Gunnison Country
The Lake Fork has strong populations of rainbows, cuttbows, browns, and Snake River cutts, as well as occasional brook trout. Fish as large as 22 inches are caught occasionally, but the average is between 12 to 14 inches. Lake-run fish enter the river in spring and fall. Autumn is excellent for the large browns that follow the Kokanee run. They take egg patterns, nymphs, and heavily weighted streamers.
Taylor River
The Taylor River is one of the most popular tributaries of the upper Gunnison. Taylor Reservoir, which fills a large area of Taylor Park, is fed by the upper Taylor, Illinois, Texas, and Willow creeks. These small tributaries have excellent summer dry-fly fishing for small to medium trout, but the tailwater below
Taylor Park Dam holds some of the largest trophy trout in the West. [For more detailed information, see “Colorado’s Best Tailwaters” in the March 2007 issue. The Editor.]
Between the lower boundary of the “hog trough” (directly below the dam) and the junction with the East River at Almont there are 20 miles of river with 10 miles of public access. Most of the Taylor is a pocketwater paradise with excellent dry-fly and nymph fishing. Expect hatches of midges, Blue-winged Olives, Pale Morning Duns (Ephemerella inermis, E. infrequens), Green Drakes, caddis, and stoneflies. The dry-fly fishing in scenic Taylor Canyon is spectacular. Trout rise eagerly for attractors throughout the summer, and you can’t do much better than a Stimulator with a Copper John dropper.
East River
The East River has excellent dry-fly fishing, but limited public access. Expect heavy Green Drake hatches from mid July to mid August. Other hatches include midges, Blue-winged Olives, caddis, PMDs, and stoneflies.
The only access (other than private water leased by local guide services and fishing clubs) consists of a 11/2-mile stretch adjacent to the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery. This stretch of riffles, runs, and deep pools has good dry-fly fishing.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Below Blue Mesa Reservoir, the Gunnison River is captured by two more reservoirs—Morrow Point and Crystal—before it runs free into the rugged and scenic Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. With towering black walls that soar up to 2,700 feet above the river, the Black Canyon is deeper in many places than it is wide—making access difficult at best.
The easiest walking access to the river is found by driving US 50 to Colorado 347, then along the South Rim of the Black Canyon to East Portal Road, which connects with the river between Crystal Reservoir and the canyon. There is approximately 1 mile of foot access at East Portal Road before the river becomes impassible due to the canyon’s sheer cliffs. Floating the Black Canyon from this point is not possible—and any attempt could result in death or injury.
There are six walking “routes” (actually scrambles) into the Black Canyon for anglers and hikers: three begin from the South Rim and three from the North Rim. The Gunnison Route, which starts near the South Rim Visitor Center, is the easiest trail into the canyon but is still extremely steep and strenuous. The trail drops 1,800 feet in 1 mile and includes an 80-foot section where a chain provides the only reliable handhold. The descent takes about 90 minutes—allow two hours for the return trip.
To hike these trails, you must first register at the appropriate visitor center, sign a waiver, and acknowledge responsibility for your own rescue. You should be in excellent physical condition before
considering this adventure. The park allows only 12 registered hikers on each trail per day, so you may encounter relatively few other anglers at the bottom.
The Black Canyon is known for its spectacular fishing during the Salmonfly hatch the first two weeks of June. Golden Stones follow in late June and early July. There are also heavy evening caddis hatches in June and July, but day trippers rarely see them. There are primitive riverside campsites at the bottom of each hiking trail, making overnight stays—and evening fishing—a possibility.
Rod Cesario of Dragonfly Anglers in Crested Butte says the average brown trout in the canyon is between 14 and 17 inches, but there are numerous 17- to 22-inch fish. The rainbows—once decimated by whirling disease—are making a strong comeback, with many Hofer-strain rainbows ranging between 6 and 16 inches long. [See “Hofer Rainbows” on page 31 for details on this whirling disease-
resistant rainbow trout. The Editor.]
Gunnison Gorge
Below Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, the river flows into the Gunnison River Gorge National Conservation Area. Visiting anglers sometimes confuse the gorge and the canyon, but locals do not. In the gorge, the cliffs are not as steep and access is easier than in the Black Canyon, making the gorge much more fishing-friendly. While guiding is not permitted in the canyon, it is allowed in the gorge. One of Colorado’s special experiences is a multi-day float trip through the Gunnison River Gorge during early summer, throwing Golden Stone and Salmonfly imitations along the bank from an inflatable raft.
Four trails—Chukar, Bobcat, Duncan, and Ute—provide foot access to the gorge. You’ll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to access the trailheads, but the hike to the river is considerably easier than the park. For details on these trails, see blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ggnca/ggnca trails.html.
Gunnison Country is a fly-fishing paradise in its purest form. Come sample it for yourself—a slice of heaven is only one cast away.
Pat Dorsey is the author of Fly Fisher’s Guide to the South Platte River (Pruett Publishing, 2005) and co-owner of the Blue Quill Angler in Evergreen,
Colorado.
Gunnison Contacts
• Dragonfly Anglers
(970) 349-1228
dragonflyanglers.com
• Willowfly Anglers
(970) 641-1303
willowflyanglers.com
• Almont Anglers
(970) 641-7404
almontanglers.com
• Dan’s Fly Shop
(970) 944-2281
dansflyshop.com
• The Sportsman Outdoors
and Fly Shop
(970) 944-2526
lakecitysportsman.com
• Black Canyon Anglers
(970) 835-5050
blackcanyonanglers.com
• Gunnison River Expeditions
(970) 874-8184
gunnisonriveroutfitters.com
Copyright © 2012 Intermedia Outdoors
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