River and Fishing Information

Fishing the Taylor River -
from Almont to Taylor Reservoir

The Taylor River tailwater begins below the dam at Taylor Reservoir at an elevation of about 9,300 feet. This section of the river is 20 miles up County Road 742 (Taylor River Road) from Almont. The river flows down through Taylor Canyon and eventually joins the East River to form the Gunnison River in Almont, at an elevation of about 8,000 feet.

There is approximately 12 miles of public access on the Taylor River, with plenty of fishing opportunities for brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout throughout Taylor Canyon. Recent fish sampling by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) resulted in trout density estimates of between 6,000 and 7,000 fish per mile.

The Taylor River tailwater can be divided into three sections: The first section includes nearly five miles of river from Almont to Five Mile Bridge. This is a lower gradient stretch which offers plenty of access and fairly easy wading. The river consists of riffles and pools, and some pocket water. The second section is beyond Five Mile Bridge, from Harmel's Resort to the Catch-and-Release (C&R) section below the dam. This upper stretch of river also includes some nice riffles and pools, but it is higher gradient with big boulders and a lot of deep pocket water. It can be tougher to wade, and many places are better fished from the bank. Many anglers wear chest waders and use a wading staff when fishing the Taylor River. The third section is the Taylor River C&R. This is our famous trophy trout water below the dam. It is the special regulation section of the Taylor River which is designated catch-and-release fishing only.

Almont to Five Mile Bridge
Public access on the Taylor River begins in Almont, just above Three Rivers Resort. There is good access and a nice pool near the Post Office, just a quarter mile up the road from Three Rivers Resort. There are several more access points as you travel up Taylor Canyon Road the first couple of miles, as well as one small stretch of private property. This lower section of the river, up to about MM3 (Mile Marker 3), includes a lot of riffles and easy wading opportunities.

At about MM3, there is a campground at Gunnison Mountain Park. This section of river includes some good water which holds some nice fish. Trout over 18 inches are not uncommon. There are some big boulders and pocket water, and plenty of riffles. There is also plenty of access beyond Gunnison Mountain Park up to about MM4.

The river at MM4 includes some nice pools and pocket water, with riffles in between. From MM4 to Five Mile Bridge is very good water, and you can normally find a lot of fish here. You can park at MM4 or at the pull-off just before the bridge. There is a fairly steep hill to walk down to get to the river, but there will be several visible trails to follow. Wading this section of river is not too difficult, but there are plenty of big rocks and holes to watch out for. During high water, you will need to fish the edges. You can fish another quarter mile or so above the bridge before you run into private property at the ranch below Harmel's Resort.

Harmel's Resort to the C&R
From the public access area just above Harmel's Resort at about MM7 all the way to the C&R section below the dam, the river tends to be high gradient with big boulders and lots of deep pocket water and whitewater. Between Harmel's and the next highway bridge at South Bank, there is very good water which holds some big trout. There is easy access here with plenty of parking. There is a campground just above Harmel's, and this is also a popular area for rock climbing. South Bank is where rafts will put in and take out during summer.

From South Bank up to One Mile Campground and Rosy Lane Campground (roughly MM8 to MM9) the river includes some whitewater and rapids, and can be tough to fish. But there are some great fishing opportunities in this section and up past MM9 as well. There is easy access to the river and parking along the road. It can be busy here during the summer months with all the campers and boat traffic.

You'll continue to find quality water to fish from MM9 to MM10, and also beyond the US Forest Service cabin which is just above MM10. There are some deep pools near MM10 and the Forest Service cabin which hold a lot of fish, including some larger trout. There are parking areas off the road near MM10 with easy access to the river across the road. This stretch of river will have boat traffic during the summer months, but the fish will continue to actively feed within just minutes of the rafts passing by.

There is nearly another mile of good public water beyond MM10 until you reach some private property just below the old White Water Resort. One of the main put-ins for rafting is just above White Water Resort. There is another large parcel of private property at Crystal Creek, at about MM13, with some public water in between. As you continue traveling up above Crystal Creek, you'll come to Lodgepole Campground at about MM14. This is a popular area with a lot of fish. There is easy access right off the highway, with a large parking area on the river across from the campground.

From Lodgepole to Cold Spring Campground, there is over a mile of quality water to fish. Some of the river here is not as easily accessible and you must walk up the bank and/or wade the river. This reach includes long riffles and pools, as well as some good pocket water. There are some nice fish in this upper stretch of the Taylor River.

As you travel beyond Cold Spring at about MM16, the road curves and comes back to the river again below where Lottis Creek flows into the Taylor River. This part of the river is home to huge boulders and deep pocket water. It holds a lot of fish and can get some pressure during the peak season since it is right off the road. There is private property across the road from Lottis Campground at about MM17, and there is no more public access on the river until you reach the lower boundary of the C&R section at MM20.

The Taylor River C&R
The C&R section of Taylor River is trophy trout water which includes about .4 miles of river designated catch-and-release by the DOW. The special regulations permit flies and lures only, and all fish caught must be returned to the river. There are signs which clearly mark the boundaries of the C&R section, which is patrolled by the DOW. They routinely check anglers for proper fishing licenses and habitat stamps. There is a parking area with portable restroom facilities next to the bridge just beyond MM20.

You can look over the bridge and see huge browns and rainbows in the river below. The fish here feed on small midges and mysis shrimp year round. Fishing the C&R involves technical fishing with small flies and sight fishing to huge trout weighing up to 10 pounds or more. Due to the limited access and large trout, it can be very crowded during the peak season.

Fishing this trophy trout water requires some skill and plenty of patience. Once hooked, these trout can run like freight trains. Hooking and landing fish at the C&R is certainly a challenge, even for the experienced angler, and it can be very frustrating for beginners. Anglers can venture back down Taylor Canyon to get away from the crowd and fish sections of the Taylor River which hold over 6,000 fish per mile. That's more than six times the trout density at the C&R.

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