Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge)
river in Colorado
The Gunnison is a powerhouse river known for its Black Canyon scenery and trophy-sized rainbows and browns.
River flow last 30 days
What's working on Gunnison River
- 01Cooling water temperatures stimulate increased fish activity.
- 02Opportunistic Whitefish are likely to key into egg patterns as trout begin spawning.
- 03Intermittent hatches of Blue-Winged Olives and Pale Morning Duns are providing dry fly opportunities.
- 04Subsurface nymphs, including midges and various mayfly patterns, remain highly effective.
- 05Streamers imitating baitfish and leeches can entice aggressive strikes from larger fish.
Past reports week by week
11 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Zebra Midge
Midges are a primary and consistent food source year-round, effective as a subsurface searching pattern in cooler fall water.
Buy at AmazonBlood Dot Egg
Fall marks the egg season for trout below spawning areas, and Whitefish are opportunistic feeders on these available protein sources.
Buy at AmazonWoolly Bugger (Olive)
A reliable year-round streamer, effective for imitating leeches and baitfish that Whitefish will actively pursue in cooling fall waters.
Soft Hackle Wet (Partridge & Orange)
Caddis hatches extend through fall, making this a good general wet fly to swing through currents, mimicking emergers.
Buy at AmazonPMD Comparadun (BWO)
PMD hatches are active in October, and Whitefish are opportunistic feeders.
Pheasant Tail Nymph
This versatile mayfly nymph imitation is effective year-round, especially during fall BWO periods, for subsurface feeding Whitefish.
Buy at AmazonComparadun (BWO)
Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) have active hatches in the fall, making this a crucial pattern for selective fish.
Buy at AmazonOctober Caddis (Dry)
Fall is when the largest caddis hatch of the year occurs on many western rivers, providing excellent dry fly opportunities.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Lazear Access
The bottom-most access point of the Gold Medal stretch, perfect for those looking for less pressure.
Smith Fork Trailhead
A steep trail down to the river that offers access to some of the most productive water in the canyon.
Fly shops within 40 miles
RIGS Fly Shop
RIGS Fly Shop
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Colorado season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Quick answers
Common questions about Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge).
What flies work best on Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge)?
Our top scored fly patterns for Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge) right now are Zebra Midge (80% confidence), Zebra Midge (80% confidence), Blood Dot Egg (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge)?
Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge) holds Whitefish. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge)?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge) are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge) fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge) each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.