Fishing Reports
Fishing Conditions of Local Water Around Montrose Colorado!
GUNNISON RIVER (East Portal)
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09128000/#parameterCode=00060&period=P7D&showMedian=false
East Portal can be accessed within the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park near Montrose. The road down to the river "East Portal Road" is closed during winter and it is challenging to find the opening dates every year but our shop is the closest to the resource so if you follow our fish report, you will find out in no time. It is a tail water stretch of the Gunnison River below Crystal dam. It is the last stop for the salmon fly hatch and provides consistent fishing during season. Campgrounds are available throughout the season.
Current Conditions: The flush is on! Every year during spring runoff the water levels inside the black canyon rise. This makes space in blue mesa reservoir for incomming snow melt. water levels have doubled in the last 24 hours and will continue to rise! Be careful and check the water levels before you go. Link above.
Fly selection: Zebra midge Black or Olive #22-24, WD-40 Brown or Tan,Pats Rubber leg Coffee or Black #8-12, 20 Incher #10-12, Perdigons Purple, Black, or Natural #14-18, Lucent soft hackle pheasant tail #12- #16, spanish bullet #16 (natural color, purple), Frenchie #16, Rainbow warrior #16, hare's ear #16
GUNNISON RIVER
( Gunnison Gorge NCA )
Just outside the National Park lies the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. With This hard to get to stretch of river offers amazing canyon views, world class fishing, and permitted overnight trips for the adventure of a lifetime!
Current Conditions:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09128000/#parameterCode=00060&period=P7D&showMedian=false
Then Spring pump has begun! Be careful in the canyon! High waters will make wade fishing difficult, and rafting will be more spicy! Check the water before you go!
Recommended Gear: 9ft 5wt or 6wt rod.
GUNNISON RIVER
( Pleasure Park walk wade )
This particular section of Gunnison River consists of a tailwater fishery out of Crystal Dam, which is a part of Black Canyon National Park near Montrose, Colorado. Base flows of recent years have been between 325 cfs up to 5000 cfs. It is technically a tail water, however it fishes like a freestone river with prolific hatches of multiple aquatic insects. Popular hatches include Salmon Fly (Pteronarcys), Yellow Sally, Caddis, Pale Morning Dun, and Blue Winged Olive along with terrestrials. Since it is a tailwater, it is fishable year round.
Current Condition:
Run off is here! Rising waters out of the north fork, and black canyon will make the lower high, fast and muddy! Practice all boating and wading saftey, and check the water before you head to the river.
Fly Selection: Red worms, eggs, Duracell #12-#14, pheasant tail jig #14-#18, Chubbies #8 - #10, natural colored perdigons #14-#18, Outrigger Caddis #16
GUNNISON RIVER
(downstream of Pleasure Park)
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09136100/#parameterCode=00060&period=P7D&showMedian=false
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09128000/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D&showMedian=false
This section of the Gunnison River is downstream of the confluence between the main stem of the Gunnison and the North Fork of the Gunnison River. It can be fished by walk-wading as well as on a comfortable drift boat/ raft. This section can be a bit more touchy as far as the flow goes because of the North Fork. When North Fork is in high water, usually caused by runoff or rain storms, it dumps dirty water to the Gunnison River and could cause fishing to slow down. As far as hatches go, it is very similar to the Upstream section.
Recommended Gear: 9ft 5wt or 6wt rod.
Current Condition:
Spring conditions have started on the lower Gunnison. Rising water levels in the north fork have muddied up the lower section, and created tough fishing conditions. Warm evenings are still creating a good BWO hatch. With recent colder, and windy days fish are still holding in deep winter areas. Try fishing Eggs and worms with the muddy conditions. Baetis patterns have been working as well. Streamer fishing has been hit or miss. Dark color streamers fished slow in the deep pools has been working the best.
Fly Selection: Chubbies #8-#10, black perdigon, #16, Higa's SOS jig #16 black, trico #22, natural colored perdigons #16, McCannels Mighty Midge #18, Stalcups Baetis #18 Olive.
Uncompahgre River
Pacochupuck:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09149500/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D&showMedian=false
This Tailwater stretch of river is located between Montrose and Ridgway. This is our favorite portion of river to walk and wade all year round. With stable water levels and clear water fish thrive here ranging from small to extra large. Brown trout Rainbow trout, and Cutthroat trout all call these waters home. As most tailwaters this part of the river requires a stealthy approach, small flies in the 22-24 range, and lighter tippets 5x-6x
Current Conditions:
We Now Have PERMITS! Book your Guided trips now! This stretch of river is a little more technical than most surrounding rivers. Keep and eye on the flows. Flows have dropped over the last few days. Nymphing with eggs, and small size 22-24 nymphs in red and black trailed behind have been working the best. With higher clear water look for fish closer to the edges, seams and tail outs. Watch for small BWOs hatching in the evening. Small dries with emergers trailed behind.
Recommended Gear:8 - 9ft 4wt or 5wt rod.
Flies: Pink worm #14-16, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Demon Midge #18-24, Cased Caddis #14-18
Uncompahgre River
Town Section:
This stretch is fishable all year round except during runoff. The runoff on this river is caused by the Cow Creek upstream. Between April and October, it is the high water season, which is caused by the canal connecting the Gunnison River and the Uncompahgre River to provide enough water for the farmers downstream for their crops. During the high water season, fish can be caught in slow eddies. During the low water season, fish can be caught in slow riffles and cut banks. The river holds a healthy population of brown trout and rainbow trout with chances of hooking into a fish of a lifetime.
Current Condition:
Currently the Uncompahgre is running slightly off color and high. Fishing has been great from mid morning all the way through early evening. Fish are moving into shallower water. Look for drop offs and undercut banks. Nymphing and euro nymphing has been successful, Along with dry dropper fishing with Mini Chubbys and baetis patterns underneath. Later in the evening look for blue wing olives to hatch in the tail outs and flats in between pools. Streamer fishing has been successful with small leeches, and wooly boogers.
Recommended Gear: 9ft 5wt rod.
Fly Selection: Gold Chubby#10, hare's ear #12-#14, rainbow warrior#16, Higa's SOS Black #16 jig, Pink/ Red worm #14-16 JuJu baetis # 18-22 TIE YOUR FLIES ON PINK BEADS!!
San Miguel River
The San Miguel free stone river between Placerville and Norwood hill. With rainbow and brown trout this river fishes great all summer. There are plentiful pullouts for each small stretch of river to fish. Look for signage showing public and private land.
Current Condition:
The water is looking great! Cold nights have kept run off conditions at bay for now. Warmer days coming next week will likely raise water levels and muddy up the river. Bundle up and try to fish the sunny parts of the day. Look for fish in deeper pools, and the deeper edges of runs. Light nymphing and or Hopper dropper fishing will work the best.
Recommended Gear:8 - 9ft 4wt or 5wt rod.
Blue Mesa Lake
The largest lake in Colorado, Blue Mesa provides lots of fishing opportunities. From Kokanee salmon released from Roaring Judy hatchery farther up the Gunnison river, browns, rainbows, and even jumbo mackinaw trout ( Lake trout ). Fishing from shore, or boats works great most of the year, with ice covering the lake all winter providing ample opportunities to fish year round.
Current Conditions:
MIDDLE BRIDGE IS CLOSED! Check the CDOT website for more information
https://www.codot.gov/
Currently no travel is allowed across the middle bridge at Blue Mesa blocking off the Montrose to Gunnison corridor. County Road 26 is now open to alternating traffic. Check the CDOT website for more info. Boat ramps are still open and the lake is fishing great. Brown trout and rainbow trout are aggressively feeding around the edges of the lake in 10-100 feet of water mostly around structure and rocks. Tube Jigs, spinners, and marabou jigs are all catching fish ( White or Chartreuse are our go to colors) Lake trout are being caught all over the lake as the ice has now all melted away. Focus on shelves from 20-100 feet dropping off into deeper water. Trolling, and vertical gigging with larger tube jigs have been working well.
Updated 5/15/24 AP