With this kind of complexity, the first time or first few times you fish the river, it is best to hire a guide. Below the Paria River, the fishing isn't very good due to mud and silt, but this area is one of the better places on the river to wade fish. Willow Beach also has a launch. Quality of Angling The river has been degraded since 1990, when repeated drawdowns severely affected the food chain chemistry of scuds and moss, and spawning sites. The addition of weaker hatchery trout to the stressed native trout in the river has diluted the overall trout population.
Parasites threaten the health of Colorado River trout, as well.
The number of trophy trout is reported to have declined. Even with all the problems, the Colorado is still one of the top tailwater fisheries in the country. There are even bigger ones in there, but they're hard to land. Catching a 20-inch rainbow is still fairly common. Fishing on the river means fishing in the shadows of the beautiful, red sandstone cliffs.