Fishing Season: Year-round

Lower Gunnison River - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

47

RIGS Fly Shops & Guide Service's Tip of the Week

Warm weather through much of the last month brought an early taste of runoff to the Lower Gunnison, with the North Fork pushing color into the lower river below the confluence. While those lower sections experienced muddy, off-color conditions, the upper river stayed clear and continued to fish well. With cooler temperatures and freezing nights in the forecast over the next two weeks, runoff progression should slow and water clarity below the confluence should begin to improve. If that trend holds, conditions across more of the system should continue to clean up and stabilize. Fishing has been productive, particularly in the clear water above the confluence, where strong Blue-Winged Olive hatches have been the main story. Expect fish to feed actively on BWO nymphs and emergers, with opportunities for surface action during the best hatch windows.

Directions open in app

Map of Lower Gunnison River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service

5-Day Outlook as of 4/1/26

Looks like some weather is coming in this weekend, so be careful on the roads as you make your way. This won't affect fishing and may even improve it.

Techniques & Tips as of 4/1/26

Nymphing the deeper, slow pools. Use split shot to ensure your flies are getting down to the fish, as they are sitting on the riverbed this time of year.

Local Species Available Year-round

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Brown Trout

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    Roundtail Chub

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    and Flannelmouth Sucker

RIGS Fly Shops & Guide Service's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Birchell's Hatching Midge N/A
I Can See It Midge Fly N/A
Tunghead Pheasant Tail N/A
Hot Head Euro Pheasant Tail N/A
RS2 N/A
Cripple Dun BWO N/A

Birchell's Hatching Midge

This midge fly pattern can be used as a dry fly or emerger.

2.49

Item #12A1

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RIGS Fly Shops & Guide Service's Recommended Gear

Description: About Lower Gunnison River

Pleasure Park: This stretch of the Gunnison starts at the confluence of the Smith Fork, four miles above Pleasure Park, and ends at the Highway 65 bridge about 12 miles below Pleasure Park. Not as dramatic as the East Portal or Gunnison Gorge, this section of the river twists its way through sandstone cliffs and a beautiful desert landscape.

Nearest Airport:

Montrose and Grand Junction

Best Time to Fish:

Late morning to mid afternoon ( Warmest part of the day)

Best Stretch:

Both up and Down stream of pleasure park fish very well but in the spring or after a big storm the North Fork of the Gunnison causes the down stream section to blow out.

Best Access:

Pleasure park or South River Road