Crested Butte Fly Fishing Report: LITE
A brown trout from the East River near Crested Butte.
Not everyone nerds out on fly fishing like we do.
So we wrote a quick and dirty version of this most recent fly fishing report. Or, for you trout nerds, click here to get the full version. We’ve also compiled a list of the best flies for fishing near Crested Butte through mid-summer. Enjoy!
East River:
Fishing is excellent!
Flows are at a good level for wading, below 600 cfs.
Water temps have allowed trout to spread out and increase metabolism.
Bigger fish can be found in the best lies. Read more in the full fishing report.
Chubbies, Drake Dries, and medium-sized Caddis are the best dry fly choices.
Medium-weight tungsten bead nymphs (size 2.8mm bead or smaller) are ideal for nymphing.
Lighter nymph rigs can be used in the shallower sections.
Taylor River:
Dry fly fishing has been outstanding.
Trout are eagerly eating but are pickier. This means it’s advised to change your rigs/orientation/drifts frequently if you’re not catching fish.
Fishing is technical and requires a different approach than the East and Gunnison Rivers.
Flows are around 400 cfs out of the dam and about 540 near Almont, making wading less treacherous than earlier in the month.
Large Adams, Drake Dries, Stimulators, and Micro Chubbies are good dry fly choices. Small/medium-sized perdigons, Prince Nymphs, and smaller stoneflies are appropriate subsurface patterns.
For details on what is working best on the C&R section of the Taylor, click here.
Gunnison River:
Fish are spread out, and water temps are safe for trout all day. This could change by the end of July.
Float fishing is possible from Almont to above Blue Mesa Reservoir.
Target fish in the middle of the river just as much as you target them on the banks.
Don’t be too concerned about matching the hatch right now. Fish will feed on various nymph patterns and sizes with a good drift at the right depth.
Read more here to learn about what flies are working best on the Gunnison. Or read more for our list of the best flies for fly fishing during this high water year.
Small Streams Near Crested Butte:
Fishing is good, but water clarity is high.
Fish can be spooky and require stealthy approaches to catch them.
Dry-dropper rigs offer the most versatility on smaller waters.
Read more for more details on the specific small trout streams near Crested Butte that are fishing particularly well.
Catching fish on small creeks with light tackle is dreamy – don’t miss out on an opportunity to experience it this year.
Enjoy it out there, folks! It’s about as good as it gets right now.
Dan