Colorado River
Middle (Pumphose to Dotsero)

Colorado River Report

June 1, 2025
FLOW: 6460 CFS below Glenwood Springs
WATER CLARITY: Brown Town, USA
OVERALL RATING: 2 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue winged olive nymphs, emergers and adults, caddis pupae, emergers and adults, small green drake and PMD nymphs, sculpins, Midges
THE LOWDOWN: The Colorado is finally high and heavy brown. Like most rivers in the area, she's doubled in flow over the last few days. Runoff should be short and sweet with our minimal snowpack, but we'll take what we can get at this point.

Green Drakes should be sitting just on the other side of this push of color. Fishing their big, attractive nymph patterns could be a productive choice about now.

Streamers have been productive on overcast days; guides are moving away from smaller food items and switching up to stonefly and caddis rigs.

The Colorado is a big, brawling river- ideal for a drift boat but it can be accessed on foot. This river is a bit more of a quality than a quantity fishery, so be prepared to hook onto some pissed-off fish that will dump your reel in a few seconds.

Wade-fishers should exercise caution in the biggest river of the valley, but popular wading spots include the confluence with the Roaring Fork, Dino Boat ramp (both above and below the ramp) and upstream of South Canyon rapid.

Hatches: Caddis 14-18, Blue winged olives 18-22, Midges 16-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Outrigger Caddis 16, Lawson's E.Z. Caddis 16, Chuck's Variant Caddis 16, Irresistible Adams 18-24, Parachute Adams 16-18, TC Custom BWO Sparkledun 20-22, Hippie Stomper 12-14, Chubby Chernobyl 8-12
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly Nymph 6-12, Stott's Raisinette 20, Stott's Bad Carl 20, Magnymphico 16-18, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Tungsten Redemption 16-18, Iron Lotus 16-18, Double Down CDC PT 16-18, Prince Nymph 14-18, Jigged Tungsten Guide's Choice Hare's Ear 14-18, Hot Orange Bead Jigged CDC Pheasant Tail 16-18, Perdigon 16-18, Jigged Tungsten Blow Torch 14-18, Copper John 16-18, BTS Baetis 20-22
STREAMERS: Craven's Double Dirty Hippy, Dali Lama, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor, Carlton Banks, Stott's Conehead Ziwi, Craven's Swim Coach, Hansen's Meal Ticket
HINTS: Fish are now becoming more active due to spring hatches. Don't be afraid to drift your flies through some riffles or faster sections!

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09085100/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D

Colorado River Report

May 20, 2025
FLOW: 2640 CFS below Glenwood Springs
WATER CLARITY: Like the Fork, brown after hot days, slightly better after cool days
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue winged olive nymphs, emergers and adults, caddis pupae, emergers and adults, small green drake and PMD nymphs, sculpins, Midges
THE LOWDOWN: Expect dirty water most days now. Flows are well below what we would typically expect during runoff time, but regardless clarity is an annual issue as snow melts and collects silt through the Col's upper stretches.

Annual spawning closures are in effect at Grizzly, Canyon, Castle and Elk Creeks, you'll see the signs where fishing is off limits until June 1st. These areas are just a small portion of the greater river.

Streamers have been productive on overcast days; guides are moving away from smaller food items and switching up to stonefly and caddis rigs.

The Colorado is a big, brawling river- ideal for a drift boat but it can be accessed on foot. This river is a bit more of a quality than a quantity fishery, so be prepared to hook onto some pissed-off fish that will dump your reel in a few seconds.

Wade-fishers should exercise caution in the biggest river of the valley, but popular wading spots include the confluence with the Roaring Fork, Dino Boat ramp (both above and below the ramp) and upstream of South Canyon rapid.

Hatches: Caddis 14-18, Blue winged olives 18-22, Midges 16-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Outrigger Caddis 16, Lawson's E.Z. Caddis 16, Chuck's Variant Caddis 16, Irresistible Adams 18-24, Parachute Adams 16-18, TC Custom BWO Sparkledun 20-22, Roy's Special Emerger 20, Sprout Midge 20, Griffith's Gnat 20
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly Nymph 6-12, Stott's Raisinette 20, Stott's Bad Carl 20, Magnymphico 16-18, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Tungsten Redemption 16-18, Iron Lotus 16-18, Double Down CDC PT 16-18, Prince Nymph 14-18, Jigged Tungsten Guide's Choice Hare's Ear 14-18, Hot Orange Bead Jigged CDC Pheasant Tail 16-18, Perdigon 16-18, Jigged Tungsten Blow Torch 14-18, Copper John 16-18, BTS Baetis 20-22
STREAMERS: Craven's Double Dirty Hippy, Dali Lama, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor, Carlton Banks, Stott's Conehead Ziwi, Craven's Swim Coach, Hansen's Meal Ticket
HINTS: Fish are now becoming more active due to spring hatches. Don't be afraid to drift your flies through some riffles or faster sections!

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09085100/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D