Collins Lake Fishing Report | September 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
Shallow, about 3 feet deep, roughly 200 feet behind the boat
Presentation
Troll flies at 1.8 mph. In overcast and low light run a dark black and green Metal Head fly for a strong silhouette. Once the sun climbs switch to a small light-colored fly. Use a stinger hook for nipping fish.
Lures and baits
A black and green Metal Head fly carried the overcast bite. The 10 pound afternoon fish ate a small white junior trolling fly in a number 8 size.
Weather
Overcast low light in the morning, clearing to blue sky and high sun with chop by afternoon.
Advice for this week
Match color to light. Run a dark fly in overcast, dawn, and dusk. Switch to a light fly and downsize when the sky goes high and bright. Add a stinger hook when fish are short-striking.
Next week
With the afternoon bite firing on a double-digit rainbow, the big-trout window looked wide open. Keep adjusting fly color to the sky and stay ready for a trophy.
Notable catch
A 10 pound square-tailed rainbow trout landed in the afternoon.
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.
Watch the full report
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.
