Gunnison River Fly Fishing Report
Gold Medal waterTwo separately-gauged stretches: the upper river near the town of Gunnison, and the Black Canyon / Gunnison Gorge tailwater downstream of the Gunnison Tunnel diversion. Guides and local shops report preferred fishing-flow windows of roughly 300–500 cfs on the Near Gunnison (above the Tunnel) reach and 400–600 cfs on the Below Gunnison Tunnel (Black Canyon / Gunnison Gorge) reach (Dragonfly Anglers; RiverReports). Live gauge data below updates automatically.
Near Gunnison (above the Tunnel)
Below Gunnison Tunnel (Black Canyon / Gunnison Gorge)
What's swimming in the Gunnison River
- Brown Trout make up 40-70% of angler catch (spawning October-November) and Rainbow Trout 15-50% (spawning mid-April to mid-May), with a Kokanee Salmon spawning run from early August to early November (CPW fishery survey, January 2026).
- This is a wild fishery: CPW discontinued stocking in 2016 because natural Rainbow Trout reproduction now sustains the population (CPW fishery survey).
- The Almont-to-US-50 reach (about 12.5 miles) earned Gold Medal status in 2023: flies and lures only, Brown Trout 2-fish/16-inch minimum, and Rainbow Trout must be released (CPW fishery survey; CPW news).
Rivers and creeks that flow into the Gunnison River
19 hold fish on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's records, listed from the headwaters down. Open one for where to fish and its rules.
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East River Brown, rainbow and brook trout, plus 1 other species
Where to fish
Roaring Judy SFU
CPW access point · Easy access · Stocked with young trout
CPW special rules
Special CPW rules apply on parts of it; its guide lists them.
About it
It joins the Gunnison River at Almont. It flows year-round. CPW also records kokanee salmon.
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Taylor River Brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout
Where to fish
Gunnison National Forest
CPW access point · Easy access · Stocked with young trout
CPW special rules
Special CPW rules apply on parts of it; its guide lists them.
About it
It joins the Gunnison River at Almont. It flows year-round.
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Ohio Creek Brown, rainbow and brook trout
Where to fish
Gunnison National Forest
CPW access point · Medium access
About it
It joins the Gunnison River at Gunnison. It flows year-round.
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Tomichi Creek Brown, rainbow and brook trout
Where to fish
Tomichi Creek SWA
CPW access point · Medium access
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 3 miles SW of Gunnison. It flows year-round.
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Beaver Creek Brown, rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout, plus 1 other species
Where to fish
Gunnison SWA
CPW access point · Medium access
CPW special rules
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 7 miles SW of Gunnison. It flows year-round. CPW also records cutbows.
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East Elk Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
BLM land stretch
About 2 miles up the creek · County Road 723E
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 14 miles N of Powderhorn. It flows year-round.
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Cebolla Creek Brown, rainbow and brook trout
Where to fish
Mason Family SWA
CPW access point · Easy access
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 14 miles N of Powderhorn. It flows year-round.
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West Elk Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 7 miles up the creek · About 4 miles by the Lion Gulch Trail from Forest Road 7723, open May 28 to Feb 29
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 15 miles E of Cimarron. It flows year-round.
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Soap Creek Brown, rainbow and brook trout
Where to fish
Gunnison National Forest
CPW access point · Medium access
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 14 miles E of Cimarron. It flows year-round.
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Lake Fork Brown, rainbow and brook trout, plus 1 other species
Where to fish
Lake Fork Gunnison SWA
CPW access point · Easy access · Stocked with young trout
The Gate Campground
CPW access point · Easy access · Stocked with young trout
Red Bridge Campground
CPW access point · Easy access · Stocked with young trout
CPW special rules
From the headwaters downstream to the waterfall at Sherman
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
From first bridge crossing above Lake San Cristobal downstream to Lake San Cristobal
- Artificial flies only.
From the confluence with High Bridge Gulch downstream to the BLM boundary below The Gate campground
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Bag, possession and minimum size for brown trout is 2, 16 inches long.
- Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately.
From the BLM boundary below The Gate campground to the confluence with Cherry Creek
- Bag and possession limit for trout is 2.
From the confluence with Cherry Creek downstream to the upper Red Bridge campground boundary
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Bag, possession and minimum size for brown trout is 2, 16 inches long.
- Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately.
From the upper Red Bridge campground boundary downstream to Blue Mesa Reservoir
- Snagging kokanee permitted Sept. 1–Dec. 31.
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 13 miles E of Cimarron. It flows year-round. CPW also records kokanee salmon.
Show all 19
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Curecanti Creek Rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
Gunnison National Forest
CPW access point · Difficult access
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 8 miles E of Cimarron. It flows year-round.
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Cimarron River Brown, rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
Cimarron SWA
CPW access point · Medium access · Stocked with young trout
CPW special rules
- Snagging kokanee permitted Nov. 1–Dec. 31.
About it
It joins the Gunnison River at Cimarron. It flows year-round.
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Crystal Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 11 miles up the creek · Forest Road 713
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 4 miles NW of Cimarron. It flows year-round.
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North Fork Gunnison River Brown and rainbow trout, plus 2 other species
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
CPW special rules
From the confluence with Anthracite Creek downstream to the confluence with the Gunnison River
- No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie.
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 3 miles W of Lazear. It flows year-round. CPW also records common carp and green sunfish.
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Uncompahgre River Brown and rainbow trout, plus 2 other species
Where to fish
Baldridge Park
CPW access point · Easy access · Stocked with young trout
Ridgway State Park
CPW access point · Easy access · Stocked with catchable and young trout
CPW special rules
Special CPW rules apply on parts of it; its guide lists them.
About it
It joins the Gunnison River at Delta. It flows year-round. CPW also records Snake River cutthroat and common carp.
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Palmer Gulch Brown and brook trout
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 11 miles W of Delta. It flows seasonally along most of its length.
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Big Dominguez Creek Rainbow trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 21 miles up the creek · Forest Road 418, high-clearance
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 12 miles S of Whitewater. It flows year-round.
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Kannah Creek Brown, rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
Grand Mesa National Forest
CPW access point · About 15 miles E of Whitewater · Medium access
Grand Mesa National Forest
CPW access point · About 12 miles NW of Cedaredge · Medium access
About it
It joins the Gunnison River about 4 miles S of Whitewater. It flows seasonally along most of its length.
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Whitewater Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 17 miles up the creek · Forest Road 102, high-clearance
About it
It joins the Gunnison River at Whitewater. It flows seasonally along most of its length.
Show 29 more named tributaries (no CPW fish data)
These also flow straight into the Gunnison River. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has no fish data for them; some may still hold fish.
- Antelope Creek
- South Beaver Creek
- Steuben Creek
- Willow Creek
- Stevens Creek
- Willow Creek
- Dry Creek
- Red Creek
- Coal Creek
- Pine Creek
- Haypress Creek
- Corral Creek
- Blue Creek
- Round Corral Creek
- Mesa Creek
- Smith Fork
- Currant Creek
- Alfalfa Run
- Cedar Run
- Tongue Creek
- Seep Creek
- Roubideau Creek
- Alkali Creek
- Escalante Creek
- Wells Gulch
- Deer Creek
- East Creek
- Callow Creek
- Ladder Creek
Species and special rules are Colorado Parks and Wildlife's. Statewide rules apply everywhere. Before you fish, check land ownership, CPW's current regulations and its temporary closures for drought and low water.
How we pick these
Species are CPW's records from its Fishing Atlas. A creek missing from this list may still hold fish; CPW simply has no record for it. The list runs in the order each one joins the Gunnison River, from the headwaters down, and "joins" names the nearest town to where it does on the same side of the mountains: a Census place, or a town with its own post office. Flow is how USGS maps each channel, not a live reading.
Special rules are the ones CPW writes for each creek in its Fishing Atlas. Rules CPW writes for the river itself, such as closures around a creek's mouth, are not repeated on the creek, and no directions lead into water CPW closes all year.
A national forest stretch is one that both the Forest Service's and BLM's ownership maps show as national forest for at least half a mile of the creek, with a road on the Forest Service's motor vehicle map within 500 feet; directions go to that road. Where a line names a trail, the Forest Service trail comes within 500 feet of the creek instead, and directions go to its trailhead; from where the trail enters the forest, the whole way is national forest in both maps. A BLM or state park stretch is one that both BLM's land map and the USGS Protected Areas Database (which must record it as open access) show as that land for at least half a mile of the creek, with a public road within 500 feet; state parks charge an entry fee. Maps can be wrong and road seasons change. Away from CPW access points, check land ownership before you fish.
Getting to the Gunnison River
- CPW's survey names six miles of public access at seven bank/wading sites and five boating access points, with seasonal restrooms at USFS Almont Campground, Tomichi Riverway Park, Gunnison Whitewater Park and McCabes Lane: Almont to Almont Campground (1.7 mi), Redden Access (0.25 mi), VanTuyl Access (1.5 mi via a half-mile trail from Char-Mar Park), West Tomichi Riverway Park (0.25 mi) and Gunnison Whitewater Park (0.7 mi), plus NPS-managed Neversink and Cooper Ranch access (CPW fishery survey).
- Gunnison River SWA (Van Tuyl & Redden) requires foot access only from the Van Tuyl trailhead Y-gate, plus a license or SWA pass 16+ (CPW Gunnison River SWA).
- Gold MedalAlmont to US Highway 50 (12.5 miles from Twin Bridges up to Almont, designated 2023) -- artificial flies and lures only, brown trout 2 fish ≥16 inches, rainbow trout must be released, kokanee closed Aug. 1–Oct. 31 (CPW fishery survey; CPW news).
- From US 50 down to Blue Mesa Reservoir, trout bag is 4 and kokanee are catch-and-release (CPW fishery survey).
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What’s hatching on the Gunnison River
13 insects, from the published hatch charts of 4 fly shops, guides and fishing sites. Tap an insect to see where its dates come from. Every river, month by month →
Blue-Winged Olives (BWO)Mar – May and Jul 1 – Nov · hook #6–227 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Blue Winged Olive”: Jul 1 – Oct 31 · #14-18
- FlyFishFinder “Blue-Winged Olive”: Mar – May (months only) · #18-22
- FlyFishFinder “Blue-Winged Olive”: Sep – Nov (months only) · #18-22
- Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters “Blue Winged Olive (+ midges)”: Mar – Apr (months only) · #18-22
- Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters “Late BWO (+ streamers)”: Sep – Oct (months only) · #6-20
- FishFlyWater “Blue-Winged Olive (spring)”: from Apr, no end date given · #16-20
- FishFlyWater “Blue-Winged Olive (fall)”: no dates given · #18-20
CaddisApr 15 – Sep · hook #10–185 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Caddis (various, spring)”: Apr 15 – May 14 · #10-18
- Fly Shack “Caddis (various, summer)”: Jun 15 – Sep 14 · #10-18
- FlyFishFinder “Caddis”: May – Sep (months only) · #14-18
- Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters “Caddis, PMD, Golden Stonefly”: Jun – Jul (months only) · #12-16
- FishFlyWater “Caddisflies (various)”: no dates given · #14-16
Golden StonefliesMay – Jul · hook #6–163 sources
Where these dates come from:
- FlyFishFinder “Golden Stone”: May – Jun (months only) · #6-8
- Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters “Caddis, PMD, Golden Stonefly”: Jun – Jul (months only) · #12-16
- FishFlyWater “Golden Stonefly”: no dates given · #8-12
SalmonfliesMay – Jul 14 · hook #4–83 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Salmon Fly”: Jun 1 – Jul 14 · #4-8
- FlyFishFinder “Salmonfly”: May – Jun (months only) · #4-6
- FishFlyWater “Salmonfly (Pteronarcys)”: from May, no end date given · #4-8
Pale Morning Duns (PMD)Jun – Aug · hook #12–184 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Pale Morning Dun”: Jul 1 – Aug 14 · #14-18
- FlyFishFinder “Pale Morning Dun”: Jun – Aug (months only) · #16-18
- Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters “Caddis, PMD, Golden Stonefly”: Jun – Jul (months only) · #12-16
- FishFlyWater “Pale Morning Dun”: no dates given · #14-18
Yellow SalliesJun 15 – Aug 14 · hook #14–182 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Little Yellow Stonefly”: Jun 15 – Aug 14 · #14-18
- FlyFishFinder “Yellow Sally”: no dates given
Green DrakesJul 1 – Aug 14 · hook #10–121 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Green Drake”: Jul 1 – Aug 14 · #10-12
Hoppers & terrestrialsJul 1 – Sep 30 · hook #8–163 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Terrestrials (various)”: Jul 1 – Sep 30 · #8-16
- Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters “Hoppers / Ants / Beetles (terrestrials)”: Jul – Aug (months only) · #10-16
- FishFlyWater “Terrestrials (hoppers)”: Jul – Aug (months only) · #8-12
Red QuillsJul 1 – Aug 31 · hook #14–181 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Red Quill”: Jul 1 – Aug 31 · #14-18
MidgesAll year · hook #14–264 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Midges (various)”: Apr 1 – Nov 30 · #14-18
- Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters “Midges (Zebra Midge, RS2, Griffith's Gnat)”: Dec – Feb (months only) · #20-26
- Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters “Blue Winged Olive (+ midges)”: Mar – Apr (months only) · #18-22
- FishFlyWater “Midges”: Jan – Dec (months only) · #18-24
StonefliesAll year · hook #6–142 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters “Stonefly nymphs / San Juan Worms (runoff)”: May – Jun (months only) · #8-14
- FishFlyWater “Stonefly nymphs (various)”: Jan – Dec (months only) · #6-10
Streamers & baitfishApr 1 – Nov 30 · hook #2–101 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Streamers (various)”: Apr 1 – Nov 30 · #2-10
Worms & eggsMay – Jun · hook #8–141 source
Where these dates come from:
- Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters “Stonefly nymphs / San Juan Worms (runoff)”: May – Jun (months only) · #8-14
Some sources list only months, not days, so treat the dates as a guide and check conditions before you go.
14 fly pairings from real fishing reports
Browse 50 public pairings across the library. A Free account unlocks 5 more of your choice.
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Fly shops on the Gunnison River
Gunnison River fly fishing questions
What is a good flow (cfs) to fish the Gunnison River?
Guides and local shops report ideal wade-fishing windows of roughly 300–500 cfs on the Near Gunnison (above the Tunnel) reach and 400–600 cfs on the Below Gunnison Tunnel (Black Canyon / Gunnison Gorge) reach of the Gunnison River (Dragonfly Anglers; RiverReports). TroutTips shows the live current reading for each reach against its own range so you can check before you go.
Is the Gunnison River designated Gold Medal water?
Yes, the Gold Medal designation includes these tracked stretches of the Gunnison River: Near Gunnison (above the Tunnel); Below Gunnison Tunnel (Black Canyon / Gunnison Gorge). Check the access and regulations section for the exact boundaries; the designation does not cover the entire river.
What flies work on the Gunnison River?
TroutTips tracks 14 fly pairings reported specifically on the Gunnison River, each tied to a season and a real source. See the Fly Pairings section on this page for the full list.
Are there fly shops near the Gunnison River?
Yes, Gunnison River Fly Shop, High Mountain Drifters, Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters, Willowfly Anglers (Three Rivers Resort), Taylor River Anglers (Harmels), Dragonfly Anglers, Crested Butte Angler guide this river. See the Nearby Fly Shops section on this page for details.