Gunnison River - Black Canyon (East Portal)

Black Canyon (East Portal) Details / Map Hatch Chart Gunnison Map Main Map
Call (970) 249-0408 or stop by the shop at 317 E Main St. in downtown Montrose for gear, tips and/or advice.
48.jpg << Go To Gunnison River Map

River Section Description

The East Portal of the Gunnison River is the beginning of an amazing Gold Medal Water fishery set deep in the Black Canyon National Park. With drive-to access and a campground along the river, this is an excellent day fishery or destination. This section of river has more Rainbow trout than should be legal, but due to the Gold Medal status, they should be returned quickly to the water unharmed. In a word...Awesome.

Suggested Patterns

Drys: Blue Wing Olive Patterns like #16 BWO ext. Body Adult, BWO, Parachute BWO and Adams, Adams. Nymphs: Green & Orange Scuds, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Prince, GB patterns of the above, JuJu Baetis, RS2, Red San Juan Worm, Egg Patterns, Trout Bea

Helpful Hints / Local Tips

5-6Wt. 9' Medium to Medium Fast rods, suitable to hucking split shot and strike indicators into the wind, yet able to softly present an #18 dry fly!

River Section Map

Add A Report Now!

Login Here to Add Your Report

Book a Guide Trip Today!

Online Deals!

Local Angler Reports

08/01/2009 at 10:39 PM

Good Good Good Good Good - Good

Fished for a couple of hours midday. PMD's were hatching, fish were taking rusty spinnners and microcaddis patterns. -- Luciano Chiaramonte

06/22/2009 at 2:52 PM

Good Good Good Good Good - Great

We hiked out of Warner Point on Saturday after 3 great days of fishing. Browns and Bows keying on large nymphs - stones with caddis and scud droppers. Fish were hugging the grass lines and deep pools. Stones were in the trees and the air but did not see any risers. Four of us had the river to ourselves and caught a lot of big fish. -- B L

06/06/2009 at 10:43 AM

Good Good Good Good Good - Good

Guides are reporting good fishing from the Forks up to Smith Fork, with flyers and a few fish taking them. The stone nymph fishing is good all through the canyon, with some excellent caddis hatches that are most productive. Fish the edges with dry stones and dry a dry dropper with caddis or light stone nymph. -- Alan Carmichael

Gunnison River Sections

Updated: Mar 12 at 2:24 PM
Click on a section below for the full fishing report...

Black Canyon (East Portal)

- Poor
Clarity: Clear
Below Gunnison Tunnel : 618 cfs
Full Report: Closed for the season, look for an April opening.
-Report Courtesy of Al

Gunnison Gorge

Full Report / Section Map
- Fair
Clarity: Clear
Below Gunnison Tunnel : 618 cfs
Report: With winter approaching and winter weather here off and on, the inner canyo... Full Report
-Report Courtesy of Al

The Forks at the Pleasure Park

Full Report / Section Map
- Good
Clarity: Clear
Hot Flies: Hoppers, Stimulators, Cad... More
Below Gunnison Tunnel : 618 cfs
North Fork Below Paonia : Ssn
Report: Flows are nice and still pretty low, which means it's a lot easier to get a... Full Report
-Report Courtesy of Al

Lake Fork Of The Gunnsion

Full Report / Section Map
- Poor
Clarity: Clear
Lake Fork At Gateview : Ice
Report: Cold and snowy up on the Lake Fork...try again early spring.... Full Report
-Report Courtesy of Al

Gunnison River Near Gunnison

Full Report / Section Map
- Fair
Clarity: Clear
Near Gunnison : Ice
Report: Interested in Winter fishing? Call High Mountain Drifters before you go fo... Full Report
-Report Courtesy of High Mtn. Drifters

Latest Fishing Gossip

Things beginning to happen.

Several reports of midge fishing at Pleasure Park, the Uncompahgre through town and at Paco. This spring-like weather is forecast to continue for the next 10 days, so get out there and see what is happening. Baetis can't be far off.

03/05/2010 : Recent Posts