By Dave Webb
(March 13, 2020)
The Colorado River offers trophy rainbows trout fishing from Glen Canyon Dam down to Lees Ferry – a stretch of about 13 miles. Typical fish range from 14 to 24 inches. An Arizona fishing license is required.
Lees Ferry offers a concrete ramp that can accommodate small and medium-sized fishing boats. River rafters put in there for float trips down the Grand Canyon. (Lat: 36.865742; Long: -111.586404)
Fishermen usually launch there and boat upriver to productive spots. Anglers do well focusing on the gravel bars, backwaters and eddies. Jet boats are recommended but some anglers use prop boats. Guides and boat rentals are available in Marble Canyon, near Lees Ferry. We've fished with Lees Ferry Anglers and recommend them.
Upstream from Lees Ferry, the rainbow trout limit is 2 fish. Fishers must use artificial flies and lures only (no bait or scent) and hooks must be barbless. (Barbs can be bend down using pliers.)
Boating upstream is tricky and requires vigilance. River depth and conditions can change from hour to hour. Boaters should try to identify and follow the main channel. Jet boats can run through shallow water and seldom have trouble. If you have a prop boat, consider bringing a spare just in case. The water is usually deep and boaters have little trouble for the first several miles. Up toward the Horseshoe Bend area, the river widens and can be shallow. It can be very difficult to find channels through that area.
Cliffs tower some 1000 feet or more above the river and foot access is very difficult for those 13 miles.
A “walk in” fishing area extends from the Lees Ferry boat ramp downstream, and fishing can be good in that area. The trout limit is 6 rainbows and baits are allowed.
A few other species of sport fish may occasionally be caught in the river and there is no limit on those fish. Protected endangered fish exist in the river and must be released immediately if caught.
Below the walk in area, cliffs rise again and access becomes difficult. Some anglers descend the Cathedral Wash slot canyon go gain access to a limited section of river.
The Navajo Bridge on Hwy 89A marks the end of the section of river managed for rainbow trout. Below the bridge, rugged slot canyons allow access to limited sections of river, and trails into the Grand Canyon descend to the river. There is no limit on sport fish caught below the bridge.
The river is flat between the dam and Lees Ferry. Calm water rafting trips are popular there during warm weather. Kayaks are also popular on the big river. Float trips and kayaks can be booked through Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas.
