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River guide · Colorado

Fly Fishing the Gunnison River

Below the towering walls of the Black Canyon, the Gunnison carves through a billion-year-old gorge as one of Colorado's premier Gold Medal tailwaters, its cold, dam-regulated flows nurturing wild brown and rainbow trout to trophy size. The gorge float (a multi-day wilderness raft trip through dramatic Precambrian canyon walls) is widely considered the marquee fly-fishing float trip in the state.

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When to fish

Year-round

Best months: year-round

  • Best

Salmonfly: late May–June. Golden Stonefly: June–July.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Along the Gunnison River

The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area is accessed via four unmaintained 4WD trailheads (Chukar, Bobcat, Duncan, and Ute) off Peach Valley Road north of Montrose; each involves a steep hike to the river. Multi-day float permits are required for the gorge. The East Portal road inside Black Canyon NPS provides limited walk-in wade access to the upper section.

The water

Tailwater

Key hatches

  • Salmonfly
  • Golden Stonefly
  • Pale Morning Dun
  • Caddis
  • Trico
Hatch calendar

Conditions

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6-day forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Key hatches

  • Salmonfly (late May–June)
  • Golden Stonefly (June–July)
  • Pale Morning Dun (summer)
  • Caddis (summer evenings)
  • Trico (late summer)
  • Blue-winged Olive / Baetis (Sept–Nov)

Fly shops near the Gunnison River

Shops and guides that fish the Gunnison River. See all 114 Colorado shops →

10 fly shops shownGunnison River

Species on this water

TroutRedfishSalmonSaltwaterStriper

Nearby towns

GunnisonCrested ButteMontrose

Rivers nearby

Crystal RiverRio Grande (Colorado)Roaring Fork RiverFrying Pan River
From The Fly Bench

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Gear up on the Gunnison River

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The flies that work on the Gunnison River

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