Roughly 2 miles of the road are directly alongside the river and provide easy access to some amazing runs, pools and long, deep stretches of water. Considering its proximity, you may want to take the opportunity to spen… The East Portal did not disappoint. The Red Rock Canyon area is located near the south rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Runoff season is also pretty much a no go, as sediment and mud make the water too murky for decent fly fishing conditions. You have been warned. 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. Gunnison Gorge of the Black Canyon - Below Crystal Reservoir, Colorado Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions Reported by Gunnison River Expeditions Gorge continues to fish well. Seasonal Conditions. The Lake Fork has strong populations of rainbows, cuttbows, browns, and Snake River cutts, as well as occasional brook trout. info@montroseanglers.com About the GUNNISON BASIN The Colorado River Basin lies in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and is home to some of Colorado's most prolific trout streams. Regardless of where you decide to stay, you want to look into local vacation rentals when planning your trip. Weather @GUNNISON BASIN - Updated December 21, 2020 - 2:01am by OpenWeather. As far as air travel to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, there are two local airports to choose from. And although East Portal Road closes with the first November snows and the roads giving access to the trails descending into the Gunnison Gorge become wet and impassable, Smith Fork Trail does offer anglers excellent wintertime angling throughout the lower 4 miles of the Gunnison Gorge. This section of river is about a mile above the famous Black Canyon … The fishing in Black Canyon is well worth the risk, but it's not worth your life. Click Trout Symbols on Map for More Fishing Information. Fishing within 200 yards downstream of Crystal Dam is prohibited. GUNNISON GORGE: This is a magical and beautiful place to fish, especially float fishing! The easiest access to the Gunnison River is to drive the East Portal Road. Additional River Information . This river is the largest tributary of the Colorado River in Colorado, with a length of 180 miles, multiple hydroelectric dams, and many confluences with other bodies of water. From here you can fish the southern bank of the Gunnison via the Devil's Backbone route. Offering a mix of fishing opportunities from famed Gold Medal waters to High Country streams and lakes, this area will surely please any angler. This is when the fabled salmonfly hatch occurs and the air over the waters of the Gunnison is thick with 2-3-inch long orange-and-pink-tinged flies. If you are the adventurous type and are up for a challenge there are several "routes" to the inner Black Canyon where you will find the bigger trout. The absolute best time to fish Black Canyon is early June through mid-June. This designation is given to the lakes and streams of Colorado that … If you encounter fish on spawning beds, leave them alone and focus your fishing on deeper water. The Gunnison River in Black Canyon National Park is the 12 miles of Gold Medal and Wild Trout waters everyone travels there to visit. 309 E Main St The Gunnison River is accessible one of two ways, either via the East Portal Road to the river, or extreme hiking trails from the park rim road into the inner canyon. Please refer to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fishing Regulations. Fly Fishing the Salmon Run in Gunnison, Colorado Autumn in Gunnison, Colorado is a special time for anglers. Furthermore, the crystal clear water and sweeping mountainside backdrop make your arduous journey through the canyon well worth the effort.If roughing it and off-roading followed by some high altitude hiking aren't for you, the Gunnison River through Black Canyon is a favorite stretch for floating and rafting, too. East River In Almont: ICE. This section has ample public access, with very few rapids. Vehicles with an overall length (including trailer) greater than 22 feet are prohibited. The Gunnison River from 200 yards downstream of Crystal Dam all the way through Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to the North Fork is designated Gold Medal & Wild Trout Water. I wonder if it ever doesn’t look calm any more. Also of note is the nearby Gunnison River Diversion Tunnel. The East Portal Road is paved, but very steep. The Gunnison River can be categorized into three sections: Upper Gunnison, Black Canyon, and Gunnison Gorge. Each are shown on the map above. Gunnison River (East Portal) We decided to try some new water this weekend and I am sure glad we did! 81401 There is also a campground immediately to the left (north) once you reach the valley floor. Designated a Gold Medal trout fishery, the Gunnison is one of those legendary stretches well known throughout the west by avid anglers. Access at the East Portal and North Fork Gunnison confluence (Pleasure Park) is … Flowing south from Emerald Lake, north of Crested Butte, this river makes its way to Almont, where it joins with the Taylor to create the well-known fishing haunt, the Gunnison. Whether you’re baitcasting, spinning or fly fishing your chances of getting a bite here are good. Rain creates deep mud wallows on these roads, so you may find that you have to wait for routes to dry out a bit unless you want to get mired and stranded. Visit our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Colorado. Fly Fishing the Salmonfly Hatch of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado. Most famous for the Salmon Fly hatch in May/June. Here are some tips for getting access to the water and where you can find the Gold Medal section:The primary access point to reach the Gold Medals Waters of the Gunnison is East Portal Road. The East Portal Road is closed in winter. Fall fishing isn't too bad, though this point significantly diminishes the hatches in the year, and not nearly as rich as the midsummer salmon fly hatch. There are several resorts in the area, including one at Waunita Hot Springs Ranch which is perfect for recovering from the tough hike to the bottom of Black Canyon. Steep canyon walls define the landscape and rock climbing is only to be attempted by expert climbers. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison River is one of the most scenic rivers in the state. There are three primary access routes from the North Rim including: S.O.B. No bait is permitted, only artificial flies and lures may be used while fishing in the park. Each are shown on the map above. The current is strong, and the bottom is treacherous, and you need to take proper precautions. Finally, no matter where in Black Canyon you venture, be aware of the local flora and fauna. Copyright 2020 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. The clear, cold water of the Gunnison River is a sportsman’s and whitewater paddler’s paradise. We decided to hit a tailwater on the Gunnison river under Crystal Dam. This is a great section of river if you want to get away from the crowds of the East … Good mayfly nymphs and emergers include Barr’s BWO Emergers, RS2s, and JuJu Baetis in sizes 18 to 22. Gunnison River East Portal From Crystal dam, thru the beautiful East Portal area, flowing down thru the Black Canyon and on thru Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area … The best time to visit is during the salmonfly hatch in June, or as near to that time as you can get there despite the mass influx of other anglers also making the trip. The Gunny is a big fish river in the truest sense of the words, as the entire upper Gunnison and the lower Gunnison downstream to the Smith Fork meets Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s criteria for Gold Medal status. While most anglers are easily convinced to return to Black Canyon after their first trip due to the monster rainbow and brown catches, the view of the 2,700-foot canyon walls and surrounding mountains merit at least one additional trip just for the scenery. Due to its status as a Gold Medal trout stream, the Gunnison River in Black Canyon National Park is catch-and-release only for rainbows along the entire 12-mile length of the canyon. Whether you're planning your trip, learning your insects, improving your fishing with expert tips or getting detailed resources from the USGS streamflows or DoW, we got you covered to help you find the river and find the success you want. Further on down the road we come to the first of several fly fishermen we find in the river. Anglers will find open fishing among the many tributaries of the East River. This road is extremely steep (15% grades) with hairpin curves. River Information. If you plan to visit during the salmonfly season though, expect to book well in advance before spots fill up. Midge larva and emerger patterns in various colors, sizes 20 to 24, can be fished through winter. Montrose Regional Airport has flights to and from Denver daily, and Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport has similar flight plans if you don't mind driving an hour or so to reach Black Canyon. As mentioned above, the only drive-up access to the Gunnison River within the park is via East Portal Road. Fish as large as 22 inches are caught occasionally, but the average is between 12 to 14 inches. This season welcomes the return of the kokanee salmon run to local rivers. Lake-run fish enter the river in spring and fall. Gunnison River. The river looks wonderful and very calm, only a few riffles. Montrose puts you nearest to Crystal Dam and Reservoir, although the accommodations in Gunnison are a bit more diverse regarding options. From the entrance station on the south rim, it runs about 7 miles to its terminus at the Crystal Dam. Although the fishing season is not closed in the winter, the access road to the river is. Located two miles downstream of Crystal Dam at the bottom of Black Canyon, East Portal Campground is shaded by box elder trees. It generally reopens April 15. Drive South Rim Road. View the DIY Fly Fishing Web Map to get turn-by-turn directions to the access points shown on the map above. Gorgeous overlooks, beautiful vistas, and hungry fish that strike at anything and everything that hits the water make it a special place to fish. Please note Winter Hours Through March 15th, 970-249-0408 The Gunnison Route, sometimes referred to as the "easiest" route, is still extremely steep, rocky and strenuous. Current River Flow Updates. Historical River Flow. The picnic spot is just down stream from where the town of East Portal once was. The views and the river are beautiful looking back toward the park. Ample public access, robust aquatic insect hatches, excellent numbers of trout, and big fish potential all make the Gunnison one of the Centennial State’s best fisheries and a must-visit destination for your fly fishing trip to western Colorado. Click the map markers for more information about each route. Or if you have means to cross the river you can fish the northern bank of the river via the Northern River route. The clear, cold water of the Gunnison River is a sportsman’s and whitewater paddler’s paradise. It is the day the road to the East Portal opens. Lazily snaking through cottonwood-lined ranchland for 20 miles, the upper "Gunny" is dammed to form Blue Mesa Reservoir, the Centennial State's largest body of water. The river drains a huge part of the state of Colorado. It's formed by two major streams, the Taylor River and the East River, both of which are fine trout streams themselves. There are a number of area fly shops and on-line retailers that publish Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park fishing reports. The National Park Service uses the term "routes" since these are not designated, marked and maintained trails. Also be aware that browns will continue to spawn in the Taylor River through December. 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