine Squirrel or Egg Sucking Leech patterns have made for productive lead flies. Follow any of the aforementioned flies with one or two smaller midge, baetis or caddis pupa/larva patterns.

Ideal Days to Fish: Monday & Tueday

Go to flies:

Surface - Parachute Adams (#20-24), Elk Hair Caddis (#16-18), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24), Chubby Chernobyl (#8-12), Amy's Ant (#10-12), Water Walkers (#8-10), Fat Freddies (#8-10).

Subsurface - Pat's Rubber Leg (#8-12), Kaufmann Stonefly (#6-10), Golden Stonefly (#8-10), Electric Caddis (#16-18), Super Pupa (#16-18), San Juan Worm, Olive RS2 (#20-22), Stalcups Baetis (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Hare's Ear (#18 - 20), Psycho Prince Nymph (#18 -20), Pheasant Tail (#18-20), Black Beauty (#20-22), Zebra Midge (#18-20).

Streamers - white Sparkle Minnow (#6), black Wooly Bugger (#4-5), Cheech Leech (#6)

The Colorado River is in the middle of the Salmon Fly hatch. Flow is 2390 CFS

Technicality: 2/5

Warm weather and above average snow pack has taken its toll on the Middle Colorado as runoff from the Northern Rockies has resulted in elevated flows and tainted water. By no means is it blown out, but you'll need to change your approach. Trout will feed most heavily towards the banks and outer seams where water clarity is best, but dont shy away from the deeper water. Just make sure youre using contrasting colors, plenty of weight and preferably flies with tungsten bead heads. When nymphing, we recommend leading with bigger attractor patterns like a Pats Rubber Legs, San Juan Worm or Pine Squirrel Leech followed by one or two smaller midge, baetis, or caddis pupa patterns. Salmonflies have been hatching for the last couple weeks and are still strong in numbers through the canyons. However, were nearing the end of this glorious hatch so get out soon! When salmonflies are hatching, we like to go with a dry dropper combo. Lead with a Chubby Chernobyl, Water Walker, or Fat Freddie followed by two plus feet of tippet and an attractor or searcher nymph pattern. Streamers have been productive as well. However, shy away from neutral colors and go with something that contrasts the water (white or black).

Ideal Days to Fish: Wednesday & Sunday

Go to flies:

Surface - Parachute Adams (#20-24), Elk Hair Caddis (#16-18), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24), Chubby Chernobyl (#8-12), Amy's Ant (#10-12), Water Walkers (#8-10), Fat Freddies (#8-10).

Subsurface - Pat's Rubber Leg (#8-12), Kaufmann Stonefly (#6-10), Golden Stonefly (#8-10), Electric Caddis (#16-18), Super Pupa (#16-18), San Juan Worm, Olive RS2 (#20-22), Stalcups Baetis (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Hare's Ear (#18 - 20), Psycho Prince Nymph (#18 -20), Pheasant Tail (#18-20), Black Beauty (#20-22), Zebra Midge (#18-20).

Streamers - white Sparkle Minnow (#6), black Wooly Bugger (#4-5), Cheech Leech (#6)

Runoff is hitting the Colorado hard as you could expect for this time of year. Due to this, larger attractor patterns such as yellow/chartreuse beads, squirmy's, and girdle bugs trailing a BWO nymph will pull fish especially with the darker colored water. As we continue through summer it's especially effective to walk the banks with a golden tungstone or girdle bug to pull some nicer browns. There are plenty of willows upstream of pump house so roll casting these bank sections or walking up far enough to the have a back cast are all great options. Streamer fishing the deeper runs with a gonga, dungeon, or goldie can also be a great way to hook up with a bigger fish this time of year. The most important fly through this section of river is the girdle bug so get creative and fish them on a short leash nymph rig and deep with plenty of split shot to produce more numbers throughout the day. Nymphs: Girdle bug #6-10, golden tungstone, frenchie, cdc p-tails, micro may, midges in the morning. Dries: Chubby Chernobyl, fat albert, extended body blue wing olive #16, Para adams #14-16,.

Hippie Stomper #14-#16
Chubby Chernobyl #4-12
Chubby Sally #12-10
Clown Shoe Sally #14-18
Extended Body BWO #16-#20
CDC BWO #16-#20
Better Foam Caddis Tan #14-18
Elk Hair Caddis Tan & Olive #14-18
Parachute Adams #18-22
Putterbaugh Caddis #14-18
X Caddis #12-18
Missing Link Caddis #12-18 Iron Sally #14-18
Two Bit Hooker Red #14-18
Tungsten Split Foam BWO
Tungsten Electric Caddis #14-18
Sparkle Pupa #14-18
Joca's BH Caddis CREAM & OLIVE #14-18
San Juan Worms (red
brown
wine) #10-16
Squirmy Worms
Girdle Bugs #6-14
Tungsten Trout Teaser #10-6
Smethurst 20 Bomb #10-6
Rainbow Warriors
Leeches #10-12
Hares Ear #16-20
Tungsten 20 Incher #12-16
Copper Johns (RED) #14-20
BLM's #16-20
Lightning Bugs #14-18
Pheasant Tails #16-20
Barr Emergers #16-22
RS2's #16-22
Disco Midges #18-22
Zebra Midges #16-22
Juju PMD #18-20
Jujube #18-20 Dungeons
Zoo-Cougars
Vanilla Bugger #6-8
Coffee Sparkle Minnow #4-8
Superflash Zonker #4-8
Sculpzilla #4-8
Articulated Goldie #4