The Catch Fishing Report

Greetings Angler,

With Crested Butte Mountain Resort and the Upper Gunnison Valley (live here-play here) receiving significant snow last evening, my thoughts of fishing where plagued by visions of handwamers, fleece hats, and hunkering down in the Blue Mesa ice shanty village.

While I really do enjoy long days in the shanty, I think mid-October is a bit early.
For instance, the Tigers haven't yet won the World Series and the Broncos are just about ready to hit their stride. 

(Yes that is the official FishCrestedButte.com World Series prediction with bonus NFL analysis)

Driving to Gunnison from CB today,  I was happy to experience fishing conditions very far from "shantic".  Almont and Gunnison were both snow-free and mild at mid-day.  The lower basin provided comfortable, salmon-filled waters.

Enjoy the fishing report for the Gunnison Valley, provided by Willowfly Anglers, located at 3 Rivers Resort and Outfitting in Almont, CO:


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.


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, call our guide service. You can also reach the hatchery at 970-641-0190.

Thanks for your visit today.  Thanks to Willowfly Anglers for the current fishing conditions.

Fish-on!
Mark














FishingTravelNetwork.com
We'll plan and book your Alaska Fishing Trip!

We're In The Water For You Every Day!