THE RIVERS WE FISH
Gunnison River
The 180-mile long Gunnison River is renown for its diversity and scenic beauty. With its origins deep in the wilderness of the Continental Divide, the Taylor River, flowing from Taylor Park and the East River, flowing from Crested Butte, merge in Almont to form the mighty Gunnison River. As its waters add tributary streams through Gunnison County, it forms a powerful river that flows into and out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, through the Black Canyon and eventually merging into the Colorado River in Grand Junction.
Besides being known as a great walk-wade fishery, the upper Gunnison river is especially an incredible float fishery. Often, when fishermen hear of floating the Gunnison River, their thoughts are drawn towards the Black Canyon or Gunnison Gorge. However, fly fishers should not overlook the more attainable opportunities to float fish the the upper Gunnison River. Large sections of private waters on the upper Gunnison are only accessible by floating. This gives anglers a unique opportunity to fish waters that are unattainable to walk wade fishermen. Multiple boat put-in and take-out sites throughout this upper Gunnison river stretch, allow guides and angers to float fish different stretches of this tremendous trout fishery. This meandering upper river system holds a very healthy and hungry population of brown, rainbow and cuttbow trout!
Consistent hatches of midges, stoneflies, caddis, and a variety of mayflies consistently feed upper Gunnison river trout. Though the upper Gunnison river has always had the trout-per-mile to gain the notoriety of Gold Metal status, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officially recognized this Status in January of 2023. Along with another valley stream, the lower Taylor River, the upper Gunnison is one of the newest rivers to be nominated as Gold Metal, gaining an elite river distinction.
Taylor River
The famed Taylor River, has a little something for all levels of anglers. From it’s upper reaches where the trout are less selective and where a beginner can succeed to the Catch and Release section that humbles even the most astute angler, the Taylor River gives everyone a chance at fishing nirvana.
The Upper Taylor River – If you are looking for more seclusion and less crowds, this upper, freestone, section is for you. The nearly 15 miles of river above Taylor Reservoir holds good numbers of mostly browns, a few rainbows and an occasional brook or cutthroat trout. With numerous deep holes, runs and riffles, this upper stretch also has a little bit of everything. Access is great after the first mile or so of private property. The further upstream you fish, the skinnier the water becomes, but even those upper stretches can fish well.
The Catch and Release Section (Below Taylor Reservoir) - This .4 mile stretch of water has very strict regulations. It is a catch and release, flies and lures only fishery. Producing three state record rainbows in the last 10 years, these fish see a good bit of fishing pressure throughout the year as anglers pursue the monster trout that call this tailwater home. Currently, this section has the state record rainbow at 40 ¼” inches long and the record snake river cutthroat at 31”. This trophy tailout stretch is not very long, but you have a great shot of catching resident trout up to 30 inches and sometimes larger. Tiny shrimp called mysis shrimp, pour out of the reservoir to fatten up these fish and are the major reason these fish get so hefty.
The Lower Taylor River - While the Taylor C&R receives most of the glory, the lower Taylor River, which extends from the C&R downstream for 20 miles to the fly fishing town of Almont, provides fly fishermen with almost 12 miles of tremendous public fly water. During the spring and autumn months, the lower Taylor is a nymph fisherman’s paradise, while the summer months provide some of the best dry fly fishing to be found anywhere in the Centennial State. Strong hatches of blue-winged olives, pale morning duns, green and grey drakes, along with various species of stoneflies and caddisflies and the ever-present midges keep the lower Taylor’s trout well-fed and round.
The lower Taylor River hosts solid populations of both brown and rainbow trout, with fish exceeding 20 inches regularly caught by fly anglers throughout the entire year. In addition to the browns and ‘bows, a few cutthroats, brookies and cutbows can be found in this trout stream as well, making the lower Taylor River an exciting place to try for the “grand slam”. So robust a fishery is the lower Taylor that the entire fishery below Taylor Reservoir has recently easily gained the distinction for Gold Medal status, which is the highest designation available to a Colorado fishery. To qualify as Gold Medal water, a fishery must have 60 lbs. of trout greater than five inches in length per acre, and have at least 12 fish over 14 inches per acre.
While the entire lower river is phenomenal, some good water can be found in the first 5 miles above Almont. Deeper, nymphing water is more common in the middle reaches of the lower river. A little secret is the further you go upstream on the lower Taylor, the bigger the trout get, but that’ll be just between us. No matter where you wet a line on the lower Taylor, you’ll experience amazing scenery and nothing short of a world-class fishery.
Lake Fork of the Gunnison River
A lesser known river abroad, but a secret gem to locals, The Lake Fork of the Gunnison River is a walk wade fishermen's dream. Beginning high in the alpine of the San Juan Mountains, this 65 mile stream flows through Lake San Cristobal and Lake City before a confluence with the Gunnison River in Blue Mesa Reservoir.
Throughout its travels, fly fishermen can find broken stretches of public land to cast to solid numbers of trout. With a variety of water and fish habitat- from riffles to deep, aqua blue pools in deep canyons, the Lake Fork offers plenty of public water, some of which requires some hiking. Though flows pour out through the dam on Lake San Cristobal in Lake City, this river acts as a true freestone fishery. The Lake Fork, though not designated, has double the trout per mile that is required for Gold Metal status in Colorado.Common throughout the stream are primarily, brown trout with additional good numbers of rainbows, cuttbows and an occasional cuttthroat. Average size fish in this underrated stream are 12"-15" and larger fish up to 20+" call the river home.
The Lake Fork makes for excellent nymphing water in some of the deeper pools and runs. Dry fly and dry-dropper fishing can be exciting and consistent, following spring run-off and into the summer and fall months. Great hatches of stoneflies, various mayflies, caddisflies create year-round food sources for this healthy fishery.