Colorado River Winter Fishing Forecast: Trout, Bass, and Cats on the Bite

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, your go-to guy for all things angling on the Colorado River. It's a crisp January 2nd morning, 2026, and we're lookin' at highs in the upper 60s down in the lower stretches near the Arizona line, per ABC15 weather—mild for winter, with a slight chance of spotty showers early, clearin' out quick. No tides up here in the river proper, but flows are steady around 60-70 CFS from recent CPW reports on similar spots. Sunrise hit about 7:15 AM, sunset 'round 5 PM—plenty of daylight for a solid session.

Fish are active in the colder water, hunkered in deeper holes and pools. Recent catches mirror Texas Parks & Wildlife all-tackle records for Colorado River waters: largemouth bass up to 10 pounds, striped bass to 35, channel cats over 28, flatheads at 43, plus crappie, white bass, and drum. CPW's winter stocking ramps up rainbows and cuttbows—33,000 just went in nearby reservoirs like 11 Mile, so expect similar runs here. Locals report steelhead-like action on trout, with rainbows averaging a pound, some trophy brookies and hybrids mixed in.

Best lures? Small marabou or hair jigs tipped with maggots or waxworms, per Cleveland Metroparks winter tips—works killer drifted under a float. Gulp minnows, dime-size spawn sacks, or salmon egg beads for slow drifts. PowerBait balls or jigging spoons for stocked trout. Live minnows or salted ones shine too. CPW ice pros swear by waxworms or chopped salad shrimp on tube jigs, fished 6-10 inches off bottom with 4-8 inch strokes.

Hot spots: Hit the deeper bends near Glenwood Springs for trout and bass—easy access off I-70. Or try pools around Grand Junction's hotter stretches for cats and stripers, where flow slows and structure holds fish.

Bundle up, watch for slushy edges if ice lingers upstream, and fish safe.

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