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: East Portal Road is now open, Opening season has been pretty good. We have been finding most fish on nymphs but there has been midge and baetis on top of the water. The campground is closed still, so anything below the roller dam has to be walked down.
Fly selection: Nymphs: Pats Rubber Black or Brown #08-12, Black or Green Leech #10-12 Pheasant Tail #16-18, Midge Nymph #18-20, Black Brown Red Spanish Bullet #14-18, Waltz Worm #14-18, Caddis Nymphs #14-16. Dries Griffths Gnat #18-22, Bwo Dry #18-20 Mole Fly #18-22
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
With all the warm weather fishing in the low canyon has been great, roads in have been dry with the lack of precipitation. Warmer water down low has made the fishing real good.
Refer to the fly reconditions for the east portal. We'd recommend similar flies.
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: With the north fork blown the best approach would be driving in south river road, nymphing has been great along with drys, caddis yellow sallys and salmonflies! be sure to pick up some big bugs at the shop.
Fly Selection: Nymphs: Red, Black, Brown, Olive Spanish Bullet #14-18. Baetus Nymph #16-20, Pats Rubber #12-14, Floss worm #12, Sally Nymphs #16, Caddis Nymph #12-14, Midge Nymph #16-20. Dry: Caddis Dry #16, BWO Dry #18-20, Midge Dry #18-20 Salmon Fly #6-10
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: With the warmer days the north fork has been dirty dirty but some days will be clearer than others we are seeing salmonflys poping off down there and upstream of pleasure park. Fly Selection: Perdigons: Black, Brown, Green. #16-18, Pheasant Tail #14-18, Pats Rubber #10, Caddis Nymph #14-18, BWO Dry #18-22, Caddis Dry #16-18 Salmonfly dry! #6-10
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:
Paco has been Paco small flies has been the key of course, it hasn't been the hottest fishery but there is still fish in there. Must stay techy, hopper dropper is good or yarn indicators to reduce splash and fish spooking. flows just dropped so be sneaky.
Recommended Gear:8 - 9ft 4wt or 5wt rod.
Flies: JuJu Baetis #18-22, Demon Midge #18-24, Cased Caddis #14-18, Zebra Midge #18-22, Griffths Gnat #20-22, rainbow Perdigon #20-22, Black leech #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 Tunnel has been turned on so there is quite a bit of water rolling through town, fishing has been great! Fish are far less spooky and more eager to eat big flies and streamers!
Recommended Gear: 9ft 5wt rod.
Fly Selection: Black leach #12-#16 Pheasant tail #14-18, Blowtorch #16-20, Pats Rubber #10-12, Hot Heads Perdigons #12-16, Caddis Nymphs #12-14, Streamers: Kreelx #06, Wolly Bugger #06-10, Mini Peanut Envy #8
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 Miguel is entering its runoff stage now so throw bigish flies in the slow water.
Recommended Gear:8 ft 4wt or 3wt 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: Open water, Not much for ice this year, shore fishing has been good!
Updated 5/16/26 BVN