Gunnison River fly trip...

[Vandy321]

Have 2 days...including my 5 hour drive to/from.

Suggestions/critique of my plan...

Day 1, 3am depart, is either SE side and walk in or NW side and fish the gorge instead of the canyon. Was going to hike middle of canyon and camp, bit if its slow, I'd like to be able to hop in truck and hit the upper river for some pre-spawn browns for day 2. Have never fished that river, had a last minute day off Friday and have had zero time to plan much more than that.

What am I missing?

 

[Phaseolus]

Sounds like you have decided not to go into the National Parks section (inner canyon), that is where the best fishing is. BLM (The gorge) is ok and much easier.

The Canyon is very much a nymphing river while fly fishing. Sometimes streamers can work. I fish it three or four times a year and have for the last 30 years.

 

[Vandy321]

Sounds like you have decided not to go into the National Parks section (inner canyon), that is where the best fishing is. BLM (The gorge) is ok and much easier.

The Canyon is very much a nymphing river while fly fishing. Sometimes streamers can work. I fish it three or four times a year and have for the last 30 years.

Thanks. I'm not opposed to the canyon at all, if its worth the hike, I dont mind bringing camp with me down to the bottom. My concern was getting there about 8am and maybe not getting a pass (they're limited to 12 a day on each route?). Would coming in from the N side be better driving from the front range?

Happy to chat over PM, willing to trade info on the Platte and Ark if ya ever come this way

 

[Phaseolus]

Thanks. I'm not opposed to the canyon at all, if its worth the hike, I dont mind bringing camp with me down to the bottom. My concern was getting there about 8am and maybe not getting a pass (they're limited to 12 a day on each route?). Would coming in from the N side be better driving from the front range?

Happy to chat over PM, willing to trade info on the Platte and Ark if ya ever come this way

The trails on the North side offer less miles of fishable water. Only one on the North, SOB, has more than about half a mile of river access. My favorite is Warner Point on the south side. If you wade the river at a strategic point you can fish several miles of river. The fishing gets better the further upstream you go at Warner. It is a butt kicker of a hike.

 

[Phaseolus]

Starting on Oct 13 self service permits resume on the South side.

 

[11boo]

There used to be a guy at Pleasure park fly shop who would jet boat You and a cataraft all the way to the end of the canyon then you could float back down.

 

[3forks]

There used to be a guy at Pleasure park fly shop who would jet boat You and a cataraft all the way to the end of the canyon then you could float back down.

Leroy?

Leroy was a piece of work. Nice guy, and he used to have a radio show on the local station that focused on polka music (Polka Party). Leroy liked peach schnapps and lots of it.

Seems like everyone in any fly shop looks and acts the same anymore... not too many characters like Leroy left!

 

[11boo]

Leroy?

Leroy was a piece of work. Nice guy, and he used to have a radio show on the local station that focused on polka music (Polka Party). Leroy liked peach schnapps and lots of it.

Seems like everyone in any fly shop looks and acts the same anymore... not too many characters like Leroy left!

Leroy! That was him, he scared the crap out of us the first trip up. Pretty sure he was hammered at 0800, but he knew the river well and got us up there. I really seems like you are going about 50 mph upstream, but it was probably more like 20. Good times for sure, and we hammered the fish all the way back.