Colorado River Report 11-15-21

WATER CONDITIONS: Low, off-color

OVERALL RATING:  2 out 10 

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: BWOs, Midges

THE LOW DOWN: The closures on the Colorado have been lifted, but there are serious concerns for the fish. After almost two months of very muddy water due to mudslides, the fish are in a fragile state. 

Our advice is to fish early, ease off if you've caught a bunch, and perhaps leave the large two-hook streamers behind for another week or two.

Insect hatches have dropped off with all of the sediment in the water. We are now seeing the river clear up sooner than expected, but we still recommend caution out there with the fish in the Colorado. 

HATCHES: BWOs 18-20, Midges 18-22

Appropriate Patterns  

DRIES: No Hackle BWO 20-22, Perfect Baetis 20-22, CDC Comparadun BWO 18-22, CDC Transitional Midge 20-22, Griffiths Gnat 18-22, Sprout Midge 20-22, HOH Spent Midge 20-22, Hatching Midge 20-22. 

NYMPHS: 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, Copper John Red 14-18, San Juan Worm 10

STREAMERS: Carlton Banks 4, Autumn Splendor 4, Grease Monkey 6, Galloup's Dungeon 2-4

HINTS: Let's be gentle with the fish out there, they have had poor oxygen content in the river since July.

Link to Real Time Flows:

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09085100