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All Colorado reports
Upper Gunnison River
Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Should I go fishing?
Yes — worth going.
No single best way to fish. Wading and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Fishing rating74
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 91 cfs. The flow has been falling about 15% over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1911-2025, 99 readings) show a median near 476 cfs and a low-water marker near 296 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Use the Gunnison near Gunnison gauge for this page's main flow context.
- Try
- Choose the reach first: Almont, town water, Van Tuyl/Redden, or Blue Mesa approach.
- Leave when
- Skip the Upper Gunnison when runoff makes wading unsafe, when kokanee or section-by-section rules are unclear, when public access is crowded beyond reasonable spacing, or when storms and wind make a float plan shaky.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 91 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 57.7°F · 24h high 62.2°F · USGS provisional
- Air forecast
- 59°F
- Next 24h high
- 69.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 1%
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Clear
- Wind
- 0 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Clear
National Weather Service
Upper Gunnison River forecast point
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Gunnison River near Gunnison
Water 57.7°F · provisional · 24h high 62.2°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO dryView fly guide ↗
- RS2View fly guide ↗
- Trout Streamer PatternsstreamerView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Winter
What to look forMidges, small BWOs
Flies to try
Also try black beauty
Spring
What to look forBWOs, caddis, stones
Summer
What to look forCaddis, PMDs, golden stones, terrestrials
FallThis season
What to look forBWOs, midges, October caddis
Flies to try
Also try October caddis
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Upper Gunnison River today.
The Upper Gunnison is most reliable when flows are stable enough to wade or float safely and water temperatures support trout handling. During runoff or access uncertainty, choose clearer smaller streams or tailwaters.
Low clear water
Use longer leaders, lighter nymph rigs, and careful bank approaches.
Medium flow
Dry-droppers, nymph rigs, and streamers all become realistic depending on clarity.
Runoff or high water
Avoid unsafe wading. Fish soft edges only where access and footing are clear.
Warm late summer
Check temperature and any CPW guidance before extended catch-and-release trout fishing.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading74/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishingNot recommended
This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.
Floating74/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Upper Gunnison River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Colorado before you go.
Upper Gunnison can mean several different reaches. This page focuses on the Gunnison-area river from the Almont confluence toward Blue Mesa, where flows, public access, and private boundaries shape the day.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Confluence
- A confluence is the place where two streams or rivers meet.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Pale morning dun (PMD)
- Pale morning duns, or PMDs, are light-colored mayflies that often hatch in warmer months.
- River reach
- A reach is one named section of a river or stream.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 91 cfs. The flow has been falling about 15% over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1911-2025, 99 readings) show a median near 476 cfs and a low-water marker near 296 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Cooler water, BWOs, streamers, and lower flows often improve consistency.
Water temperatureHelps
USGS water temperature is about 57.7F, and the rolling 24-hour high did not trigger a heat caution. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip the Upper Gunnison when runoff makes wading unsafe, when kokanee or reach-specific rules are unclear, when public access is crowded beyond reasonable spacing, or when storms and wind make a float plan shaky.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the RiverReports Gunnison chart and USGS 09114500 together. Stable or slowly falling flows are the easiest window. Runoff, sudden storm color, or pushy current should narrow the plan to safe banks or another basin option.
Skip the Upper Gunnison when runoff makes wading unsafe, when kokanee or section-by-section rules are unclear, when public access is crowded beyond reasonable spacing, or when storms and wind make a float plan shaky.
Pick the style first: Gunnison River SWA for public access, Neversink and Curecanti context for trail-linked water, or Taylor River when the main river is high and you need colder controlled water.
If the Upper Gunnison is high, stained, crowded, or rule-sensitive, compare the Taylor River, Uncompahgre River, or Cimarron River after checking current flows and access.
Upper Gunnison River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Check the current CPW fishing brochure, Gunnison River special fishing rule language, and NPS Curecanti rules for the exact reach you plan to fish.
Where to access the river
Almont confluence area
Where the Taylor and East rivers form the Gunnison. Use public access only.
Gunnison River SWA Van Tuyl and Redden
Important CPW-managed public access near Gunnison.
Neversink and Curecanti context
NPS-managed access near Blue Mesa with separate park rules and planning needs.
- Public access is useful but not continuous.
- Private ranch boundaries can be close to the river.
- Large-river flows can make wading unsafe during runoff.
- Use NPS sources for Curecanti and Blue Mesa context instead of assuming CPW-only rules.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
See all 7 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This Upper Gunnison River report is maintained from RiverReports and USGS flow data, Colorado access and regulation sources, National Park Service Curecanti references, weather checks, and Gunnison basin angler-planning guidance.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What reach is Upper Gunnison on this page?
This page focuses on the Gunnison-area river from Almont toward Blue Mesa, not the Black Canyon or lower Gunnison.
Can I wade the Upper Gunnison?
Yes in some flows and places, but runoff and large-river current can make wading unsafe.
Which flow gauge should I use?
Use the Gunnison River near Gunnison gauge for the main flow context on this page.
Why mention kokanee?
Near Blue Mesa and some smaller stream zones, kokanee timing and rules can affect what anglers may do.