Premier fishing and rafting trips through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Gorge. Colorado’s largest body of water—Blue Mesa Reservoir—is just ten minutes west of Gunnison. A major tributary of the Colorado River, the Gunnison is almost 80 miles in length. Our guides are experienced and professional and will offer the best the Gunnison River fly fishing experience available. A 9-foot 5-wt fly rod with floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and small nymphs on the Gunnison River. [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 . We are the "go to"  fishing guide service for Crested Butte, Gunnison, and Almont, Colorado. John spoke at the Orvis Plano last night, he’ll be at the new Fort Worth Orvis today 530-7, and at the Dallas Orvis tomorrow from 3-5. 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. Runoff season is also pretty much a no go, as sediment and mud make the water too murky for decent fly fishing conditions. Copyright 2021 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. We specialize in wilderness float fishing, walk/wade trips and Class III-IV white water rafting experiences. Whether it’s a new stretch of tailwater or a roaring torrent of fish and bugs, there’s nothing quite as gratifying as hooking up on an unfamiliar lip … The lower section lies below the reservoir in the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park where trophy rainbow trout measuring over 20 inches can be found. For larger nymphs and streamers a 9-foot 6-wt with a sink tip fly line makes life easier. Here you’ll find brook trout, cutbow, cutthroat trout, mackinaw, rainbow trout and tiger trout. The Gunnison River is seventy-eight miles long including the lakes it flows through. Its confluence, formed by the Taylor River and East River, are well known themselves as excellent trout streams. Gunnison River Guides is a talented team of experienced fly fishing guides. To maximize the fly-fishing experience and to allow our guides to interact with their clients, trips are conducted with two anglers per boat. Gunnison River Guides is a talented team of experienced fly fishing guides. The river drains a huge part of the state of Colorado. Float Fishing Float fishing takes place on the Gunnison River between the town of Almont, CO and Blue Mesa reservoir, and it is a wonderful way to enjoy a day on the water. 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. 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. 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. RIGS Guide Service out of Ridgway runs the best floats of all the companies that currently are licensed in the gorge. The river’s narrow corridor creates intermediate whitewater rapids, class II-III rapids, through the 2800 foot high walls of Gorge and continue for 14 miles of the Gunnison River Gorge. Trampe’s – Gunnison River: The Trampe ranch on the Gunnison River is just a few miles south of our fly shop. Looking for more places to fish? Doug. We are very proud of every guide on our team. Most famous for the Salmon Fly hatch in May/June. The Gunnison river holds all kinds of trout within it’s forks, but most of the fish caught will be rainbows and browns. If you’re flying in to Denver the confluence of the river is located approximately 243 miles southwest via I-70 W. If you fly in to Salt Lake City, Utah you’ll have to drive 284 miles south, southeast via US-6 E and I-70 E to the city of Grand Junction Colorado. There is approximately 20 miles of floatable water. This is who we are! Fish are eating hoppers on top and smaller bugs subsurface. Visit our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Colorado. Established in 1985, Black Canyon Anglers is the largest and most experienced fly fishing outfitter on the Gunnison River. We value all of our friendships made with returning customers and welcome the new ones to come in the future. 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! The resort features some cabins dating back to the 1800’s as well as brand new cabins with all the amenities of home. Fed by high mountain runoff, the lake is clear and pristine. Get directions to access points, boat ramps, and real-time USGS stream flow data. Custom float fishing trips on the Gunnison River Gorge are fully guided for both Fly and Spin rods. The river has many long runs and deep pools, and aquatic insects are to be found just about everywhere. We specialize in wilderness float fishing, walk-and-wade fly fishing and classic whitewater rafting adventures. You can stay in the city of Grand Junction or in towns closer to the actual river and fishing such as Hotchkiss, Crawford, Sapinero and Gunnison. You want a guide that truly cares about your experience on the water. See the Colorado Parks & Wildlife fishing brochure for special regulations that apply to the Gunnison River. Known for its large wild rainbows and brown trout, the resource stands above most fisheries in the United States. There are numerous cabins, motels and campgrounds in the area to stay in. For larger nymphs and streamers a 9-foot 6-wt with a sink tip fly line makes life easier. __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"62516":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default Palette","value":{"colors":{"62516":{"val":"var(--tcb-skin-color-0)"}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Gunnison River in Colorado, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Cochetopa Creek in Colorado, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Florida River in Colorado, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Crystal River in Colorado, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing South Boulder Creek in Colorado, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Elk River in Colorado, Colorado Parks & Wildlife fishing brochure. You can fly directly to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport where you’ll be able to access the river’s upper section at the town of Gunnison just two miles away. The Gunnison is an exciting river, a photographer’s heaven, a hiker’s delight, and a fisherman’s dream. Fly fishing the Gunnison River is a truly GUNNISON GORGE: This is a magical and beautiful place to fish, especially float fishing! We are all experienced fly fishermen that have a passion for teaching fly fishing and spin fishing. According to Chris Santella’s book 50 places to fish before you die it is considered one of the best fishing trips in Colorado. 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. Doug Dillingham Author of "Fly Fishing the Gunnison Country" The first big hatch of salmonfly occurs from mid June until the first of July which leads to much better overall fishing. To find Gunnison River enter the 39.061649 latitude, and -108.57843 longitude coordinates into your GPS device or smart phone. Blue-winged Olives are plentiful beginning in April until mid May, and again from July to October. The.4 miles of the Catch & Release, C & R, aka Hog Trough is the most famous and pressured. The upper section of the river is largest above the Blue Mesa Reservoir which is a renowned kokanee salmon fishery. Long riffles spill into deep pools with … Midges hatch throughout the year in the Gunnison, but are generally used only when there are no other insects hatching. 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. Current fly fishing conditions are not so good today. 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. A two-nighter on the river turned out to be absolutely spectacular! We are the "go to" fishing guide service for Crested Butte, Gunnison, and Almont, Colorado. Gunnison River Fly Shop is located in the heart of the legendary Gunnison River Valley of Colorado. We are located just a short walk from the confluence of the Taylor and East Rivers which form the Gunnison River. The Gunnison River’s malachite green waters have been awarded “Gold Medal” status for rainbow and brown trout fishing. The state’s second largest river has a wide variation of widths that range from 100 to 1,000 feet, and the strong current and rapids found upstream make travel virtually impossible. Fly fishing in the Gunnison River is world renowned among fly fishing enthusiasts. Downstream of the Black Canyon, just south of the confluence of the river, is Gunnison Gorge. A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 3X to 6X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard. We are very proud of every guide on our team. The Gunny, as it is known locally, has a reputation among Colorado natives as the scene of some of the best river and lake fishing to be found anywhere in the state. Best Flies to Fish: The Gunnison River There’s no task more daunting in a fisherman’s life than fishing a new river. Fly Fishing the Gunnison Gorge by The Shire Life. While there are ample opportunities for a walk and wading angler throughout the entire length of the Gunnison, both the upper Gunnison and the Gunnison Gorge are tremendous float-fishing destinations with the Gunny Gorge easily rating as Colorado’s marquee fly … Jet boat and lower Gunnison Gorge trips. When choosing a fishing guide service you want guides that are personable, knowledgeable, and … Walk/wade fishing, rentals, shuttles, fly shop. 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 The Gunnison River Guides team is dedicated to helping you make the most of your day on the water. This trip is 1 day to multi days. 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. Gunnison River Fishing Tips A 9-foot 5-wt fly rod with floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and small nymphs on the Gunnison River. 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. Gunnison River: Lower, Colorado fishing report, rainbow trout fly fishing forecast, fishing season updates, fly shop and fishing guides, and fly-fishing weather. If you need fishing tackle, or are looking for a fishing guide or fishing charter please visit Tackle, Guides, Charters As they move out of the lake into the river it’s a great time to catch large trout. The Gunnison basin has many angling options: fishing small, isolated creeks for native cutthroat and brook trout; sight-nymphing for 5- to 10-pound trout on the Taylor River; float fishing near the town of Gunnison; wade fishing the many accesses along the Lake Fork; or trekking into the Black Canyon or Gunnison Gorge. This is a great section of river if you want to get away from the crowds of the East Portal or lower sections around Pleasure Park. 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. Our valley offers both great river and stream fishing and lake fishing. 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. Our experienced staff of fellow fly fishermen will hook you up with the hot flies, point you in the right direction, or arrange for all of your guided fly fishing needs. 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. The upper section of the river has been designated as both wild trout water and gold medal water. Dragonfly Anglers' guides are experienced oarsman. If you’re planning a fly fishing expedition you could hardly pick a better location than the Gunnison River in Southwestern Colorado. You will need to really dig deep and work hard to catch some fish. Only a 2 star day. A few to check out are listed below. Tailwater fishing opportunities include nymphing with small mayfly patterns and midges. Each section of the river has its own unique characteristics with the upper section being impacted more by the spring runoff season. In the waters of the Gunnison River you’ll find record size brown and rainbow trout and even Kokanee salmon. 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. In winter, fishing the Gunnison is tough and for only the heartiest of fisherman. View the DIY Fly Fishing Web Map to get turn-by-turn directions to the access points shown on the map above. Gunnison River Guides specialize in creating the best guided fishing experience possible. A custom driftboat or fully rigged raft will be your ticket to beautiful scenery, wildlife, and miles of Rocky Mountain trout water. Gunnison River Expeditions specializes in wade and float fishing trips in this gold medal trout fishery. There are a number of area fly shops and on-line retailers that publish Gunnison River fishing reports. 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. Three Rivers Resort is located in the historic mountain town of Almont, Colorado on the Taylor River. 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. The river is in mid-Spring form, with most of the ice off and rainbows getting frisky for the spawn. In the summer, you can rent a boat, bring your own or simply enjoy the … We’ve recently had the pleasure of helping friend John Way set up a round of presentations here in the DFW metro this year, talking all things Montana and introducing people to his fine shop in Ennis – The Tackle Shop (link to his blog by the way). 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