Fishing Reports and River Flows

The fishing reports and river flows are updated on a regular basis during the season (March through November). Weather and fishing conditions can change rapidly this high in the Rockies, so be sure to check for the latest updates or give us a call before planning your trip to the area. The latest flows and specific hatches for our rivers are listed below. Visit USGS on the web for real-time river flow data for Gunnison County.

Willowfly Anglers guide, Eric Grand, with a nice Taylor River rainbow.

Week of 11/29/2009 (last report for the season)

This is the last fishing report for the 2009 season. However, we continue to fish during the winter months on sections of rivers that don't freeze over. The Taylor River C&R section is open year round, and you can catch trophy trout here through the winter. Winter fishing in the Rockies, while challenging, can be very rewarding.

Taylor River Catch & Release (C&R - below the dam):
Release/Flow: 104 cfs
Small midges, mysis, egg patterns, and nymphs, including: midges 18-24, mysis shrimp 18-22, RS2s 18-22, Barr BWO emergers 18-22, Pheasant Tails 18-24, Jujubees 20-22, Brassies 20-22, and Black Beauties 20-24.

Taylor River:
Flow: 147 cfs at Almont
Stonefly nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Barr's BWO Emergers, and streamers. Small mayfly nymphs trailed behind larger stonefly nymphs or Copper Johns. Streamers and Western Coachman wet flies. Egg patterns (14) with small beadhead nymphs (18-22) trailing behind.

For more information, check out the Taylor River report on Orvis.com

East River:
Flow: 77 cfs at Almont
Stonefly nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Barr's BWO Emergers, and streamers. Small mayfly nymphs trailed behind larger stonefly nymphs or Copper Johns. Streamers and Western Coachman wet flies. Egg patterns (14) with small beadhead nymphs (18-22) trailing behind.

Gunnison River:
Flow: 313 cfs through town
Stonefly nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Barr's BWO Emergers, and streamers. Mayfly nymphs trailed behind larger stonefly nymphs or Copper Johns. Streamers in black, olive or white (4-8). Egg patterns (14) with small beadhead nymphs (18-22) trailing behind.

For more information, check out the Gunnison River report on Orvis.com

Kokanee Salmon Run (August 1 - October 31):
Kokanee are a land-locked form of sockeye salmon. Each April, 2-inch kokanee fry are released from Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery into the East River. Their overnight journey takes them down the East to the Gunnison River and onto Blue Mesa Reservoir, where they typically spend two or three years. In late August, the salmon begin their trek back to the hatchery and the run usually lasts through October. Division of Wildlife personnel spawn the salmon at the hatchery, taking 3,000,000 to 10,000,000 eggs per year. Catch & release fishing for kokanee is allowed on the Gunnison River and East River from August 1st through October 31st. The run normally peaks around mid September.