Colorado River Report

August 17, 2024

FLOW: 2240CFS below Glenwood Springs

WATER CLARITY: Poor

OVERALL RATING: 3 out of 10

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Pale Morning Duns, PMD Rusty Spinners, Craneflies, Caddis, Golden Stoneflies, Hoppers and Terrestrials, Blue Winged Olives, Sculpins, Midges 

THE LOWDOWN: Unless you're a glutton for punishment, the thick color we're seeing on the Col has made for frustrating fishing. We're about two weeks into this blow-out and running on hope that things will start looking up. Color is being contributed mostly from up the Canyon, but construction on the Fork isn't helping matters.

The warning we presented in our Fork report is perhaps even more applicable to the Colorado, so it bears repeating: 

Keep an eye out for rapidly-rising water temps. While the rain is likely to help a bit, the gauges have been breaking 70 degrees mid-day thanks to this long and brutal stretch of hot, dry weather. As of now, we highly recommend to be off the Colorado by noon. Protecting the health of our resource is paramount this time of year; think short fights, quick releases, and minimal handling.

Most of you know that cloudy days are best, especially for a slow-release hatch. 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.

APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:

DRIES: Egg Laying Salmonfly 4-6, Egg Laying Golden Stone 8, Elk and Pearl Caddis 12-18, Missing Link Caddis 16-18, Outrigger Caddis 16, Improved Sofa Pillow 4-6, Chubby Chernobyl 8-12, CDC Comparadun PMD 16-18, TC Custom PMD Comparadun 14-18, Hackle Stacker PMD 16-18, Skippy Hopper 8, Foam Chernobyl Ant 8-10, Yellow Humpy 14-18, Stimulator 12-18, Irresistible Adams 12-16, Parachute Adams 12-18, TC Custom BWO Sparkledun 20-22

NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly Nymph 6-12, Stott's Raisinette 20, Stott's Bad Carl 20, Stott's USD Drake Nymph 12, Magnymphico 16-18, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Tungsten Redemption 16-18, Iron Lotus 16-18, Double Down CDC PT 16-18, Griffin's Twenty Incher 10-14, Prince Nymph 10-18, Jigged Tungsten Guide's Choice Hare's Ear 14-18, Hot Orange Bead Jigged CDC Pheasant Tail 16-18, Perdigons 16-18, Jigged Tungsten Blow Torch 14-18, Copper Johns 16-18, BTS Baetis 20-22

STREAMERS: Double Dirty Hippy, Dali Lama, Autumn Splendor, Carlton Banks, Stott's Conehead Ziwi, Swim Coach, Meal Ticket

HINTS: Keep an eye on the water temps, the bite will be best when it's cool versus the middle of the afternoon.

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