Will Crane
Founder
The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area protects 19 miles of some of the most dramatic and productive trout water in Colorado. The river cuts through a 2,000-foot canyon of ancient Precambrian rock, and access requires either a float or a multi-mile hike down one of four steep trails.
The fish
Brown and rainbow trout thrive here, bolstered by the Mysis shrimp carried downstream from Morrow Point Reservoir. The shrimp create a year-round food source that grows fish to exceptional sizes. Fish averaging 16–24 inches are common in the catch-and-release section, and 10-pound browns have been documented.
Getting there
The Gunnison Gorge is 15 miles north of Montrose, Colorado. Most guides access it via the river itself — a drift from the Pleasure Park boat ramp through the gorge. Hikers can reach the river via the Duncan, Chukar, Bobcat, or Ute trails, each 1–4 miles with significant elevation loss.
Best seasons
Year-round, but spring runoff (April–June) can push the river to very high flows. The most reliable fishing is July through October, when water temperatures stabilize and fish key in on Mysis shrimp imitations, BWOs, and midges in the lower water column.
On the gear
Fish the Gorge with a 9-foot 5-weight minimum — the canyon creates strong upstream drafts that require tight loops. Small flies (size 18–24 Mysis patterns, midges, and BWOs) dominate. Long leaders (14–16 feet) and light tippet (5–6X) are non-negotiable.
