Crested Butte Fly Fishing Report: GAME ON!
Smile! The fishing is on.
All Systems Are A Go!
NOW is the time for epic fly fishing in Crested Butte. And there’s no time to beat around the bush – get out there and fly fish!
Peak flows have come and gone, and we’re now experiencing all-time conditions in the upper Gunnison River Valley. Water and air temperatures are prime, the water color is favorable, and the hatches are bold.
Fishing Report LITE Now Available!
Not everyone nerds out of fly fishing as much as we do, so we have abbreviated this report into a LITE version for those who want the most important details in 90 seconds or less.
For the rest of you geeks, read on.
East River Fishing Report
Flows on the East River have dropped below 600 cfs for the first time since early May (woofta, that was a long runoff), and water temps are hovering between the low 50s and high 50s daily. Air temps have been extremely warm, encouraging a rapid decline in stream flows and a rapid increase in trout’s metabolism. With very little precipitation for the past month and a forecast of minimal rain in our future, we expect flows to continue dropping and water temperatures to continue rising.
Since these favorable conditions won’t last forever, we’d encourage people to get off the couch and fish the East ASAP.
Large dries (size 8-12 chubbies and 10-12 drakes) are on the menu for hungry trout. If dry fly action is slow, drift a medium-weight bead head nymph.
We found a nice brown trout in the shallows on the East River on July 14, 2023.
You’ve been patient since last summer, and now you can be rewarded by finding opportunistic trout in shallow AND deep water. The largest brown trout will occupy the best lies, so focus on what appears “fishiest” to find the biggest fish.
Trout are lazy creatures and are always trying to expend the least energy to eat the most calories, all while staying alive! As such, larger trout are generally more experienced than small trout and will occupy locations where they don’t have to work too hard for food and are relatively safe from predators.
Taylor River Fishing Report
Drakes, PMDs, and Caddis have fish looking up on the Taylor. The best dry fly fishing will be in the afternoon. However, don’t be afraid to cast a dry fly any time of day, as many of these fish are ready for some explosive takes.
Stream flows out of the dam dropped from 480 cfs to 404 cfs on July 10th and are expected to remain consistent at those flows for the foreseeable future. More importantly, flows on the Taylor at Almont have dropped to around 540 after hovering above 800 for nearly six weeks. This is due to the river’s several tributaries slowing down, making the Taylor a much easier river to wade.
Bigger trout are generally found in the best places on the river. But they are not always found in big streams. This chunker was brought to hand in a small trout stream near Crested Butte.
Nymphing is the most productive at the C&R (Catch & Release section below the dam). This part of the river is technical and receives tons of pressure due to people obsessing about netting trophy fish. If you’re one of those folks, use a size 20-22 mole fly accompanied by a small pheasant tail nymph for your best chances. Watch for rising trout for chances to catch one on a dry.
Please note that matching the hatch is more crucial at the C&R than in the rest of Gunnison Valley for most of the year.
We prefer to get away from the crowds and target fish in the lower parts of the canyon that receive less pressure and do not demand combat angling techniques (shoulder-to-shoulder fishing with 20+ of your best friends). We will guide you at the C&R – but is that truly the experience you want during your long-awaited fly fishing vacation?
Below the C&R, large Parachute Adams (size 10-12), Green Drake dries (size 10-12), Stimulators (size 10-14), and Micro Chubbies (size 14-16) drifted through slow/medium fast water have been the most fun way to catch these fish.
Size 16 Psycho-Price nymphs and size 12-16 stonefly patterns work for subsurface nymphs. Size 14 and 16 purple perdigons also fish well as they are heavy and cut through the water swiftly with their sleek profile.
The pockets on the Taylor are deeper than you think, so get those nymphs into the strike zone quickly and with plenty of weight for your best chances.
Water temps on the Taylor (about 8 miles upstream from Almont) are hovering around 55 degrees by mid-afternoon, meaning hatches are robust and fish have their metabolism in high gear.
Because the Taylor River will now experience consistent flows and water temperatures from day to day, the fish here are in a rhythm and know what they’re looking for. If your presentations are good but aren’t working, don’t lollygag for 20+ minutes trying to make it work.
Instead, change something!
Location, orientation, depth, weight, flies – all variables that can and should be adjusted if you’re not hooking fish.
After a guided fishing trip yesterday, we fished the Taylor for about 90 minutes and changed rigs seven times to figure out what trout prefer best. Trout were hooked on five of the seven rigs, but one outperformed them all. We encourage you to take the same trial-and-error approach.
While the Taylor is fishing wonderfully, it can feel pretty darn fickle if you’re unfamiliar with this river. As such, the best way to fly fish here for the first time is with an experienced guide.
Taylor River trout behave differently than most trout streams near Crested Butte and require a unique approach. Contact us at trout@jonesguides.com for more information on a guided fly fishing trip.
Gunnison River Fishing Report
The Gunnison River is also experiencing prime-time fishing conditions. It is possible to float from Almont to the take-out above Blue Mesa Reservoir, and the Drake action has been the talk of the town.
Fish are keying in on various bugs, including nymphs and dries. Drakes are still a favorite for top water eats, with yellow sallies, PMDs, caddis, and stones occupying the riverbed and the air. Streamer fishing is still good on the Gunnison River, but why bother with that when we can catch fish in so many other ways?
A dry-dropper rig will ensure you feed fish above and below the surface. Or if using an indicator set up, drop your nymphs 3-4 feet below the indicator with your point fly having plenty of weight.
Other Articles from the Jones Guides Blog
Don’t be scared to use split shot/drop shot if you don’t think you’re getting deep enough.
Undercut banks, runs, holes, and riffles are all on the table for the Gunnison. Fish the middle of the river through turbulent water just as hard as you fish the sides since fish will be spread out in all locations.
Soon, trout will begin demanding more realistic patterns than the oversized attractors we’ve become accustomed to since May. Get yourself a box full of size 16-18 pheasant tails and hares ears for when the conditions again change in the coming weeks.
Check out the Jones Guides Hatch Chart to learn more about what flies are typically hatching throughout the summer months.
Or read our blog on the best flies for fly fishing during high water here.
Small Streams Near Crested Butte
Like the rest of the water in Gunnison County, small stream fly fishing is also excellent. However, it’s important to note that some small streams are clearing up, and fish will be extra spooky when they see/hear/feel you coming.
In many areas, the water is crystal clear but still retains enough water to provide an angler some coverage when approaching.
Fly fishing on smaller waters is one of our favorite ways to fly fish. On a small stream such as this one, anglers can get away from the crowds and have a peaceful experience targeting trout that rarely see artificial flies.
Check out Coal Creek just west of town for excellent small stream fly fishing near Crested Butte. This technical creek requires short, precise casts in its canyon section with plentiful 6-9” wild (and eager) brook trout.
At this time, Coal Creek in the canyon is good for families with smaller children since the water levels are pretty low, making it safer and easy to cross.
Size down on your hooks and remove the barbs when fishing Coal Creek because these trout have small mouths.
Closer to Almont, Spring Creek has decreased its flows since June, and fish are now located in more predictable locations. Our favorite way to target these trout is with a size 14 hopper and a size 18 Frenchie dropped about 30 inches. Short, precise casts are crucial on Spring Creek.
Closer to Gunnison, Cochetopa Creek has been fishing well but is about at the end of its run, with scorching daytime temperatures increasing the water temps to dangerous levels.
Fish will eat best in water between 50 and 60 degrees. Temps above 63 degrees start becoming more dangerous for trout. Remember your river thermometer the next time you hit the river to ensure you’re in the right temperature zone.
Catching trout when temps are above 65 degrees drastically impacts their mortality rate – please fish responsibly and help take care of our waters.
Above Taylor Reservoir, Texas Creek is fishing well but is crystal clear, and the fish are still holding primarily in the undercut banks. For your best chances on Texas Creek, use a dry-dropper setup with the nymphs 36-48” below the dry.
Water temps on Texas Creek are holding in the low 50s by midafternoon. This creek should fish well for several more weeks.
Cement Creek is clear with cold water and plenty of hungry browns between 8 and 15 inches. I’ve never seen a Rainbow Trout in Cement Creek, so let me know if you find one!
The best fishing in Cement Creek is in the canyon below the meadow. The overhanging trees on Cement Creek make casting challenging, making this creek only for those with patience and plenty of accuracy in their casts. Our favorite rigs for fly fishing here are a single dry or a light dry dropper.
NOTE: Cement Creek is inappropriate for beginners or anglers with rods over 8.5 feet long. Further, anglers must research in advance to determine where the public and private areas are located.
If you are proficient at casting and would like to experience the serene nature of small stream fly fishing in Colorado, we encourage you to hire a guide to help you get in a position to find success.
Contact Jones Guides here for more information.
Thanks for reading.
Dan
About the Author:
Dan Jones of Jones Guides resides in Crested Butte, Colorado, with his wife and three dogs. Fly fishing in Crested Butte is his passion, and he gets to work in his dream job of guiding clients during their vacation to Crested Butte.
He is the author of several popular articles, including, but not limited to:
Dan offers tailored fly fishing trips to meet the needs and goals of every client, using his knowledge of the area and sense of hospitality to ensure guests have a great experience.
Contact Dan directly at daniel@jonesguides.com for beta on when and where to fly fish in Crested Butte or for gear recommendations to help you be more successful on the water.
When not fly fishing with clients, Dan is fly fishing on his own. And when not doing that, he is hanging with his wife and dogs. In this image, Dan is paddleboarding with his pitbull, Cammie, on the Slate River on July 13, 2023.