Collins Lake trout fishing has been great in September 2025, and Capt. Cal Kellogg proved a color rule in one day. Run dark flies like a black-and-green Metal Head in overcast or low light, and switch to a white fly under blue sky. Cal caught trophy rainbows up to 10 pounds trolling flies about 3 feet deep, 200 feet back, at 1.8 mph.
How is the fishing at Collins Lake right now?
Great. Capt. Cal Kellogg says trout fishing was strong all week in September 2025, with one exceptional day producing several very large rainbows, including a 10 pound trophy. He caught the fish by matching fly color to the light conditions, which made all the difference that day.
What color fly should I use at Collins Lake?
Match the light. Under overcast or low-light conditions, run a dark fly for a strong silhouette against the sky. Cal used a black-and-green Metal Head fly. When the sky turned blue and sunny, he switched to a white fly and it was game on.
How is Cal rigging and presenting at Collins Lake?
Trolling flies on a light setup. Cal ran his fly about 3 feet deep with a small trolling weight, 200 feet behind the boat, at 1.8 miles per hour. He notes a stinger hook was key, because the trout were nipping. No stinger, no fish that day.
What is Cal's takeaway on lure color?
Dark conditions call for a dark lure, ideally a black fly, which Cal calls a big-fish magnet. High, sunny skies with chop call for a light-colored fly, and you can even downsize. His double-digit rainbow came on a small white junior trolling fly, a number eight.
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Collins Lake September 2025 FAQ
Rainbow trout, including trophy fish up to 10 pounds, per Capt. Cal Kellogg.
In overcast or low-light conditions, when a dark silhouette shows best against the sky.
Under blue sky and sunny, high-light conditions, when Cal switched and got immediate hookups.
About 3 feet deep with a trolling weight, 200 feet behind the boat.
About 1.8 miles per hour.
A small white junior trolling fly, a number eight, took the double-digit rainbow.
