Good morning anglers, it’s Artificial Lure with your Colorado River fishing report for November 13, 2025. Sunrise hit today at about 6:45 AM, and we’re looking for sunset just after 4:50 PM in this part of Colorado. It’s a brisk fall morning with temps hovering in the low 40s at dawn, warming into the mid-50s this afternoon under partly cloudy skies. Winds are calm, and there’s no sign of precipitation, making for nearly ideal fishing conditions if you don’t mind that late fall chill.

There are no tidal swings to track on the Colorado, so flow and water clarity matter most. Reports from Snoflo as of early this morning show moderate flows below Shadow Mountain Reservoir—levels are steady and water clarity excellent. The fall drawdown has river levels on the low-normal side, which means holding water and seams are extra important to target.

Fishing activity is strong this week. According to St. Peter’s Fly Shop reports out of northern Colorado, both trout and whitefish remain active and are keyed in on deeper runs and tailouts as the water cools. Rainbow, brown, and cutbow trout have been the dominant catches, with browns particularly aggressive post-spawn. Most folks are finding good numbers in traditional wintering holes, especially where riffles spill into depth. On the upper Colorado, expect average trout in the 12–16 inch range, with the occasional larger brown if you’re lucky.

Fly anglers, you’ll want to focus on nymph rigs. Smaller baetis, midges, and eggs are the ticket right now: think #20–22 black zebras, red or cream midges, and orange or pink eggs imitating the tail end of the fall brown spawn. A two-fly setup under a light indicator is deadly in the slower, deeper tailouts. For those who can’t resist dries, midday will sometimes bring out a few risers, especially if there’s lingering midge or BWO hatch with cloud cover—tiny Parachute Adams or Griffith’s Gnats in #22 will work, but be stealthy.

If you prefer hardware or live bait, now is the time to drift small spinners (gold-and-black Panther Martins or Mepps inline) through the runs, or to bounce a nightcrawler, waxworm, or PowerBait nugget on light tackle. Bank anglers report solid bites with natural colored baits, especially in slower current near structure, fallen timber, or undercut banks. Reports from Snoflo’s Marston Lake fishing area urge using worms, PowerBait, or small lures for consistent action in cold water.

For the spin and bait crowd, patience and low-and-slow presentation is key as fish metabolism drops with the water temperature. Stick to naturals—earthworms or salmon eggs will outfish corn or bright artificials right now.

Recent catches show mixed bags: plenty of 12–16 inch trout, a few larger browns pushing 20, and even some bonus whitefish. Safe to say the bite is steady, particularly if you’re moving and covering ground. Best action has come mid-morning through late afternoon, as trout shake off the overnight cold.

Favorite hot spots for today:

- **Parshall Hole**: Just downstream of Parshall, this classic deep run holds stacks of trout all winter. It's best fished with nymphs or micro-jigs bounced slow and deep.
- **Pumphouse to Radium stretch**: Drift boaters are pulling healthy numbers of browns and rainbows from deep mid-river seams, with the slower water and bubble lines the ticket.
- **Lone Buck access** near Kremmling: The bends and pools above the confluence with the Blue River are great for bank anglers, especially near submerged rock piles.

A word from the banks—remember the flows are down and the fish are extra wary, so keep your approach slow and low, use lighter tippet, and watch that indicator for subtle takes. And just a reminder, regulations change downstream, so double check where you’re fishing.

That’s it for today on the Colorado River. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss the...