The Catch Fishing Report

Thanks for checking in today!  Perry Lewis of Troutfitter Sports weighs-in with a report on the Gunnison and Tayor Rivers: 

Flys observed in the past 72 hours = Caddis, Green Drake, Yellow Sallie, PMD

Flys of choice include= Elk Hair Caddis Olive, Brown, Peacock Size #16, Stimulator All
Colors Size #12- 16. Madam X Size #10-#12, Green Drake Size # 12, Copper Johns
size #12-#16, Pheasant tails Size #12-#16, Caddis Pupae, olive, tan Size #14,
Twenty incher Size #8- #12, Golden Stone Size #8-#12

The Hot Fly is the Green Drake #12, Stimulator (many color variations working) #12-#14

Fishing Weather observations =
Bright, warm conditions have accelerated the hatch. Water levels are dropping and clearing. A little cloud cover would be helpful for dry fly fishing
conditions. Breezy afternoons can make casting more difficult. Winds have
thankfully been diminishing in evening hours

Fishing synopsis =
Overall the fishing is outstanding right now. Green Drakes are
popping mid day on the middle Gunnison that can make for some blitzing activity
while the hatch is on. Reports have been difficult fishing after the hatch, due to full
fish!
The Taylor and the east are both fishing great right now. Evening is
particularly good but the fishing is consistently good throughout the day. Try
skipping an elk Hair Caddis on the surface to induce more strikes than Dead
drifts. Double rigs also fishing well.
A Stimulator with a Copper John Dropped 2-3 Feet is almost unbeatable. This is a great time of year to float the river, see a lot of water and access private stretches. Area creeks are a great place
to learn. Opportunistic fish are readily taking dries.  Attractor patters such
as Yellow Humpy, Parachute Adams, Royal Wulff, and Stimulators are nailing them
on the Creeks. Be sure to keep your Fly dry and presentable at all times and you
should have no problems hooking fish.
This is a great time of year to visit Crested Butte and the upper Gunnison Valley
watershed.

Thanks to Perry Lewis of Troutfitter Sports in Crested Butte for the report.  Enjoy fishing the Gunnison Valley.  I"ll talk to you again Thursday from Alaska, after two nights anchored out on the boat fishing for Kings and Coho's.

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com
FishingTravelNetwork.com

We're In The Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 11:03 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Greetings from Southeast Alaska,

We're in Sitka and the fishing has been great.  King Salmon fishing has been active and we've got a full freezer-no complaints.  Visit our FishingTravelNetwork.com. We'll plan a custom fishing vacation that exceeds your expectations.

Gunnison Valley fishing is approaching it's peak.  Here is the official report from Almont Anglers:

Posted by mark at 02:48 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Hello Fishing Friend,

We're in Sitka, Alaska for the next three weeks, fishing for King and Silver Salmon as well as Halibut.  As summer solstice draws near, the Alaskan days are long (we had plenty of daylight as we loaded onto our boat last evening at midnight.)

Since we're in the north country for a while, we'll publish Gunnison Valley fishing reports every three days or so.  If the fishing is hot it could be more like four or five days!

We'll also have some Alaskan Fishing images on Monday or Tuesday so be sure to check back.

Let us plan your fishing trip of a lifetime.  Send an email to admin@fishcrestedbutte.com to get started.  Also, visit our FishingTravelNetwork.com to see our featured fishing destinations.

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In the Water For You Everyday!

Posted by mark at 07:38 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Good Morning,

Brian Bell at Almont Anglers checks in with the following fishing report:

"There is an incredible caddis hatch going off all day and a mix of stones and
mayflies providing a smorgasborg on the surface and alot of bio mass in the
current."

Area: Gunnison and lower Taylor Rivers.
Weather: Blue Bird

Productive flys within the past 72 hours include Caddis, Stonefly's, Mayflies, Streamers and terrestrials.

Flys of choice include Stimi's, Elk hair caddis, copper johns, 20 incher's, pt's,princes,
caddis pupa.  The Hottest Fly is the Double bead black biot stone.

Thanks to Brian Bell at Almont Anglers for today's report.  Enjoy the sunshine.

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In the Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 07:32 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Good Morning,

Expect a repeat of yesterday's warm and dry fishing conditions throughout the Gunnison Valley.  Check the FishCrestedButte.com NOAA Weather and USGS River Flow index pages for an updated look at weather and water conditions across Colorado's Western Slope.

Let us plan a custom fishing vacation for you and your friends/family.  Our custom trips feature your choice of Gunnison Valley guides, lodging, and dining.

Thanks for checking in today.  Enjoy the sunshine.

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In The Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 05:43 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Good Morning,

Fishing weather is fine on this Monday morning.  Here's Almont Anglers updated reports to start your fishing week off right:

East River - Temperatures were warmer the past week and the river is rising. Weekend flows at Almont were around 1,280 cfs. Fish with streamers having some flash in them or larger stonefly nymphs with a bead or two in the body. Afternoon flows drop a little, visibility may increase to 12 inches and trout can be taken on dry caddis or stoneflies. The hatchery ponds are fishing well with midge emergers, and the kids can use bait there.

Gunnison River (Upper from Almont to Blue Mesa) - Flows this week were as low as 1,700 cfs, but warmer temperatures are raising levels again (2,020 last weekend). Streamers and spinners have been catching a good number of trout when cast very close to the bank from a raft or dory. You will lose a few lures and flies to catch a few fish. Gold lures 3/16- to ¼-ounce should work well. Different color streamers work well on different days. Try white, olive, black or brown with a cone head. Some fish have also been caught on No. 4-10 stonefly nymphs weighted to bounce along the bottom.

Taylor River - Flows out of the dam were increased to 275 cfs last week and were around 560 cfs at Almont. Fish are still holding close to the banks, in eddies and the deeper holes. A few more mayflies have appeared - pale morning duns, blue-winged-olives and March browns, all in sizes 16-18. Most fish are still being caught under the surface with stonefly patterns, No. 6-12; green drake nymphs, 12-14; caddis pupae, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns and Hare’s Ears, all in sizes 10-16. Streamers are still producing well.

Contact Almont Anglers at (970) 641-7404 for up to the minute conditions.

Thanks for checking in today.  Enjoy the sunshine.

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In the Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 05:57 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Happy Weekend,

I was fortunate enough to receive a lesson on the StoneFly hatch from Dragonfly Anglers guide Chris Lambro.  The hatch of these huge insects has been gradually moving up the Gunnison River from lower elevations toward Black Canyon National Park as water and air temperatures increase with the spring season. We can expect the full swarming hatch to arrive below Blue Mesa within a couple of weeks.  Check back for updates on this upcoming incredible fishing.

We'll be out fishing in the Taylor Canyon and Spring Creek area.  Hope to see you on the water.  Don't forget your CO State Habitat Stamp (new for this year). Enjoy your weekend.

Thanks to Chris at Dragonfly Anglers for the report.

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In The Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 07:55 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Good Morning,

Yesterday morning, before the start of significant rain and thunder, fishing was active throughout the Taylor River Valley, with clear water now coming in from Spring Creek.  This is certainly welcome news for fans of this wonderful river and it's fine tributary.

Fans of the Slate River and East Rivers will likely have to wait a little longer for crystal clear flows.  Continued mild overnight temperatures and yesterday's afternoon and evening thunderstorms drove the Slate well above 900cfs and the East up to a five day high of 1800cfs.  That said, fishing has remained active on both amidst run-off conditions.

Visit our Featured Guides for safe high-water fishing and to ensure you're in the most productive waters today and over the weekend.  If you're looking for outstanding lodging and dining to compliment your experience, send us a vacation plan request from our Custom Vacation Planning page.

Thanks for checking in today.  Enjoy the sunshine this morning and keep an eye on the sky for a repeat of yesterday's strong afternoon storms.

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In the Water For You Every Day!



 

Posted by mark at 06:01 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Good Morning,

Crested Butte is enjoying mild and calm fishing conditions as of 7am.  Stay current on local conditions today at our NOAA Weather page.

River flows spiked overnight due to last evenings rain showers throughout the Gunnison Valley.  Keep up with current flows of your favorite fishing waters at our USGS River Flows page.

Our Featured Guides will get you in the fish and we can plan an excellent custom fishing vacation for you and your guests. 

Thanks for checking in today.  Enjoy the good fishing weather this morning.

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In the Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 06:08 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Good Afternoon,

Today's fishing weather was good until roughly 1pm when spring storms brought rain and wind.  It was nothing compared to last evening however, when huge winds blew through the Gunnison Valley.  The bottom line is that fishing weather should be much better in the morning for the next few days.

Visit us at FishCrestedButte.com for current local and regional weather, updated river flows, and our featured fishing guide index.  We'll get you where you want to be.  Need a sweet vacation?  We'll plan a world-class fishing trip for you anywhere in the world.  Contact us today.

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In The Water For You Every Day! 

Posted by mark at 05:20 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by mark at 05:43 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Good Morning,

Here are updated reports from Almont Anglers:

East River - The East is starting to fall(1,290 cfs over the weekend) and probably has seen its seasonal peak flows. Rivers still see a bit of a daily rise-and-fall cycle, with the lowest and clearest water in the late afternoon into the evening, making for the best fishing time. Good hatches of caddis and stoneflies occur from midday on. The most productive strategies are nymphing with large stoneflies trailed by basic nymphs, and streamers. The streams around the hatchery ponds and the ponds themselves are fishing well on midges. Call Almont Anglers at (970)641-7404 or stop by for the latest report because conditions and the weather change daily.

Gunnison River (Upper from Almont to Blue Mesa) - Flows are begining to drop(2,140 cfs last weekend) and probably have peaked, so look for things to start getting really good. Drakes are just around the corner, and caddis and stoneflies are happening now. The best water conditions are in the afternoon, so focus on that time frame. The best bet in these conditions is still a streamer rig in black, brown, olive or white. Work the banks and slower eddies, preferably from a boat because wading can be tricky with the poor visibility. Spin-fishermen should use heavier rigs and work the bottom. Call the Almont Anglers at (970) 641-7404 or stop by for the latest report because conditions and the weather change daily.

Thanks to Almont Anglers for the reports.  Enjoy the sunshine this morning. 

Fish-on!

Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In The Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 05:30 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Good afternoon,

It's mostly sunny in Crested Butte as of 1:45pm Sunday.  If you are looking for good late afternoon fishing, Joe Weise of Troutfitter Sports reports on a good option:

"If you're frustrated by the high water and want to catch fish, or need to knock off the rust from the long winter, or you are learning to fish, the Roaring Judy ponds are a good place to do it all. From 6 pm up until closing at sunset, the fish are willing and able to take your fly.

We found that they will take some dries but mostly want emerging nymphs, and not just emerger patterns-they went crazy for the action. Our best action came when we stood at the head of the inlet and cast directly down stream.  We would let the flies sink then slowly, with rod tip up. strip the flies back toward us.

If you find that action has dropped the fish may have gotten wise to either your indicator or your flies so mix it up.  Flys of choice included: Bead Head Zebra Midge (20-24) blk and grn, SAME but no bead, FBPT.  The "Hot Fly" was the Zebra Midge."

Thanks to Joe Weise of Troutfitter Sports for the report.  Thank you for checking in today.

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In the Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 11:20 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Happy Weekend!

We have guests fishing with Willowfly Anglers at Three Rivers Resort and Outfitting, where the Taylor River is running clear.  The Taylor is dam released, so waters stay mostly un-clouded most of the year. 

I was up the Slate River yesterday and from talking with the kayakers, was able to ascertain that water flows in the upper basin will remain high for probably 10-14 days before gradually mellowing.  Fishing the side tributaries in the watershed continues to be your best bet for now.

Contact us today to plan your next fishing vacation to the Gunnison Valley or anywhere in the world.

Thanks for checking in and enjoy the sunshine!

Fish-on!
Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In The Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 12:32 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Good Morning,

Another beautiful day is underway in Crested Butte and water levels have been on the decrease over the past four days.  Keep up with current flows of your favorite local rivers at our USGS River Flow index page.  Lake Irwin is now accessible as are many of the Alpine Lakes in the region due to our rapidly decreasing snow pack.   Fishing on Blue Mesa reservoir continues to be active, as it has been throughout the spring.

Summer is right around the corner.  Let us plan your next fishing vacation, tailor-made to your needs and specifications.  Your time in the Gunnison Valley can include a Wild Alaskan Salmon BBQ, cooked at your home or place of lodging.  Featuring Sockeye Salmon from locally-owned Smokey Bay Fisheries, our BBQ provides a true "taste of Alaska" right here in the central Rocky Mountains.  Visit our Custom Vacation Planning page to get started by sending an itinerary request.

Thanks for checking in today-enjoy the sunshine.

Fish-on!

Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In the Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 07:49 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Good Morning,

I spent the last two days literally driving across Colorado.  Run-off on most rivers continues to be strong, however the snow pack is a concern, especially in the front range where it's virtually gone already.  Here's hoping for a healthy monsoon cycle this summer (we'll need the water).  Gunnison Valley snow pack is in better shape, however moisture is always welcome.

I fished the catch and release area on the Taylor River on the way to Denver.  It was a quick half hour made up mostly of marveling at the size of the trout in the water and not on my line.  Oh well it was a nice diversion on the way to the airport.  Remember, you will need a new Department of Wildlife Habitat Stamp this year!

We're planning fishing trips, so contact us today to reserve your spot on the water.  Thanks for checking in today.

Fish-on!

Mark
FishCrestedButte.com

We're In The Water For You Every Day!

Posted by mark at 09:08 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)