We specialize in wilderness float fishing, walk-and-wade fly fishing and classic whitewater rafting adventures. Gold Medal fisheries are 60 pounds of fish per acre and the Gunnison River has over 400 pounds per acre! The river has many long runs and deep pools, and aquatic insects are to be found just about everywhere. Fishing The Gunnison Valley is home to Colorado’s state-record brown, rainbow, kokanee salmon and lake trout and offers the best fishing in the state. We are all experienced fly fishermen that have a passion for teaching fly fishing and spin fishing. The.4 miles of the Catch & Release, C & R, aka Hog Trough is the most famous and pressured. A few to check out are listed below. Here, within the steep-walls of the gorge, the river offers one of the top fly fishing destinations to be found anywhere in the lower 48 states. Wild brown trout and a mix of wild and stocked rainbow trout, along with a few cutbows (mainly in the upper river), inhabit the Gunnison River. You want a guide that truly cares about your experience on the water. There is approximately 20 miles of floatable water. Where to Fish: Gunnison Region Move your mouse over the map to find fishing areas in the Gunnison area, or select from list Select a fishing areaEast RiverTaylor RiverCochetopa CreekLake Fork of the GunnGunnison River- upperGunnison River- lowerPinos Creek A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 3X to 6X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard. It's formed by two major streams, the Taylor River and the East River, both of which are fine trout streams themselves. Midges hatch throughout the year in the Gunnison, but are generally used only when there are no other insects hatching. [7] Contamination of the Gunnison River with selenium and mercury results from irrigation of high-selenium soils derived from the Mancos Shale and from mineral mining . Kokanee salmon begin their run upriver from Blue Mesa Reservoir to spawn in August through October, which is also the time when the big browns in the reservoir spawn. When choosing a fishing guide service you want guides that are personable, knowledgeable, and experienced. We specialize in wilderness float fishing, walk/wade trips and Class III-IV white water rafting experiences. Float Trips Gunnison River Float Trips From put-in to take-out, float trips are a high action adventure. There are a number of area fly shops and on-line retailers that publish Gunnison River fishing reports. This renowned, year-round fly fishing destination is home to large brown and rainbow trout, and is considered one of the finest fisheries in the continental United States. Other flies used for fishing the river include: caddisflies, Western March Browns, Pale Morning Duns, Green Drakes, Red Quills, Stoneflies, Yellow Sallies, Great Gray Spotted Wing Sedges, and Streamers. It is a Catch & Release fishery with a fish count of over 7000 Rainbow and Brown trout per mile and 1000 of which are 14-35 inches. Walk/wade fishing, rentals, shuttles, fly shop. Copyright 2021 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. Gunnison River Guides is a talented team of experienced fly fishing guides. RIGS Guide Service out of Ridgway runs the best floats of all the companies that currently are licensed in the gorge. Our valley offers both great river and stream fishing and lake fishing. The river is in mid-Spring form, with most of the ice off and rainbows getting frisky for the spawn. River is fishing great. The upper section of the river in Gunnison Valley is know for some of the finest fishing in the state. Midge larva and emerger patterns in various colors, sizes 20 to 24, can be fished through winter. The first big hatch of salmonfly occurs from mid June until the first of July which leads to much better overall fishing. Three Rivers Resort is located in the historic mountain town of Almont, Colorado on the Taylor River. To find Gunnison River enter the 39.061649 latitude, and -108.57843 longitude coordinates into your GPS device or smart phone. Premier fishing and rafting trips through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Gorge. The upper section of the river is largest above the Blue Mesa Reservoir which is a renowned kokanee salmon fishery. See the Colorado Parks & Wildlife fishing brochure for special regulations that apply to the Gunnison River. The Gunnison is an exciting river, a photographer’s heaven, a hiker’s delight, and a fisherman’s dream. Good mayfly nymphs and emergers include Barr’s BWO Emergers, RS2s, and JuJu Baetis in sizes 18 to 22. We are very proud of every guide on our team. I was fortunate enough, the first week of June to head up to Black Canyon Anglers in Austin, Colorado for a much needed trout trip on the Gunnison River. The Gunnison River Basin is popular for recreational activities such as fishing, rafting, boating, camping, hiking, and rock climbing. In the summer, you can rent a boat, bring your own or simply enjoy the … Some of the record catches in the valley include a 26 inch brook trout, a 33.5 inch cutbow, a 31 inch cutthroat trout, a 46.9 inch mackinaw, a 40.5 inch rainbow trout and a 28 inch tiger trout. Doing some "research" for the 2nd edition of "Fly Fishing the Gunnison Country" and let's just say the Upper Gunnison River is fishing lights out right now! We are all experienced fly fishermen that have a passion for teaching fly fishing and spin fishing. The Gunnison River offers several public access points (see map above) for wading, though fishing from drift boats when the waters are high is preferable. There are numerous cabins, motels and campgrounds in the area to stay in. When choosing a fishing guide service you want guides that are personable, knowledgeable, and … Fly-Fishing in Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley, Colorado.With two million acres of public land situated around the headwaters of one of Colorado’s largest river drainages, it’s no surprise that Crested Butte, Gunnison, Almont and all Gunnison Valley towns have some of the best fishing in the state. The river is technically open to fishing in the winter, but the frozen sections of the trail along the Gunnison and snowy conditions make navigating the terrain exceptionally difficult. We are the "go to" fishing guide service for Crested Butte, Gunnison, and Almont, Colorado. There are 21 miles of the Taylor River between the Reservoir and our shop where the Taylor joins the East river to form the Gunnison River. Doug. According to Chris Santella’s book 50 places to fish before you die it is considered one of the best fishing trips in Colorado. We value all of our friendships made with returning customers and welcome the new ones to come in the future. The Gunnison River is seventy-eight miles long including the lakes it flows through. Black Canyon Anglers offers the only fishing lodge on the Gunnison River and we are located on a working farm. For larger nymphs and streamers a 9-foot 6-wt with a sink tip fly line makes life easier. Fly Fishing the Gunnison Gorge by The Shire Life. A 9-foot 5-wt fly rod with floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and small nymphs on the Gunnison River. Gunnison Gorge Float Fishing (Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area) is an experience you will never forget; that will keep you coming back again and again. Rocky Mountain National Park At the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake is the deepest natural lake in Colorado, dipping to 265 feet. The resort features some cabins dating back to the 1800’s as well as brand new cabins with all the amenities of home. The Gold Metal Water section of the Gunnison River extends from 200 yards downstreamof Crystal Reservoir dam to the North Fork of the Gunnison. The Gunnison River’s malachite green waters have been awarded “Gold Medal” status for rainbow and brown trout fishing. Sorry for the delay in this post, but things have been hectic here in Dallas, including the temperatures! Lower Gunnison River, Colorado Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions Reported by Gunnison River Expeditions. GUNNISON GORGE: This is a magical and beautiful place to fish, especially float fishing! Fish are eating hoppers on top and smaller bugs subsurface. The Gunnison River Gorge is the marquee fly float in the state of Colorado, and one of the top four in the western U.S. Get directions to access points, boat ramps, and real-time USGS stream flow data. Established in 1985, Black Canyon Anglers is the largest and most experienced fly fishing outfitter on the Gunnison River. 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