Fishing Season: Year-round

Lower Gunnison River - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

47

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

Fishing has been excellent on the lower. There are still some hatches coming of through the day and you will find some fish feeding on the surface but the majority have been eating Caddis and mayfly nymphs in the 16-18 size in the runs. We have started to see some pre-spawn behavior from the brown and fish have started lookng to eat eggs. With that the streamer fishing has been very good on the cloudier days but if you commit to it you'll find some great fish on them this time of year.

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 11/20/24

Some weather has moved in for the next few day but as we head into next week warmer temps seem to come back. Look to hit this area fishing has been great.

Techniques & Tips as of 11/20/24

Dry dropper or nymphing has been the most successful. Black and dark colored streamers have also moved some fish if your looking to cover some water.

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):
Stimulator N/A
Yellow Sally N/A
Tunghead Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail N/A
Tunghead Pheasant Tail Jig N/A
Yum Yum Emerger N/A
Gee's Supafly Stone Dry N/A

Stimulator

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Item #0928

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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:

All 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