Spring Bass Bite Heats Up on Colorado River

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things rod and reel on the Colorado River here in Colorado. It's April 30, 2026, and we're kickin' off spring right with cooler temps pushin' the fish into action.

Weather's lookin' iffy—periods of rain tonight with lows around 42°F and SSW winds at 5-10 mph, possibly droppin' over an inch of rain. Tomorrow clears to cloudy, highs near 48°F with W winds 10-15 mph. No real tides up here in the mountains, but dam releases are steady at 350 CFS through midnight, keepin' flows predictable per Douglaston Salmon Run reports. Sunrise hits around 6:15 AM, sunset 'bout 8:00 PM—prime dawn and dusk bites.

Fish activity's pickin' up post-front. Smallmouth bass are dominatin' recent catches, with small steelhead mixin' in. Anglers report moderate success on fly gear, egg sacks, beads, and crankbaits. Largemouth are chasin' shad on windblown banks too. Limits of trout-like action in shallow shell beds, reds and flounder giggin' flats elsewhere, but adapt that here: bass hittin' aggressive.

Best lures? Go Deadly Dudley straight tails on 1/8-oz jigheads in light colors, walkin' topwaters early, or imitation shrimp under poppin' corks with 1-2 ft leaders. Live shrimp, cut mullet, or crab for bottom dwellers. Finesse worms post-front, crankbaits on points.

Hot spots: Hit the riffles near Glenwood Springs for smallmouth stacks—anchor and fan cast shell in 2-3 ft. Or try Dotsero bends where current sweeps bait; position down-current for strikes.

Stay safe out there, check regs, and wear your PFD.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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