Fishing Reports and River Flows

The fishing reports and river flows are updated on a regular basis during the season (March through October). 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 Colorado and Gunnison County.

 Floating the Gunnison River with Willowfly Anglers guide, Joey Micucci.

Click here for the USGS real-time stream flows for the rivers below.

Taylor River Catch & Release (C&R - below the dam):
Small midges and nymphs, mysis shrimp, and BWOs.
Flies: general midge patterns 18-24, mysis shrimp 18-22, Jujubee 20-22, Brassie 20-22, Black Beauty 20-24, KF Flashers olive 20-22, RS2 18-20, Pheasant Tail 18-22, and Barr BWO Emerger 18-22. BWO emergers and adults 16-20.

Taylor River:
Small mayfly nymphs (16-20) and midges (20-22) trailed behind larger stonefly nymphs (6-10). Streamers (4-8). Look for midges and BWOs to hatch around mid day.
Flies: 20-Incher 6-10, Pat's Rubber Leg Stone 6, Pheasant Tail 16-20, Copper John 16-18, Barr BWO Emerger 18-20, Micro Mayflies 18-20. BWO emergers and adults 16-20, Hoppers 6-10. Muddy Buddy and Sculpzilla streamers, and Wooly Buggers 4-8.

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

East River:
Small mayfly nymphs (16-20) and midges (20-22) trailed behind larger stonefly nymphs (6-10). Streamers (4-8). Look for midges and BWOs to hatch around mid day.
Flies: 20-Incher 6-10, Pat's Rubber Leg Stone 6, Pheasant Tail 16-20, Copper John 16-18, Barr BWO Emerger 18-20, Micro Mayflies 18-20. BWO emergers and adults 16-20, Hoppers 6-10. Muddy Buddy and Sculpzilla streamers, and Wooly Buggers 4-8.

Gunnison River:
Small mayfly nymphs (16-20) and midges (20-22) trailed behind larger stonefly nymphs (6-10). Streamers (4-8). Look for midges and BWOs to hatch around mid day. Look for hoppers from now through the end of August.
Flies: 20-Incher 6-10, Pat's Rubber Leg Stone 6, Pheasant Tail 16-20, Copper John 16-18, Micro Mayfly 18-20, BLM 16-18, Barr BWO Emerger 18-20, WD-40 18-22. BWO emergers and adults 16-20, Hoppers 6-10. Muddy Buddy and Sculpzilla streamers 4-8. Egg patterns (red/roe 10-14) will be effective as the Kokanee run up the Gunnison River.

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.