Colorado River Report 7-18-22

WATER CONDITIONS: Low and warm, we anticipate a 24 hour closure any day now.

OVERALL RATING:  0 out of 10 due to low oxygen content and high temperatures

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis, BWOs, Green Drakes, Golden Stoneflies, Pale Morning Duns, Craneflies, Midges

THE LOW DOWN:  There are currently CLOSURES on the Colorado River from Kremmling downstream to Bair Ranch. We anticipate everything below Glenwood Canyon to close any day now as well. 

If you are determined to fish the Colorado, start early and reel it in by noon at the latest. Invest in a quality stream thermometer and cease fishing if you are seeing temps in the high 60s or above.

HATCHES: Green Drakes 10-12, Caddis 14-18, Yellow Sallies 16, Golden Stoneflies 4-10, BWOs 18-22, Pale Moring Duns 14-18, Midges 16-22

Appropriate Patterns  

DRIES: HOH Hackled Green Drake 12, Hairwing Drake 12, Sparkledun Green Drake 12, Last Chance Green Drake Cripple 12, Chubby Chernobyl 6-10, Amy's Ant 8-10, Hairy Sallie 16, Hackle Dun PMD 16-18, Quigley Sparkle Flag PMD 16-18, Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Olive Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, CDC Comparadun Baetis 20-22, CDC Transitional Midge 20-22, Griffiths Gnat 18-22, Sprout Midge 20-22, HOH Spent Midge 20-22, Hatching Midge 20-22. 

NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly 4-10, Zirdle Bug 6-8, Twenty Incher Nymph 12-16, Spanish Perdigon 18, TNT Jigged BWO Nymph 18-20, BLMs 18-20, Tung Bead Baetis 18-20, Roy's Biot Baetis Emerger18-20, RS2s 20, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Imposters 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20, Roy's Biot Midge Emerger 20-22 

STREAMERS: Double Dirty Hippy sz 2, Hansen's Meal Ticket sz 4, Home Invader sz 2, Conehead Zuddler 4-8, Devourer of Souls sz 4, Galloup's Dungeon sz 2

HINTS: Keep an eye on overnight temps/rain and take advantage when this river clears. The fish are piled up deep for the most part!

Link to Real Time Flows:

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?090851