The Catch Fishing Report

Greetings Angler,

Moisture has returned to the upper Gunnison Valley and the elk and deer have congregated along the Slate River, north of Crested Butte toward Paradise Divide.  Warmer temperatures have decreased the fall snow pack and thus rivers are up a bit (current USGS Western Slope river flows).  Expect mild daytime temperatures (current NOAA Western Slope forecast) to continue this week as north America's largest Kokanee Salmon Run rages on!

Willowfly Anglers at 3 Rivers Resort and Outfitting are in the water every day, landing these land-locked cousin of Sockeye Salmon.  With thousands of fish in the basin, trust that yours are biting...

Please enjoy the following inside look at Gunnison Valley fishing conditions from Willowfly Anglers, our FishingTravelNetwork.com Featured Parter:


Taylor River:
Nymphing is productive with Copper Johns 12-20 (copper and red), Golden Stones 10-14, Pheasant Tails (Flashbacks) 12-20, Prince Nymphs (and Purple Prince) 12-18, Midge Emergers 18-22. Dry fly activity productive with: BWOs (Emergers, Cripples, Duns) 16-24, Attractor dries size 14-18 (Parachute Adams, Royal Wulff, Stimulators), Red Quills 14-16, Caddis in the afternoon/evening (yellow, olive, brown, tan, black - size 12 to 20).


Taylor Catch and Release:
Baetis hatch mid and late-day, especially cloudy days. Small nymphs and midge patterns: Pheasant Tails 20-22, Disco Midge 22, Black Beauty 22, WD40s 22. Egg patterns, Mysis Shrimp 20-24, and stoneflies. For rising fish: BWO patterns - emergers, cripples duns size 16-24. Parachute BWOs and Adams 20-24.


Gunnison:
Streamers, stoneflies, nymphs. Nymphing is good with Prince Nymphs, BH Flashback Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ears, and Copper Johns (size 12-18). Small olive emerger patterns (size 20, bead and no-bead) are getting come nice fish. BWO hatch mid to late day, size 16 to 22. Salmon are in the river and moving up to the hatchery.


East:
The East is fishable with streamers, stoneflies, and nymphs (size 12 to 18), BWOs (size 16 to 22), caddis and stimulator droppers. Salmon are in the East River and up at the hatchery.


Kokanee Salmon Run:
Kokanee are a land-locked form of sockeye salmon. The run to the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery is the only all natural run in Colorado that goes to a hatchery. Each April, 2-inch kokanee fry are released from Roaring Judy into the East River. Their overnight journey takes them down the East to the Gunnison River and onto Blue Mesa Reservoir, where they typically spend two or three summers. In late August, the salmon begin their trek back to the hatchery and the run usually lasts through October. Division of Wildlife personnel spawn the salmon at the hatchery, taking 3,000,000 to 10,000,000 eggs per year. Catch and release fishing for kokanee is allowed on the Gunnison River and East River. Some salmon make a "wrong turn" up the Taylor River. If you are staying with us, we have an excellent area on our property for salmon fishing.

For more information on the salmon run or 3 Rivers Resort and Outfitting, call Willowfly Anglers toll free at 1-888-761-3474.

Thanks to Willowfly Anglers for today's report.  Thank you for checking in.

Fish-on!
Mark

FishingTravelNetwork.com
AlaskaCoastalFishing.com

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