Fishing Season: Year Round

Taylor River - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

53

Willowfly Anglers's Tip of the Week

The Taylor River at the Catch and Release section (AKA C&R) is at 200 CFS and will begin dropping until mid October when we will reach winter flows. Bug activity has slowed below the dam but we are still seeing some mid-day hatches, primarily Blue Wing Olives, Mahogany's, and PMD's. Dry fly fishing is technical, with size 20 – 24 flies being the mainstay. Mole Flies, Foam Wing RS2’s, Massacre Midge’s and Parachute Adams have all been productive flies for us. Nymphing will likely be the most productive method unless you see fish actively feeding at the surface. Great presentation is key, with flies in the 20 – 26 size range. Black Beauties, Tron Emergers, Slim Flashback Pheasant Tails, and Jujubee Midges have been top producers. Presentation is key this time of year – long light leaders and tippets, along with yarn indicators will keep you from spooking fish. The Taylor River at Almont has been hovering around 270CFS. The canyon has been fishing well throughout. We are primarily seeing afternoon dries; BWO's and Midges on the surface. Missing Link Caddis, Royal Stimulators, Outrigger Caddis, and Para-Wulff’s have been our favorite dries, as the dry fly season is wrapping up patterns in the 14 – 20 size range can still find success. Hopper-Dropper fishing is a great way to hit the pocket water in the upper canyon! Amy’s Ants, Chubby Chernobyl’s, and Baby Boy Hoppers are great indicator flies; getting paired with Perdigons, Blowtorches, HDA Varients, and Frenchies in size 14 – 18 is sure to find you success. Tailing a second dropper is a great way to get some smaller flies in the zone. Think Mercury RS2, D-Midge, Blindside Midge, or split case PMD’s. Smaller streamers have been the most successful for our team – primarily in Olive and Black. Baby Swim Coach, Sculpzilla, or Thin Mint’s are sure to get the job done. As always, have fun and enjoy this fantastic fishery! Salmon season is still going! Find a deep, slow moving pool, tie up a deep nymph rig with bright attractors and you may hook into a sockeye salmon in the Rocky Mountains!

Directions open in app

Map of Taylor River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Willowfly Anglers

5-Day Outlook as of 10/2/25

Overnight we are getting into freezing temps, and the flows are going down quickly. Wade fishing is still going good, and we are getting access to the hard to wade zones!

Techniques & Tips as of 10/2/25

Nymphing and Streamers

Local Species Available Year Round

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Willowfly Anglers's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Tunghead Pheasant Tail Natural 14-20
Bead Head Soft Hackle Hare's Ear Nymph Natural 14-16
GD SculpSnack Black 14-16
Elk Wing Caddis Tan 14-18
Miller's Candy Cane Shrimp White 18-22
Mole Fly Brown 18-24
Stimulator Royal / Orange 14-20
Griffin's Euro Candy Caddis Natural 14-18
Miller's D-Midge Grey 18-22
Black Beauty Black 20-22

Tunghead Pheasant Tail

Adding tungsten beads to mayfly patterns is relatively new.

2.99

Item #144J

Buy Now

Willowfly Anglers's Recommended Gear

Description: About Taylor River

The Taylor River is fed from high up in the Colorado Rockies and drains into Taylor Reservoir at about 9,300 feet. The tailwater below the dam flows down through Taylor Canyon some 20 miles before it joins the East River to form the Gunnison River at Almont. The Taylor is a medium-sized river which contains deep pools and pocket water, and plenty of riffles and runs. The bottom releases from Taylor Reservoir provide constant and predictable flows, and consistent hatches throughout the season. The Taylor River contains a very high density of trout, including wild browns, rainbows, and cutthroat. Some rainbow trout are also stocked during the season. The upper section of the Taylor River just below the dam is designated catch-and-release (C&R) water. This is trophy trout water with a lot of fish in the 8 to 12-pound range, along with some much larger fish. These big wild trout enjoy a constant food source which includes a steady diet of mysis shrimp and midges. The C&R section can be very challenging and requires some technical angling skills. This section of the Taylor River can be fished year round. There is plenty of public access throughout Taylor Canyon. It can be a difficult river to wade, so many anglers use a wading staff for added safety. Chest waders are recommended. A 9-foot 5-weight fly rod is a good all purpose choice for the Taylor River. The peak season is from mid June to mid September, and fall fishing in Taylor Canyon can be spectacular.

Nearest Airport:

Gunnison-Crested Butte Airport

Hatches:

Caddis, Golden Stoneflies, PMD

Best Time to Fish:

11am - 4pm

Best Stretch:

CNR

Best Access:

C&R