Gunnison River - Black Canyon (East Portal)

Black Canyon (East Portal) Details / Map Hatch Chart Gunnison Map Main Map
Call (970) 249-0408 or stop by the shop at 317 E Main St. in downtown Montrose for gear, tips and/or advice.
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River Section Description

The East Portal of the Gunnison River is the beginning of an amazing Gold Medal Water fishery set deep in the Black Canyon National Park. With drive-to access and a campground along the river, this is an excellent day fishery or destination. This section of river has more Rainbow trout than should be legal, but due to the Gold Medal status, they should be returned quickly to the water unharmed. In a word...Awesome.

Suggested Patterns

Drys: Blue Wing Olive Patterns like #16 BWO ext. Body Adult, BWO, Parachute BWO and Adams, Adams. Nymphs: Green & Orange Scuds, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Prince, GB patterns of the above, JuJu Baetis, RS2, Red San Juan Worm, Egg Patterns, Trout Bea

Helpful Hints / Local Tips

5-6Wt. 9' Medium to Medium Fast rods, suitable to hucking split shot and strike indicators into the wind, yet able to softly present an #18 dry fly!

River Section Map

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Local Angler Reports

06/30/2010 at 11:35 AM

Epic Epic Epic Epic Epic - Epic

The Red Rocks, Warner area was on fire for adult stones on Monday and Tuesday. Take a hike! -- Alan Carmichael

06/19/2010 at 1:05 PM

Epic Epic Epic Epic Epic - Poor

Hiked down Warner route last Tuesday afternoon and saw a decent number of fliers. By Thursday afternoon the sky was THICK but no egg layers! It's about to go off down there! -- Paul Howe

08/01/2009 at 10:39 PM

Epic Epic Epic Epic Epic - Good

Fished for a couple of hours midday. PMD's were hatching, fish were taking rusty spinnners and microcaddis patterns. -- Luciano Chiaramonte

Gunnison River Sections

Updated: Sep 03 at 3:07 PM
Click on a section below for the full fishing report...

Black Canyon (East Portal)

- Good
Clarity: Gunnison Green
Hot Flies: Nymphs: #20-22 Juju Baetis and RS2 midges, Red or Orange San Juan Worm, Mighty Mite, Pheasant Tail, FB PT, BH PT, Copper Johns, Halfbacks, RS2 Emergers, pulsating caddis Adults: #16-18 PMDs, #14-16 Tan Caddis
Below Gunnison Tunnel : 609 cfs
Full Report: Flows are at at 600cfs. Reports the last two days of adult PMDs, but the fish are mostly eating emergers. If the PMD hatch continues, be ready for some fun dry fly action in the slicks.
-Report Courtesy of Pat

Gunnison Gorge

Full Report / Section Map
- Good
Clarity: Fair but Fishable
Hot Flies: Hoppers in various sizes ... More
Below Gunnison Tunnel : 609 cfs
Report: Just got off the phone with Al DeGrange of Gunnison River Expeditions. He r... Full Report
-Report Courtesy of Pat

The Forks at the Pleasure Park

Full Report / Section Map
- Good
Clarity: Fair but Fishable
Hot Flies: #12 Yellow Sallies, flash... More
Below Gunnison Tunnel : 609 cfs
North Fork Below Paonia : 17 cfs
Report: Just got off the phone with Al DeGrange of Gunnison River Expeditions. He r... Full Report
-Report Courtesy of Pat

Lake Fork Of The Gunnsion

Full Report / Section Map
- Great
Clarity: Very Clear
Hot Flies: #14-18 attractor dries su... More
Lake Fork At Gateview : 115 cfs
Report: Excellent flows for fishing with a dry/dropper. The road from Red Bridge ca... Full Report
-Report Courtesy of Pat

Gunnison River Near Gunnison

Full Report / Section Map
- Great
Clarity: Very Clear
Hot Flies: #14-18 Caddis, Stimulator... More
Near Gunnison : 422 cfs
Report: Summer conditions and excellent fishing. Dry fly fishing is very good as we... Full Report
-Report Courtesy of Cimarron Creek

Latest Fishing Gossip

Pleasure Park Area Fishing Again

Just got off the phone with Al DeGrange of Gunnison River Expeditions. He reported that the inner gorge from Chukar to the Smith Fork is only slightly off color from the massive flash flood that went thru 6 days ago. He also reported that the Gunnison from Smith Fork down to Pleasure Park has about 3-4 feet of visibility and is clearing fast. Trips that went through yesterday had good results from the Smith Fork down. The North Fork itself is just slightly off color, so the lower Gunnison should be fishing well.

08/26/2010 : Recent Posts