July 9th 2010
It's all hatching now & we are right in the middle of it!
This is best time for dry fly fishing (if you like that kind of thing)!
Caddis sz 12-16 & stone flies 6-10 are fishing well all day, PMD's sz 16-18 kick in around 11AM then the Green/Gray drakes sz 10-12 go off for 1-5 hours depending on their mood & afternoon cloud cover. Little yellow sallie's sz14-16, more caddis & some hoppers in the afternoon. If they aren't on the dries try the nymphs in the same plus Purple & Blue Prince Nymphs, zug bugs sz 12-18. Hatches will continue to move upstream towards CB and Taylor Dam though July, then it's back to mostly nymphing.
ENJOY!
JUNE 16TH 2010
IT STARTS NOW!
The East has dropped 1,400 cfs in 4 days and I can see the boulders poking out of the river again for the 1st time in 3 weeks. This is always the start of the best 6 weeks of dry fly fishing when the water drops, clears and warms. The lower Gunnison has seen a few Green Drakes and PMD’s this week. The Taylor & East near Almont has seen some stoneflies flying around and the Caddis are popping all over. Temperatures where cold last week, so big drop in flows. But after yesterdays warm temperatures, flows only came up a little. This weeks day time highs will be in the 70’s so flows will have peaks in the early AM hours then drop and clear until the evening hours.
Click on the gauging stations to the right to see more on the local river flows. You can enter up to 120 days history.
We have a ton of new fly patterns this year including some great stonefly nymphs & dries. Also more new tackle than we can fit in the shop. Hours are 7AM-9PM or later, stop in!
The fish are going to start feeding hard this week, come and get it!
MAY 1st
River flows are up and down with the weather. In early April the Upper Gunnison Basin was at 100% of average snow pack. Since then a few wind events in the last month have covered the snow with a red Utah dust and accelerated the snow melt and dropped the snow pack to just below average.
Fishing has very good lately with rivers temporarily dropping because of colder & cloudy days. Belldar cone heads & sculpzilla streamer patterns in black, olive & natural are pulling nice fish off the banks and in deeper water. Nymphing with eggs, worms, copper Johns & big stonefly patterns are producing nice fish as well. Dry action is limited to a few midge hatches & the odd BWO & Caddis.
MARCH
Spring thaw is happening now! Fishing is improving on all rivers. Get out & fish!
Guided Fishing Trips Page
WINTER FISHING REPORT
GUNNISON RIVER
Water flows will drop from around 300cfs in mid November to 160-220 cfs in April. Trout in the Gunnison average 10-14" although many trout around 25 inches can be caught in the fall as they try to put on a few pounds before the Gunnison winter begins. Brown trout move out of Blue Mesa Reservoir into the Gunnison to spawn late October thru November and into December, followed by some egg hungry Rainbows from the lake. Approximately 80% of the fish are Brown Trout then Rainbows and a few cutthroats.
Winters have been mild the last few years leaving much of the Gunnison open year-round for fishing. During colder years the river freezes over solid in many places or shelves of ice extending off the bank for 2 to ten feet or more making wading or landing a fish very difficult if not dangerous(fish with a friend or guide). During extreme winters anchor ice scours the river bottom some days & ice blocks the size of small houses form in the river above Blue Mesa. Try fishing during the heat of the day fishing one of these small nymphs with a larger stone fly or egg pattern in front to get the trout's attention.
Winter flies are mostly nymphs including: Pheasant tails 14-20, prince nymphs 14-18, baetis & callibaetis nymphs 16-22, brassies 16-22, midge larva black, olive, cream 18-22, copper johns black, green, copper, red 18-22, midge & midge emergers black, Baetis & callibaetis nymphs 18-24, Barr’s Wet Emergers PMD & BWO 18-22(also Barr’s Flashback & bead head), Rojo Midges Black, Olive, Red, Purple 18-22(I like the glass bead with the tungsten bead that gets it down quick in the short drifts), Pheasant Tail Nymphs 18-24, Tungsten Zebra Two-Tone (black/red, purple/red), Juju Baetis 18-22, STD Baetis Dark & pheasant 18-20, 18-20 brassies 16-22, midge larva black, olive, cream 18-22, RS-2's gray, olive, tan 1824, WD-40's gray & flash back 18-22, glass bead WD-40's black, gray & brown 18-22, miracle nymphs 18-22, olive, cream 18-24, streamers & wolly buggers 6-10.
TAYLOR RIVER
Winter flows out of Taylor Dam are between 75-100cfs. At the Fly Shop in Almont where the Taylor meets the East & forms the Gunnison, flows are 100-160cfs.
In the winter Taylor canyon doesn't get much sun & the edges of the banks freeze up in many places. There are 14 miles of public water between Almont & the Reservoir but much of the Canyon is unfishable or dangerous once the snow falls. Big Horn sheep have perished in the Taylor breaking through the ice. Winter driving in the canyon is much different than the drive from Gunnison to Crested Butte & for the experienced winter driver. Most of the road (21 miles from Almont to the Reservoir) winds along the river in a canyon with very little sun in the winter. Snow slides temporarily cover parts of the road in big winters so carry emergency winter gear and a full tank of gas. Fly patterns are similar to the Gunnison in the winter.
TAYLOR TAILWATER (aka HOG TROUGH)
Travel time: from the fly shop 21 miles to the dam 1 hour + or -. From Gunnison 1 hour 20 min. + or -. From Crested Butte 1 hour 45 min + or-.
The 4/10ths of a mile of catch & release water below the damn sees little pressure compared to the rest of the year & it never freezes over. Wind can blow up canyon and freeze your rod guides, fingers & toes (Taylor Park has recorded temperatures of 70 degrees below zero with out wind chill). Or you may get a banana belt day with temperatures in the 30’s!
Fish during the heat of the day and bring all of your winter clothes; ski hat (no cowboy hats), fishing gloves slit finger, palm over finger (no ski gloves), hand warmers, and an extra set incase of accidental dunking. Most of the fishing is done standing on the snow banks not in the water, but waders should be large enough to wear extra layers while still leaving lots of air space, especially inside your boots! Boots with rubber soles don’t get as much snow build up on the bottom as the felt do. Wear your best winter camouflage to blend in with the snow banks! A thermos of your favorite hot beverage or soup is nice when you’re warming your fingers in the truck after landing that 28” Bow.
Fluorocarbon tippet & leaders do seem to land more fish in these tail waters! Dinsmore split shot is in a camo green & comes in many sizes helping with your stealth. A line anti freeze like “Loon’s Stanley Ice Off Paste” helps to keep your guides from freezing up every cast. Glass bead, black bead, dull finish beads or no beads at all on nymphs turns more fish than too much flash.
These state record trout get this big because of the mysis shrimp that come out of the Reservoir. So needless to say you shouldn’t be with out a handful. Mysis are size 14-22 and white with a small hint of pink or red when they are freshly dead from being shot out the dam tubes. Our favorite patterns are; Stalcup’s extended body, Sand’s Epoxy, Reid’s Ultra, Otter’s Dead, BTS, Palm’s, Pacific Fly Mysis & Solitude Mysis. MYSIS SHRIMP
Other winter tail water flies include lots of midges (30 degree water just doesn’t grow big bugs). Baetis & callibaetis nymphs 16-22, Barr’s Wet Emergers PMD & BWO’s 18-22(also Barr’s Flashback & bead head), Rojo Midges Black, Olive, Red, Purple 18-22 (I like the glass bead with the tungsten bead that gets it down quick in the short drifts), Pheasant Tail Nymphs 18-24, Tungsten Zebra Two-Tone (black/red, purple/red), Juju Baetis 18-22, STD Baetis Dark & pheasant 18-20, 18-20 brassies 16-22, midge larva black, olive, cream 18-22, RS-2's gray, olive, tan 1824, WD-40's gray & flash back 18-22, glass bead WD-40's black, gray & brown 18-22, miracle nymphs 18-22. "Remember these flies imitate the bugs that the fish see more of, don't be afraid to try any thing else in your box!"
EAST RIVER
The East River between Gunnison & Crested Butte is a quick easy fish if you don’t have all day (4 mile north of the fly shop).
The hatchery ponds are a great place to wet a line or learn to cast in the winter because the are warm spring fed & don't usually ice up, although it is a 1/4 mile walk from the parking lot to the ponds when the road closes due to muddy road conditions or big snow. Great eagle watching!
Fishing the East River from the hatchery outlet downstream to the Roaring Judy SFU Boundary is prohibited until October 31st for the salmon run. Approximately 1 mile of fly fishing only water along the hatchery offers good winter fishing unless the banks ice up a lot. The Roaring Judy Ponds are closed for the salmon spawn and then duck hunting until December 15th (check regulations book for hunting information). Try little little stuff, small red & black midge larva and midge emergers in the ponds.
Flies on the river are similar to the Gunnison & Taylor, maybe a few more eggs and flesh flies because of the end salmon run.
If you need to get in the shop or schedule a fly pick up or delivery,
Please call 970-641-7404
Thanks,
Mark
September 16th, FALL IS IN THE AIR & THE FISH KNOW IT!
Great Blue Wing Olive hatches have started again some drakes, Mahogany Duns & caddis as well. Streamers are fishing well again, salmon are thick & dropping eggs & some of the Brown's are getting aggressive. Temperatures 40's at night, mid 60's & 70' during the day with afternoon showers, we have not had any big freezes yet so there are still plenty of grass hoppers flying around. Plenty of water still in the Gunnison to float & not much pressure.
Favorite patterns this week: Sculpzilla's 4-8, Belldar Cone Buggers 4-8, BWO BDE 16-20, Extended Body BWO 16-20, Adams & Hi-Vis Para Adams 12-20, Furimsky's Foam Gray Drakes 12-14, Red, Black or Blue Copper Johns 16-20, Craven's JuJu Bee 16-20, Micro Mayfly Mercer's Olive or Black 18-20.
19th ANNUAL SUPERFLY FINAL RESULTS for 9/12
Yours truly on the winning team, again. The SuperFlies that won: Black Sculpzilla #4, Black Sculpzilla #8, Furimsky's Hi-Vis BDE Blue Wing Olive #16,Royal Coachman #18.
Congratulations to the the SUPERFLY 2009 winners:
1st Place Team-Almont Anglers (Mark Day & Dale Uncapher) 141 5/8 inches
2nd Place Team-Mysis Pimps (Mindy Sturm & Gene Hart) 113 inches
3rd Place Team-Wind Nots (Diane & Jon Rogers) 106 ½
Top Rod-Dale Uncapher 71 ½ inches
Longest Fish-James Impara 20 5/8 inch Brown Trout
Thank You to all the volunteers, contestants and sponsors that made this fund raiser a great success. A very Special Thank You to the following people & businesses that contributed the prizes:
Ace Hardware, Acme Liquor, Almont Anglers, Almont Resort, Bruce Hoagland, Charlie Cravens, Crested Butte Anglers, Crested Butte Mountain Theater, Dan’s Fly Shop, Dennis Miller,Dragonfly Anglers, Gene Hart, Hazel Long, High Mountain Drifters, John Bocchino, John Roberts, Le Bosquet, Gunnison Brewery, Mike Beatty, Peter Hylander, Red Mountain Liquors, Rena Grossman, Ronnie Holtz, San Miguel Mountain & River Products, Scott Bickert, Thompson Creek Metals, The Gym, Three Rivers Resort, Van Rollo, Wilder On The Water, Willowfly Anglers.
AUGUST29TH 2 WEEKS TO SUPER FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Superfly is the main fundraiser for Gunnison TU. We hold this contest the first weekend after Labor Day at the Almont Resort. Two person teams compete to see who can catch the most inches of trout in one day using the flies of their choice. Besides the fishing contest, the Saturday night banquet includes bucket raffles, silent auction and door prizes. The entrance fee is $500 per team. Each contestant gets a fishing shirt and cap and meals. The meals include a buffet breakfast, box lunch and a steak barbecue dinner.
Friday night starts the fun. This is where you draw your beats (morning and afternoon), meet your guides (one per team), and swap lies. Free beer and hors d’oeuvres are served. Saturday morning begins with a buffet breakfast at the resort. Then you register and meet up with your guides to go fishing. Prizes are awarded Saturday night at the banquet for: top team, top rod, and biggest fish.
For lots more information and entry forms visit http://gunnisontu.org/superfly_main.htm
If you would like to volunteer as a fish measurer for Superfly call me!
Mark 970-641-7404 thanks!
AUGUST 26TH, Yes the kokanee are in the river.
Another salmon season is upon us & it looks like another good run! Here is a little information from the Colorado Division of Wildlife's web site http://wildlife.state.co.us/Viewing/Videos/KokaneeSalmon.htm they even have an underwater video!
"The kokanee, a land-locked Pacific sockeye salmon, is not a native fish of Colorado. The kokanee is, however, a very popular Colorado sport-fish.
In the fall, mature 3-5 year old kokanee instinctively head upriver or to the graveled shoals in lakes in search of spawning areas. During the spawn, both males and females turn reddish in color. Males develop a hooked-jaw and humped back while females maintain their regular shape. After spawning, the kokanee die; depositing eggs to produce the next generation is the last step of a mature kokanee’s life.
If you visit the DOW’s Roaring Judy Hatchery in the fall you can see kokanee in large numbers. These fish travel about 25 miles from Blue Mesa Reservoir (west of Gunnison) to the Roaring Judy Hatchery. This is the longest distance kokanee travel in the state. You may see their fins breaking the surface of the water—or even fish jumping out of the water—as they stack up at the bases of small waterfalls before continuing farther upstream.
AUGUST 24TH
Fishing has been very good this month, air & water temps have remained cool even though flows have been a little low. Dry dropper rigs have been fishing well with big stimulators and foam flies like the Fuzzy Wuzzy getting more hits than the dropper nymphs. Small nymphs like Mercer's Micro Mayflies, Zebra Tungsten Midges, Rojo Midges, Purple, Blue & Black Copper Johns & Psycho Nymphs all small sizes like 18-22's have been producing well sometimes weighted deep behind another larger nymph.
AUGUST 9TH
28 degrees in Crested Butte this morning, start the snow guns!
Fishing has been great, but all good hatches have to slow down some time. Mid-day hatches of Drakes, PMD's & caddis are still coming off on the Upper Taylor & in the high country but not so much below 9,000 feet. August is Hopper dropper fishing time as well as some stones, caddis, mahogany duns, yellow sallies & midge patterns like Barr's emergers. Streamer fishing this summer has stayed strong many days. Some PMD's & BWO's on the Gunnison on cloudy days. Evening fishing has been good most days .
Flows on the East are around 160 cfs, Taylor out of the dam is 350 cfs, 400 at Almont & 70 cfsish coming into Taylor res. The Gunnison is running 650 today and the Lake Fork of the Gunnison is down to 150 cfs. As always you can link to the current flows to the right.
JULY 14TH
Dry fly fishing has been good as it gets the last 2 weeks. Not a predictable hatch, like; (Drakes are moving upstream a mile a day) just kind of right place at the right time, coming off where ever they feel like up or down the river. Generally in a 5 mile radius of Almont this week.
Some hatches in the dozens lasting 1/2 an hour, some hatches in the thousands lasting 3 hours, (on sunny or cloudy days). Best fishing is between noon & 2pm give or take an hour on each end. Evening trips can also be great dry fly fishing the last few hours before dark.
Spin fishing has been great to the dismay of the purists, but streamer fishing is slowing down, (in the defense of the metal heads; cut off 1 or 2 hooks, de barb, & the spinner dude can get the fish in quicker & net or just lift the line out of the water forcep or plier the hook upside down & never touch most fish with net or hand. Thus making the landing process very very quick & painless,,,, naaaaaaa to easy!).
Gray/Green Drakes 10-14, PMD's 14-18, caddis olive & tan 12-18, Yellow Sallies 12-16, stone flies 4-14, nymphs to match.
You should be fishing now!
JULY 7TH, NEED WE SAY MORE?
FUN EVENT NEXT WEEK
July 12 – “FISH WITH A FRIEND” Come join the local members of Trout Unlimited to learn more about how and where to fish here in the Gunnison valley on July 12th or August 5th, 8AM Wal-Mart Parking lot.
July 14 –“FLY TYING CLINIC” with Dennis Miller at the “Almont Resort” 7PM. Bring your vise, materials, and tools for some hands-on instruction. Board/Membership meeting at 6 PM, fly tying clinic to follow.
These are FREE EVENTS! sponsored by the Local Chapter of Trout Unlimited, members & non-members welcome! For much more information visit http://www.gunnisontu.org/events.htm.
JULY 5TH "IT HAS BEGUN"
My very experienced re-turner boated 30 + fish today on size 4-8 Mystery Meats, Chew Toys 10-12 & Gray Drakes, all big foam dry flies.
Floated the last 3 days between 5 Mile Bridge and McCabes, (20 miles of water). Great mid day fishing! When the clouds, rain or hail comes over around noon, hatch on & every fish rising for 1, 2 or 3 hours, then slow until 5-6pm until dark, (after they have time to digest).
Bugs are coming off in a 15 mile radius of our shop, that means about 45 miles of great dry fly fishing around us; the East, Taylor & Gunnison Rivers, (sucks to be us). Big fat Foam Stones, then PMD's, Drakes, Caddis & Sally's.
Seems like to much rain or to much sun. Cloudy days have great hatches for 3-4 hours mid day, sunny days maybe 45 minutes. The rest of the time nymphing & streamers are the call. Copper John's, Drake nymphs, Caddis Pupa, Stone Nymphs, PMD Nymphs, Cone Head Buggers & some smaller 16-20 nymphs are fishing well when the hatch isn't on.
Thousands of Drakes on a cloudy day & hundred on a sunny day, either way fish are looking up. The East really cleared up for the 1st time 2 days ago & flows are dropping quickly. Forecast is for sunny sky's & hot days this week (mid & upper 70's). Fishing will turn off on the lower rivers at 2PM until cloud cover or evening hatches start. (so 1/2 day/mid day trips are the most productive now). The high country will start to turn on now & fish well all day. The mosquito spraying killed the fishing as usual from county road 10 down stream this week as usual, but the fish are feeling better now.
Float fishing is still technical, holding water is small & close to the banks. Water is dropping very quickly & bugs have to start hatching now & for the next 4 weeks as the hatch starts moving up the next 4,000' feet in elevation. Wade fishing is now an option on the East, Taylor & Gunnison!
JULY 4th
We have been on the river a lot this week, sorry for the lapse in updates. Hatches are picking up, great morning stone fly fishing with size 4-10 foam patterns like Mystery Meats, Fuzzy Wuzzy's, Chew Toys, & Orange or Royal stimulators. Great caddis, Pale Morning Dun, Gray Drakes & Yellow Sallies hatching mostly afternoon for an hour or more if we have cloud cover. Streamer fishing is still good with size 4-10 black, olive & tan. Fish are still holding in the water along the banks, sometimes tight in the brush (you will loose flies).
The rain has finally slowed down & rivers are dropping again. Flows on the East have dropped 400 or more this week & flows out of the Taylor are 496 CFS & 697 at Almont. The Gunnison has dropped 500 to 710 this morning.
Dry fly fishing should be great through July & in to August.
Game on, boys & girls! June 24th
NO RAIN TODAY! Pete & I floated our victims again today, 5 mile bridge on the Taylor River to North Bridge in Gunni today, (15 miles in 7 hours). My boat netted 30+ fish & missed as many (mostly afternoon). Pete's boat got a few more. Royal Stimi size 8, any Sculpzilla 4-8, caddis, Yellow Sallies 14-16 hooked up, but I think anything with a good drift would have worked for a few hours. No Drakes. Mostly Browns, a few Bow's & some new "Ranch" ? stocker Cut Bows & a cutthroat (Grand Slam!)
Flows out of the Taylor will increase for the River Festival this weekend from 500 to 700 cfs or so. Looks like the East may drop as much, & flows on the Gunni may remain steady.
June 23
Pete Gibbons & I had a 2 boat float from North Bridge to Coopers today, tough crowd. Lots of caddis PMD's, some Drakes, Sally's & a few stones on the water but few risers to naturals or ours. Each boat boated double digits but slow & a few hours of rain.
Seined the river low on the Gunni, lots of Drake nymphs, PMD's & sallies (GET READY!)
Note: Next weekend "Gunnison River Festival"
The Gunnison River Festival is coming this weekend! June 26th
It will be a great celebration for river lovers, but it may be tough for float fishers to avoid the rubber hatch at times (plan accordingly & maybe go for a walk/wade fish trip other than the Taylor & East). Or join a boat race, poker run, bird watch, etc. For more information on the schedule of events visit www.gunnisonriverfestival.com & join us at the Almont Resort & Almont Anglers (official sponsors), Sunday afternoon for the Bands & festivities.
Sunday June 21st HAPPY FATHERS DAY
Floated the lower Gunni below town mid-day today with good local fishing friends. Saw a good number of Caddis, PMD's & Drakes, as well as a few stones & yellow Sallies. A few fish taking naturals & imitations here & there, but seemed like the fish were not ready to feed much with the first sunny day in a while. Water temps are perfect for hatches in the mid 50's, we seined a lot of PMD & Drake nymphs close to the banks, but the weather needs to even out a bit & it looks like it will this week. Threw a lot of dries & nymphs, but saw the most fish on big blonde streamers but not a lot of takers.
Looks like the flows should really start dropping with only a 20% chance of rain a few days this week & fishing should be great. This should be the start of the best 6-8 weeks of dry fly fishing on the Gunnison, East & Taylor.
"Who'll stop the rain?" Saturday June 20th
Rain & a thunderstorm hammered our all day float today from Almont to White Water Park. East came up a bunch again (from the rain melting last weeks snow in the mountains)? Streamers, Caddis & Drakes boated fish today but the river is still high & fast. Happy birthday, fathers day & summer solstice to Howard (same day!) Good fishing with you & good luck in the Gunni Gorge the next few days with Gunnison River Expeditions your son Jack & your grandson Dan..
Sunday June 14th
Sorry it has been a while since the last report. Rivers were high & I got out of town for a week to float the Green with friends (no tout in this stretch just relaxing).
Time to talk fishing! Rivers are dropping quickly! Afternoon Caddis hatches are thick on the lower Gunnison now that water temps are approaching mid 50's. Wading is still tricky in many places but the float fishing is great! Fish are still hitting streamers early but caddis & big stone dries like the "Mystery Meats" are turning fish as well as dropper nymphs like 20 inchers, copper Johns & Drake nymphs.
Basically flows on the East River today are half of last years flow.
Flows into Taylor Reservoir are also way down from last year.
What this means for you trout bums is this is the start of the best 8 weeks of dry fly fishing. Hatches will come off almost a month earlier than last year as the water drops & warms. Look for stones to start coming off as well as caddis, BWO's, PMD's, yellow sally's & of course Green Drakes!
Wednesday May 20th
Even though flows out of the Taylor dam have more than doubled this week, the flows into Taylor res. & the Gunnison River flows have dropped the last few days. Got to fish a nice piece of private yesterday, 6 miles up the Taylor "closed to wade fishing". Landed 8 wild Browns to 16", had what must have been at least a 5 pound Brown hooked, then jumped out of the water right as the knot came undone. *^%$ing GUIDE! Always, always tie an improved knot on heavy line & size 4 Sculpzilla's! James caught a dozen to 24"s on "The Gunnison Breakfast", eggs & worms.
My forecast for Memorial Day weekend is "partly to mostly weather". NOAA says 40-60% chance of rain thru the weekend temps low 40's @ night & low 60's during the day. Rivers will drop & clear so fishing should be good! Wading is difficult but the fish are up on the banks any way. Floating & casting to the banks is great at high water.
To help plan your fishing check the flow links to the right & local weather to the left.
Please be safe on or near the water. Stuff is floating down the river & bridges are low. "Go with a Pro".
Sunday 17th
Floated the Lower Taylor twice yesterday, flows doubled the end of the week. Fish are looking for new holding water & not easy to tease to the fly. Had fewer chases than Wednesday & fewer hook ups. Water temps at 5 mile bridge are upper 30's-low 40's in the morning & rising to 50 degrees by evening, still to cold for any major hatches. Few dark size 16-20 caddis & size 16 BWO's on the water. C & R below the dam is fishing good with lots of shrimp coming out of the reservoir. Pike are cruising the banks on Taylor Reservoir & fishing has been on. Spring Creek is fishing well & the ice on the reservoir is gone.
Wednesday 13th
Floated 5 mile bridge on the Taylor to the fly shop again today, got out & waded a bunch too. Tried a few different streamers but the Sculpzilla was hard to put down. LDR'd a ton of fish (long distance release), landed a few to. Because the water is as high as it's been yet with the snow melt, water temps were 41-47 so no caddis, stone or BWO hatches like we saw last week. GREAT FISHING! Fast action on the streamers! The bite is on & once again, no one fishing but us.
Tuesday 12th
Fished the Roaring Judy Hatchery Ponds this morning, hits on gray glass bead WD-40's. On Spring Creek caught some Browns on size 8 Black/Peacock Streamers, water is up in the banks visibility a foot or so. Nice Bow at 5 mile Bridge on the Taylor River on the way home.
Monday, May 11th
Took turns at the oars with another guide this evening 5:30-8:00 (Happy Hour), put on at 5 mile bridge to the fly shop (5 miles). Saw what must have been drake spinners (early?) & a few caddis at the boat launch. Tried a drake, double dries, Caddis & Stimi's & a few droppers, but streamer turned all the fish we boated. The Black or Olive cone Buggers & Sculpzillas turned dozens of trout to 18 inches, lots of action! Talked with the guys from Duranglers & Fly Currents at the bar after floating & a bunch of them had a great day below the damn hooking Bows to 29 inches. Flows out of Taylor have been steady at 111 cfs all week but are scheduled to go to 200 in the next 4 days (we'll see).
Sunday, May 10
Took some beginners up Spring Creek today. Caught 5 or 6 Browns & Bow's to 12 inches, on cone head buggers, (Black & Peacock size 8). Got to windy to try dries or nymph fish and the cone heads were heavy enough to get up under the banks for the short drifts. Water is clear & you can see the chase, but creek is up over the banks a little. Spring Creek Reservoir (10,000 feet) will be 100% ice free in another day or 2. Almost made it to the inlets but we were already the 1st to bust through a few snow drifts & there were few vehicles around to pull us out if we got stuck, 2 more warm days. Also fished a few hours on the lower Taylor. We caught a few more on dries (Orange, Stimi Chew Toys & Gabriel's Trumpets Black as dropper good Drake Nymph).
Saturday, May 9th
East & Gunnison have reached their 1st peak of the year, head for higher ground or the tail waters!
Sunday, May 3
The Lower Taylor & Spring Creek are clear to tea color & fishing well. Some BWO, Caddis, Midge & stoneflies hatching with the nymphs working best. Taylor Reservoir is starting to thaw around the edges, Lakers, Pike & trout are starting to cruise the banks. East & Gunnison River flows have not dropped much with the cooler temps, but clarity has cleared today to about a foot.
General rule of thumb is; the clearer the water, fish a finer tippet & a smaller less flashy pattern.
Nymphs include Twenty Inchers 6-16, Double Bead Peacock stones 8-16, Pheasant Tails 12-18, Green Drake nymphs 14-16, hare's ears 12-16, Gabriel's Trumpets black & gold 14-16, Black, Red,Purple & Green Copper Johns 14-20, Caddis Pupa 16-18, Mottled Bead Eggs peach & pink 14-18, worm's 8-12.
Thingamabobbers, good!
Some days dries like Parachute Extended Body BWO's 16-20, Parachute Midges Gray, Black, Olive 20-26. Some days streamer patterns are kicking butt, Belldar Cone Head Buggers olive, skunk, black & red 4-8, Sculpzilla's white, natural, olive, black 4-8 also bead coachmans 12-16.
Friday, May 1
NEW LINK ON THE LEFT TO NOAA'S RIVER FLOW FORCAST & FLOW HISTORY OF ALL GAUGED RIVERS IN COLORADO.
Here is a sample of the graphs you can create.
East River flows April 24-July 2nd last 10 year history.
Also here is a copy of the Projected Releases from Taylor Reservoir for 2009. Flows out the damn should start doubling soon.
Wednesday, April 29
Cooler temperatures, snow & clouds have brought the flows back down temporarily. The East & Gunnison Rivers rivers are that great "Gunni Green" color & fishing well with more Blue Wings & Caddis coming off. Gunnison float fishing is good with black, tan, white & olive streamers pulling fish off the bank.
The Lower Taylor has evened out again, is clear & fishing well, flows at Almont are around 270 cfs today down from a high of 400 last week
The Hog Trough is getting a lot of spring pressure but seems like everyone is hooking up at least 1 or 2 photo fish a day. Red or black midge larva 18-22, PT's 20-24, Baetis emergers 20-24 & lots of shrimp 14-20. Many fish still on the reeds for a few more weeks so try & lead with a small bead egg pattern, I'm beginning to believe more & more in Fluoro! Flows still 100.
Mild temps until the weekend then more clouds & I slight chance of rain & snow should make for great fishing through at least next week before the next chance of higher water.
April 26
Hiked SOB trail into the black Canyon for the weekend, 1,800 vertical feet in 1 3/4 miles. So-so fishing they dropped the flows 100 cfs for 24 hours, then back up 100 right when we got there. Lots of black caddis sz 12-14 & large dark BWO's 16 coming off. Water was brown & visibility only 6 inches. Caught Brown's to 18" on caddis dark pupa sz 14, Double bead 20 inchers sz 6-10, worms. Nothing on streamers or dries although a few fish rising.
April 22 "Things are happening early this year."
The East River more than tripled the last 3 days and visibility this morning is under 12 inches. Looks like the best fishing for a while along the East this week will be the Roaring Judy Hatchery Ponds.
The Taylor flows increased out out of the damn 25 cfs yesterday but feeder creeks spiked the river at Almont to almost 400cfs last night up from 225 yesterday. Visibility on the Taylor at Almont today is just under 2 feet.
I am adding links in the right column starting with the USGS river gauges from the local waters. Pictures are from last year USGS.
says the rest of this week, day time temps in the mid 60's & nights getting just to freezing. Possible snow and cloudy weather may slow or lower flows next week.
April 21, 2009 "And the river she rises, just like she used to do."
Flows are on the rise and visibility on the East & Gunnison is 12 inches or less, although they have yet to release more out of Taylor Reservoir that remains gin clear with some off colored water coming in from the feeder creeks like Spring Creek. Fishing is very good now but expect the East & Gunnison to get difficult unless you are fishing from a raft, cat or dory. Fish will be moving to the banks in the calmest spots holding on with their teeth. Trout will get off the couch & eat if the calories are worth the effort. This is the best time of year if you like to slap & drag large streamers inches off the banks. Trout will also hold in slower riffles & deep water, where the "Gunnison Breakfast" an Egg pattern & a San Juan Worm will do well. Also large Stone Fly nymphs, drake nymphs & caddis pupa are on the move.
April 19, 2009 Great day floating the Gunnison "Almont Resort-White Water Park".
Trout were still keyed on salmon fry. As always on a good streamer day you see a lot of big, big fish, but you don't always hook up. I made 3 casts in a row today to 3 different big fish that smacked at my Black size 4 Sculpzilla each time it hit the water (missed all of them).
April 18, 2009 "Set them free!"
Last night the Colorado Division Of Wildlife released the salmon fry at the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery. Heard up & down the Gunnison "That fish was puking #@!%#$! salmon!" Fishing was good size 22 BWO's (right).
April 14, 2009 Fishing is fantastic now & so is the weather.
Yesterday on the Gunnison we had sunny skies air temperatures in the upper 50's & water temperatures in the upper 40's. My 1st fish of the afternoon was a fat 16" rainbow on a bead head Halfback nymph size 12. Didn't change flies much the 2 hours I fished, but had several other fish over 14 inches, on a bead Black North Fork stone sz 14, bead Royal Coachman sz 14 and a Gunnison River Special sz 8.
This is the time of year the guides come out of hibernation & really start fishing. Most of the locals have left town, the rivers are just starting to warm, the insects are on the move & fish are hungry!
Weather the next few weeks should keep the rivers just the right flows and a "Gunny Green" color that makes the fish a little more aggressive & apt to hit your flies a lot more! Midge & Blue Wing Olive hatches are happening on some sunny & some cloudy days. When this happens we have seen the water boiling with rises!
Fishing below Taylor Damn has been good to excellent this last month. Lots of shrimp are coming out of the damn and the Rainbows are spawning. Flows should be increased any day but have been steady all winter at 75 cfs.
If you have the luxury to plan a last minute spring trip check weather forecasts & predicted flows (links below), or give us a call.
May & June might produce some of our best spring fishing in years if temperatures stay as warm as they have been. Last years record snow kept rivers high, making July, August & September great.
Tight lines,
Mark Day