Gunnison Valley Fishing Report
It has been an incredibly fruitful guide season here in the Gunnison Valley this year. Our 2023 Summer season has been riding the coattails of a legendary Winter, coupled with cooler than usual temperatures. All of this to say, the fishing has been good and has stayed good. Runoff in the Upper Gunnison watershed concluded around the 4th of July. From there, we quickly saw Drakes, both Green and Grey, Caddis, PMD’s and Yellow Sally’s. There were about three weeks of just sheer insanity and the best float fishing I have seen on this river in years.
Moving into mid-August, we have lost the majority of our large mayfly species but are seeing tricos, midges and blue wing olives in mass quantities. Caddis and golden stones are still players as well, especially early and late in the day. Dry fly fishing has been good in the morning and late afternoons with attractor patterns, hoppers and caddis immitations. If they won’t eat it on a dead drift, try skating it out from under the willows and you’re bound to grab the attention of an opportunistic brown trout.
Speaking of opportunistic brown trout, don’t over look the streamer bite. Streamers in black and olive have been fruitful the last few weeks as our brown trout get aggressive in preparation for the upcoming Fall spawn. I prefer to streamer fish the Upper Gunnison with a Scientific Anglers sink 25’ 200 grain line. The 25’ head gets your fly into the zone and keeps it there longer, especially when fishing from a drift boat.
Around 1 in the afternoon, the sun is high overhead and we are experiencing the warmest temperatures of the day. That said, fishing has been tougher throughout the mid day lul and we are forced to nymph the deeper runs and seams. Midge, blue wing and trico immitations have all played a crucial piece in the nymph game. Be sure to have some of your favorite patterns in your box when heading to the river.
Although later than usual, we are beginning to see a Summer monsoon trending in the mid afternoons. With cooler temperatures, sustained flows from the Taylor and consistent rains, I can only assume that the fishing will remain good throughout the course of the remainder of our season.
If you have any questions regarding gear, flies, rigging, etc, don’t hesitate to reach out.
I still have a few dates available for floats or walk wades in late August, September and October. If you’re planning a trip to Southwestern Colorado this Fall, please feel free to reach out!
