Crested Butte Fly Fishing Report: Still Winter
This fishing report covers the Gunnison, East and Taylor Rivers as of March 31, 2023.
Little has changed on our rivers during the last half of March, besides some ice melting and a lot more snow falling. Thus, fly fishing conditions near Crested Butte, Colorado, have remained relatively the same since March 16.
Trout remain in their winter holding patterns, meaning they can be found in the deepest runs with the slowest moving water. Parts of the Taylor River, the East River, and the Gunnison River have shed copious amounts of ice but remain in winter mode.
As you can see in the images below, some slower runs on all three of our primary watersheds are now open to fish. However, snow and ice lining the riverbanks are still enormous and require immense caution during the approach.
During the warmer days (sunny and above 25 degrees), large sheets of ice/snow can break off without warning, sending an unsuspecting angler for a swim or worse.
Spring fly fishing in Colorado can be an adventure and requires knowledge of how to stay safe.
The Gunnison River, looking east from the Lake City Bridge on March 29, 2023. A warming trend heading into spring will melt more of the ice daily.
The Gunnison River, looking west towards Blue Mesa Reservoir from the Lake City Bridge. Ice along the riverbank is 3-5 feet deep in spots. You’ll need to be careful approaching the water as large chunks of ice could easily break off and bury an angler underwater.
You can find the best fishing opportunities where the water is the warmest. The clear choice for the warmest water will be directly below the Taylor Reservoir Dam at the Catch & Release (C&R) section. Water flowing from the dam is consistently in the 40s, enticing fish to be less lethargic and more active in their feeding patterns.
Taylor River near Almont, CO. Ice and snow along the riverbanks make the approach to the river challenging and potentially dangerous.
Trout will migrate from further downstream towards warmer at the dam and can be found in copious numbers in a handful of deep runs. Target them by getting a midge or a mysis shrimp down low with a perfect dead drift.
When we start getting some warmer days in April, I encourage anglers to move downstream from the C&R in the afternoon, where that water has had an opportunity to warm up throughout the day.
Weather plays an enormous role in how fish behave, and right now, we are looking for the most consistently warm water we can find.
Our snowpack has continued to grow throughout March, with some heavy, wet storm systems dumping inches of snow-water equivalent in our valley during the last half of March.
East River looking south from the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery. There are fewer deep runs in the section pictured, however the approach to the river side is less intimidating than other areas this time of year.
In the map below, you can see nearly the entire State of Colorado is sitting well above average in its snowpack as of March 31, 2023. Some anglers will begin feeling anxious about this trend due to a predictably massive runoff this spring.
This anxiety is fair because higher-than-average streamflows will make some rivers challenging to fish until mid-summer.
However, we are anglers for the long haul, and our area of the country needs moisture. Not every year will be like this, so let’s be grateful for what it is.
The area circled is the East-Taylor river basin which includes the Upper Gunnison River and many of the mountains surrounding Crested Butte.
A zoomed-in view of our zone shows the East-Taylor basin sitting at 163% of average as of March 31, 2023. The other basins in the region are also all above 100% of average, with some closer to 200% of average.
Colorado fly fishing conditions are rarely excellent during the spring when we have above-average snow years. Rivers will be blown out for a period in May and June, limiting where we can successfully fish.
However, early spring conditions in April should yield solid fishing opportunities before the majority of the runoff takes hold. Tailwaters, such as the Taylor River, can also offer more consistently good fishing due to the bulk of its water coming from a dam release.
During these significant snow years, I encourage anglers to think outside of the box and possibly change tactics. Sometimes we fish smaller streams at lower elevations when the central river systems are blown out or move to stillwater fishing on lakes and ponds.
Remember, there’s always more than one way to catch a trout. And fly fishing in Crested Butte is never a regrettable experience.
For the previous Crested Butte, Colorado fishing report, click here. And please email Jones Guides at trout@jonesguides.com for more information on how you can successfully fly fish in Crested Butte this year.
Thanks for reading,
Dan
About the Jones Guides Project:
The Jones Guides project was started out of a passion for fly fishing and all things outdoors. Dan Jones, its founder and author, is a premier fly fishing guide based in Crested Butte, Colorado, and is passionate about sharing his love for the river with others.
When not fly fishing with clients, Dan can be found hiking in the Elk Mountains, riding bikes on the best single track in Colorado, or fly fishing for himself. With dozens of streams and rivers to visit, Dan considers fly fishing in this area one of the best things to do in Crested Butte.
Dan’s favorite fly rod and reel combo is a Scott Centric 9-foot 5-weight from Scott Fly Rods and a Colorado reel from Ross Reels.
On float fishing trips, he uses an SB-140 raft from Rocky Mountain Rafts. Dan considers this boat to be one of the best fishing rafts for Colorado.
Feel free to contact Dan for fly fishing tips and gear advice when you’re looking to upgrade your river quiver.
NOTE: Dan is neither paid nor endorsed to promote the abovementioned products. These are guide-used and tested river tools that he fully supports.