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June 15 - 21, 2009
George Sanders
Trips Committee Chairman
The Gunnison River Gorge and Black Canyon are part of a 30 mile stretch of the Gunnison River near Montrose and Delta, CO. We plan on fishing the salmon fly hatch that usually starts the last week in May and runs through most of June. We will be on the river from 6/15 till 6/21. The Gunnison is fishable and accessible for about 1 mile at the upstream entrance of the Black Canyon at East Portal. This area is reached through the National Park on the Montrose side. The road down to the Portal is a hair raising descent off the edge of the world that eats brakes and drops about a mile in 4 miles. It has parabolic mirrors on the blind curves, 16% grade, get the picture? The tail end of the gorge gives way to open country 28 miles downriver at the confluence of the North Fork. The river is reached from Delta - Austin on the Hwy to Hotchkiss. There is camping available at Pleasure Park (11 miles east of Delta turn right at the signs) as well as raft rentals, shuttles, fly shop and restaurant. The campsites are basic but have nice showers, toilets, etc. $15 /person. Pleasure Park can be reached at 1-888-782-7542. There are cheap motels and private campgrounds in Delta and Hotchkiss, minutes from the river, also good inexpensive eateries.
For two days, I will be renting a raft ($150), and getting a ride up the river on the Jet Boat ($50) to the 5 mile mark. Eric and I will float/wade our way back to the campground. It is possible to wade fish and hike the 5 miles to the Smith fork or one could get a jet boat ride up with your gear only and walk back down.
The river is currently running at 2400 cfs with the North fork at 4200 cfs. By second week in June, the river is predicted to be down to its summer flow of 1000 cfs. In 2007 the river was fishing at 450 cfs, and last year was a blow–out flow of 5500 cfs! This is another tailwater fishery but subject to the vagaries of hydro and irrigation demands downstream. The snow pack is below normal but one never knows for sure what the water people are planning.
Bring the same type of gear and flies as for the Green with the addition of Big Stones—all styles and sizes, hair wing, foam bodies, parachutes; better yet buy the featured stones at the local shops. If the stones are not coming off, the regular dry/droppers and 2-nymph rigs will work.
The water clarity in the gorge is murkier than the Green, especially at higher flows. Last year we had adobe colored water. In flows like that the fish are hugging the banks.
The Gunnison weather is typical to summer on the San Juan – could be hot, buggy at night, bring mosquito stuff.
NOTE: The Gunnison Gorge is only a 90 minute drive from the upper Gunnison Valley. The fishing there is varied from big water on the Gunnison above Blue Mesa Reservoir to the Taylor and East Fork above town. There are many small alpine streams and lakes up there as well.
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