Our home waters are blessed with incredible fishing opportunities and getting active with the Gunnison Gorge Anglers Chapter is one of the best ways to meet passionate anglers eager to share their knowledge on where to go, how to improve your skills, and what to use to find success fishing the rivers and streams we work together to restore.
Listed below are some of our best local and nearby waters with information on the fishing opportunities all around the area. Always be sure to check the Colorado fishing regulations and never hesitate to attend a Gunnison Gorge Anglers Chapter event to meet people who can answer your questions.
The Lower Gunnison River
The Lower Gunnison River (below Crystal Dam) is one of our region’s best trout fisheries, renowned for its annual salmon fly hatch and Gold Medal Waters! Best of all, the decades of restoration work and involvement by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Gunnison Gorge Anglers Chapter of Trout Unlimited to restore the Gunnison’s habitat and improve its health through large projects, trash clean ups, and other volunteer events has helped make it even better. Some of the most popular sections to fish are the Lower Gunnison, floating from Pleasure Park to the Orchard take out; the Gunnison Gorge, within the National Conservation Area; and at East Portal Road in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Some of the most exciting fishing on the Gunnison River takes place around June when the salmon flies (Pteronarcys californica) are hatching. Fishing is technically open year round, except for at East Portal Road which experiences seasonal closures. Most river access can be severely impacted or shut down due to winter conditions and snow.
Uncompahgre River
The Uncompahgre River undergoes extreme changes in the 75 river miles it travels from its headwaters at Red Mountain Pass south of Ouray, CO to its confluence with the Gunnison River in Delta, CO. Fishing on the Uncompahgre River starts around the town of Ridgway with some public access. This is low enough in the watershed that heavy metals and other minerals from historic mines are diluted enough for trout to survive. The “Unc” flows into Ridgway Reservoir in Ridgway State Park, and its tailwater Pa-Co-Chu-Puk is a destination fishery, traditionally stocked with large rainbow and snake river cutthroat trout. Billy Creek State Wildlife Area and the Town of Montrose offer excellent access and exciting trout fishing. Ask one of the area’s local fly shops which flies to fish and how depending on current river conditions, the Unc can be tricky. Always check flows before you go, the Gunnison Tunnel is a diversion from the Gunnison River above East Portal to the Town of Montrose below Uncompahgre Bridge. In the summer months flows can be high and wading dangerous.
Cimarron River and its Tributaties
If you are seeking solitude, scenery, and abundant, wild trout, the Cimarron River and its tributaries are the place to be! While there is access on the Cimarron and Little Cimarron Rivers near the town of Cimarron, CO, the best access is in the highcountry of Uncompahgre National Forest above Silverjack Resivoir, the confluence of the three Cimarron creeks. Despite limited pressure, these wild rainbow, cutthroat, cutbow, and brook trout can be spooky and may require a stealthy approach with delicate casts to fool. Be sure to have plenty of small, summer time dry flies on hand when you go, and maybe some attractor nymphs to fish as a dropper. Access to the Cimarron Creeks is off trailheads and roads above Silverjack Reservoir, with the Big Cimarron having a section of public access below the dam. You can get there from Ridgway, CO or off Highway 50 near the town of Cimarron, CO. Access to the area is limited by seasonal conditions and water levels are extremely high during spring run off. Silverjack and the Cimarron Creeks are accessed on dirt Forest Service roads that get snowed in starting around October and lasting until May or even June. Summer monsoon storms can dramatically impact flows, especially in small streams. Remember Leave No Trace Principles during mud season and only travel on durable surfaces (if you leave mud tracks, turn back).
San Miguel River
Our local freestone river, the San Miguel, is home to eager trout, stunning views, and abundant wildlife. The river contains wild brook, brown, rainbow, cutthroat, and cutbow trout, and is also stocked seasonally by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Public Access is abundant and obvious below Placerville on Highway 145, and the Valley Floor section below the town of Telluride offers stunning alpine views. The San Miguel usually starts fishing in April when spring conditions have increased water temperatures and aquatic insect activity. Fishing is not advised during run off, as the narrow canyon causes extreme rapids and flows, most seasons the San Miguel is an exciting whitewater river. Fishing access is excellent throughout the summer and fall, but keep an eye on blowouts and drastic flow changes due to the river’s freestone nature. Fall and winter temperatures eventually shut down the fishing, and winter access is not recommended due to ice dams and anchor ice, that can cause fish kill. Highcountry flies and hopper droppers tend to work well on the San Miguel, but getting a little more technical can produce big results.