The Colorado is a big river, dwarfing any other water in Utah, or Arizona for that matter. It flows with incredible power through a canyon with near vertical walls that rise more than 1500 feet above the river.

In some areas there are huge rapids and the water tumbles and roars over and around boulders, cascades over bedrock terraces and rolls along a convoluted bed in giant swells and troughs.

Yet in other areas the river is calm, meandering mildly between its confining walls, placid and tame. One such calm section, between the Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry, is conquered daily by boats of all shapes and sizes.

Tiny boats with motors barely strong enough to fight the current struggle up the canyon while powerful jet boats blast up the channel like rockets on their way to explore a new world.

By mid-morning this stretch of water is littered with anchored boats. Each shallow spot, sand bar and beach is colonized by several neoprene-clad anglers, staking out their claim for the day. Most are polite. Claim jumpers are rare and everyone is focused on catching some of those big Colorado River rainbows.

The water flowing through the Glen Canyon dam, about 14 miles above Lee's Ferry, turns giant turbines that generate electricity. As the electrical needs in southern California change, water flows through the dam change to meet those needs.

In the past, flows have varied dramatically by as much as 10,000 cubic feet per second or more, changing fishing conditions dramatically in only a few hours. Now flows aren't allowed to fluctuate as much, in an attempt to protect native, endangered fishes. Still, the flow changes several times a day and anglers should always be aware of the flow conditions. Especially watch your boat or it could end up high and dry or worse floating free.

Generally water flows increase in the morning and this increase triggers feeding activity in the trout. The rising water brings lots of dead and dying bugs (trapped on the sand bars when the water dropped) into the feeding lanes of the trout and opens up more shallows for the trout to feed in.

Current regulations allow the water flow to increase up to 4,000 cfs per hour. Of course, the duration of the feeding activity depends on how fast the water comes up. The faster the rate of increase, the shorter the period of feeding activity.

The more the river fluctuates and the more rapid those fluctuations are, the poorer the fishing. Generally the river fluctuates most during the summer months and is more stable during the winter. High fluctuations over a long period of time can destroy the food base for the trout resulting in skinny, unhealthy fish, poor spawning activity and an overall decline in the fishery. Fortunately dramatic fluctuations have been reduced over the last few years and now the trout in the river are strong and healthy.

During the winter, flows average about 15,000 cfs but range from lows of around 11,000 cfs and highs over 19,000 cfs. On most days flows fluctuate between about 14,000 and 17,000 cfs. However, on weekends fluctuations will be greater.

Probably the most important activity for the trout over the next month or so will be spawning. Of course spawning activity effects all the fish in the river, either as active participants or as opportunists eating the loose eggs as they float away from the redds. Look for spawners and opportunists over shallow gravel bars in moderate current. Fish with chartreuse, pink or salmon colored glow bugs in sizes 16 to 18 to attract these fish. Don't wade over the redds. They are generally easy to see, freshly disturbed, lighter colored rings of gravel.

Midge hatches come off most every day especially in late morning and early afternoon. Fish with small, size 18 to 22 adult midge imitations (Adams, Griffith's Gnat, Syl's Midge, etc.) and target rising fish. Fishing a midge pupae dropper off the adult can be very effective. Fish red or copper brassies, larva-lace, bead head pheasant tails, TDC's, etc.

Other aquatic imitations to fish with include scuds (pink, brown, salmon, white), San Juan worms (orange, red or brown), wooly buggers and leaches. Copper colored wooly buggers with lots of sparkle are very effective. Scuds and midges are the two main food sources for the trout and the best two baits for anyone fly fishing the water.

Fishing in the winter at Lees Ferry means being prepared for just about any kind of weather condition.

On January 21st we woke up to a raging thunderstorm and high winds, but by the time we had finished breakfast the storm had blown itself out, the wind had stopped and the skies were rapidly clearing. We spent most of the day running around in our shirt sleeves.

By late afternoon the wind kicked up and the clouds moved back in. The temperature swing was from 30 to almost 60 degrees. A smart angler will be prepared for just about any weather conditions and will bring cold weather gear, gloves, sun screen, a rain coat and a good hat; and will be prepared to shed the winter clothing as the day warms and as the sunlight creeps down the canyon walls toward the river below.

A boat with a heater and covered cabin can make your trip a lot more fun if the weather turns on you. The wind can blow up or down the canyon with enough velocity to make boating extremely dangerous. It's always a good idea to keep an eye on the weather and to get off the river before it becomes dangerous.

All fish over 16 inches must be immediately returned to the water. No fish over 16 inches can be harvested. The daily limit is now two fish less than 16 inches and the possession limit is four fish less than 16 inches.

A number of fish have been tagged in an effort to get better information on hooking mortality and recapture rates. If you catch a tagged fish, please record the number, date it was caught and location. Also record if the fish was released successfully or if it died or was killed. Turn this information in to the Arizona Department of Game and Fish at the end of your trip. The information gathered from the tagged fish will help determine management plans for the future.

Daily cfs flow rates from Glen Canyon Dam can be obtained by calling 1-800-752-8525.

Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1963 and at that time the tailwater fishery was created. The water leaves the dam at a constant temperature of 47 degrees.

Most fish range from 14 to 18 inches but a large number of fish range up to 20 inches or better. Although there are a few browns in the river most anglers will only catch rainbows. Fishing remains good year round due to the constant temperature of the water released from the dam, even though the air temperatures in the summer reach well over 100 degrees on many days.

There is a good stretch of river downstream from the launch ramp that can be wade fished without a boat but if you want to see the river and get into the best fishing you'll need a boat and/or a guide service. The best way to fish the river is to head upstream in a boat until you find an unoccupied sand bar to your liking. Anchor the boat, get out and wade fish up and down the bar. Some of the bars are big enough and diverse enough that an angler could spend the entire day on just one bar.

Spawning activity will continue into early March, providing plenty of time for anglers to chase down some big fish in shallow water. By mid-March midge hatches begin to come off regularly and top-water action increases dramatically.

Unless the wind kicks up a five or six weight rod, nine or nine and a half feet, will be perfect for most fishing. A sink tip or full sink line will make streamer fishing easier and will help get the fly down to the fish. A sink tip is also an effective way to get nymphs down to the fish when the rainbows are holding in deep water.

Red Rock Fly Shop in St. George will help you with all your needs for a Lees Ferry fishing trip. They can set up a guided trip or help you with everything you need from flies to licenses.

The guys at Red Rock are on the river just about every week and they know how the river is fishing, which flies and techniques to use and where the best fishing spots are.

There shop is located in Ancestor Square: 2 West St. George Blvd., Suite #2, St. George Utah. There phone number is 435-656-4665.

Give Red Rock a call for any of your fly fishing needs in southern Utah.

We stayed at the Marble Canyon Lodge because it is just down the road (Highway 89A) from the turn off to the boat ramp.

It's not a fancy place but the rooms are clean and comfortable. They also have a good restaurant and trading post. Their phone number is 520-355-2225 or 1-800-726-1789.

You can write them at: Marble Canyon Lodge, Marble Canyon, AZ 86036.

For some reason you can not use Arizona's one day license on the Colorado River. You will have to buy the Class C - Five Day license which costs $18. No trout stamp is required. If you plan on fishing the river more than once in a four month period, buy the Class B - Four Month license for $22.