Howdy, folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to gal for all things rod and reel on the Colorado River and surrounds. It's a crisp December 12th mornin' here in western Colorado, with air temps climbin' from mid-20s to upper 30s under mostly sunny skies—perfect for that weak La Niña warmth pushin' us 15-20 degrees above normal, per CPR forecasters. No tides to worry 'bout in these river runs, but flows are steady: Dream Stream on the South Platte holdin' at 90 cfs, ideal for wadin', while Blue River below Green Mountain Reservoir chugs along at 350-450 cfs, cold and clear in the mid-30s water temps. Sunrise hit at 7:15 AM, sunset 'round 4:45 PM—fish that midday 11 AM to 3 PM window when sun warms the seams.
Fish activity's pickin' up in these tailwaters despite dwindlin' hatches and low precip keepin' things technical. Trout are keyin' on midges subsurface, with browns, rainbows, cutbows, and cutthroats huggin' deep troughs and undercut banks. Recent reports from Sportsman's Fishing Reports and Rise Beyond Fly Fishing note solid grabs on the Dream Stream and Blue River—dozens of 16-20 inchers daily for patient nymphers, plus pike and carp mixin' in reservoirs like Elevenmile. Numbers ain't huge with winter slowin' 'em, but quality's there: trophy potential in sightable water.
Tie on **Zebra Midges** (black/red, sizes 20-22), **RS2 emergers** (20-22), **Black Beauty** midges (20-24), or **Balanced Leech** (12-14) for nymphin'—dead-drift 'em light and slow. Baetis like Juju (20-22) shine on warmer afternoons. Live bait? Waxworms or mealworms on small jigs tip the scales for pike in coves. Streamers like Bunny Leeches or Lightspeed in olive/black work low-light edges.
Hot spots: Hit the **Dream Stream** for technical meadow bends and trophy browns—easy access paths, light crowds. Or wade the **Blue River below Green Mountain** for canyon pockets and consistent winter trout—pull off and hike grassy banks.
Bundle up, stealth your approach, and tight lines!
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