Crested Butte & Gunnison Fishing Report
2022 has come and gone, and that means one thing – the best fly fishing in Crested Butte is only six months away!
But better yet, the rivers will begin to thaw, and the bug activity will improve in less than three months. Less than 90 days, folks. That’s nothing! We can do this.
Because the small streams in the valley have frozen over, this will be an East, Taylor, and Gunnison River Fishing Report.
We are still in the dark depths of a cold winter here in Crested Butte. There are some fly fishing opportunities to be enjoyed, although most rivers are locked up in ice.
A small brown trout that took a size 14 perdigon on the East River. Small trout are indications of the next generation of big trout that will grow up in our river systems.
Opportunely for the die-hard fly angler, most folks in the valley have changed their focus to snow sports or, if not, complaining about the bitter cold.
That leaves the few open pieces of public water available for the persistent and committed angler with fingerless foldover mittens, plenty of insulating layers, and a flask of whiskey in their wader pocket to keep them warm and smiling.
Winter fly fishing in Colorado is for the heartiest of people, to say the least.
The Bottom Line: We can still find feeding fish in the deeper, open pockets of water, even on the snowiest and coldest days.
Let’s discuss what these fish are up to.
Trout in the depths of winter will be lethargic, and primarily interested in the low-hanging fruit (small bugs on the river bottom) we present to them with accuracy and patience.
It’s important to note that when a winter trout takes your fly, you may barely notice it.
I fished the East River twice this past week, and the fish have seemed to simply open their mouths, let the fly float in, and sit there. Was it a small snag, or was it a trout? The only way I could tell was to set the hook.
Fortunately, I found some small browns on the end of my line several times by setting the hook and setting it often!
Fly Fishing Pro Tip: Set the damn hook!
Hesitant, unconfident, or conservative hook sets do not catch you more trout. If it’s imaginable there’s a fish on the line, set the hook. Just do it.
I recommend looking at your surroundings, planning the trajectory of your back cast, and setting it. You’ll be surprised how many times a trout takes your fly in such a modest way that it ever so delicately, if at all, moves your indicator.
For more fly fishing tips, check out the Jones Guides blog here.
My set up on the East River : Size 12 Purple Chubby, Size 14 Olive Perdigon dropped 3.5 feet with a size 20 black beauty on a 12-inch tag. I typically use a big dry fly, like a chubby or a buoyant stimulator, year-round, even when the hopper or stonefly activity is non-existent.
I do this for many reasons, but mostly because it lands on the water more gently than many bobber indicators. Further, it can occasionally entice an eager trout to take a chance at what they perceive as a healthy top-water meal.
I like the perdigon for its weight and the barbless nature of its hook. And similarly to the summer months, it can be relied upon as my daily driver to fool a hungry trout!
A few parts of the Gunnison River have remained (relatively) ice-free. However, these sports are few and far between, especially on public water. During freeze/thaw weather cycles, keep checking in on areas for ice that may have been there yesterday but has broken free and floated downstream today.
The best times to find ice-free water are during cycles when temperatures have been in the 20s or 30s for several days, and the sun’s energy does us a favor by helping break up ice bars.
Being said, it is still early January, and the days are shorter than the leader you’ve been neglecting to change out for months.
Give it another 4-6 weeks; the sun’s angle in the sky will help us even more by February.
The hot spot on the Taylor River is currently at C&R, about a 20-minute drive upstream from Almont.
The rest of the Taylor will be ice-locked until at least March. C&R trout have been feeding on the smallest midges with the rare dry fly eat.
Flies recommended for the C&R: black beauty (Size 22/24), varied colored zebra midges (size 22), and an olive mole fly (size 20). If you notice rising fish, tie on some 6x or 6.5x tippet with a size 24 dry fly midge and see if you can fool a large trout on the surface.
Green algae is prevalent on the river bottom at the C&R, even in winter, due to warmer water temperatures directly below the dam. So bring your patience and play around with depths to ensure your flies don’t get caught in too much vegetation.
Summary: You can still catch trout in the Crested Butte area knowing that opportunities to find ice-free water are challenging to come by. Nymph fishing should be your primary tactic but don’t be afraid to use a dry-dropper setup in some circumstances. The C&R section of the Taylor River still produces quality fly fishing experiences, but the days are cold, and it’s advised to only fish during the warmest hours of the day.
Feel free to contact us at trout@jonesguides.com with any further questions or fly fishing tips for winter fishing near Crested Butte!
About the Author:
Dan Jones of Jones Guides is a fly fishing author and premier fly fishing guide based in Crested Butte, Colorado. Dan specializes in walk-wade and float fishing on the East, Taylor, and Gunnison Rivers. Dan also provides tailored fishing trips to small, alpine trout streams in the Colorado backcountry.
For more information about fishing with Dan this year, contact him at 970-219-6388 or at trout@jonesguides.com.
Dan Jones is a premier Colorado fly fishing guide based out of the Town of Crested Butte.