July Report on Colorado River and Fishing Trip Conditions
ColoradoWords By: Elliot Manning | July 12, 2023
Coloradofly fishingEleven AnglingFishing Lodge
It’s hard to believe July is already in full swing. After an unpredictable June, we are now looking forward to stable river conditions across the drainage. With river levels settling in, angling pressure will begin to spread out and give us all some breathing room to enjoy ourselves. The bugs are hatching, and there is no better time to jump in a boat or lace up the boots for a full- or half- day fishing trip.
Gunnison River (Gunnison River at White Water Park Gauge)
Caddis, PMDs, yellow sallies, and golden stones are thick down on the Gunnison. Drakes have found their way into the mix as well. Gunnison river fly floats are producing the best fishing trip experiences right now. With every section open after high water closures, the majority of this river has seen little pressure compared to previous years. The scenery, ease of transport to fishable waters, and comfort of having a cooler and seat coupled with the constant action make these floats delightful for any skill level! Each fishing trip with Eleven is guided by seasoned fishing guides who personalize the experience to you.
Tomichi Creek (Tomichi Creek Gauge)
For any wade angler yearning to chase wild brown trout, there is no better place to be and no better time to be there. Our float fishing trip accesses four miles of private water oxbowing through ranch land that’s hard to beat. With water levels coming down, the dry fly fishing has turned on and our guests are having all-time days led by our expert fishing guides. PMDs, yellow sallies, drakes, stoneflies, and caddis all make up the wonderful chaos that takes place every afternoon.
Taylor River (Taylor River Below the Reservoir Gauge)
With colder water flowing through Taylor Canyon, we’ll expect to see a slight delay in action here. It won’t be long before the entire canyon lights up and fish begin to have their sights set on the surface. The Taylor River just dropped to 400 cfs which should open up some great opportunities for anglers accessing this water.
Techniques
Running a tandem nymph rig first thing in the morning is a good place to start. Wait for the sun to heat up the atmosphere, and keep your eyes peeled for fish beginning to rise. When this occurs, switch over to a single or double dry fly presentation and be sure to have your dry shake and fly floatant handy as you’ll need to keep your flies from submerging. Fishing caddis patterns along the willow covered banks can be an effective approach, but don’t get tunnel vision, as many fish have moved throughout the width of the river and will find shallower and faster moving water to feed on emerging insects. Take a moment to watch where the adults are hatching, and fish those patterns in the same areas. Of course, our seasoned fishing guides are here to take you out and coach you if you’d rather go on a guided fishing trip.
Good Patterns to try:
- Rogue Foam Golden Stone #10-#12
- Yellow Sallies #14-16
- Missing Link Caddis #14-18
- CDC Biot Comparadun PMD #14-16
- Green Drake Cripple #8-12
- Parachute Madam X #10-14
- Pat’s Rubberlegs #8-14
- 20 Incher #8-12
- Iron Lotus #14-16
- Micro & Psycho Mayflies #14-18
- Pheasant Tails #14-18
Our fishing guides are excited to take you out this summer on all the Gold Medal water that surrounds Taylor River Lodge, Eleven’s riverside fishing lodge near Crested Butte. We have limited availability throughout the season so get in touch soon and we’ll get your fishing trip and lodge stay on the books!
Until then,
Elliot Manning, Colorado Angling Manager / Sales and Operations Specialist