Colorado Trout Fishing Trips
Colorado Fly Fishing for Rainbow and Brown Trout
If you want to float one of the most fish-dense rivers in the lower 48, the lower Gunnison is a serious option. Colorado Parks and Wildlife surveys have counted more than 10,000 fish per mile in this stretch — more than any other river in the state.
This is not a backcountry wade-fishing trip through a meadow. It is a float through a steep-walled gorge with whitewater, wildlife, and trout that will test your presentation skills and your tackle.
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The Fishery: Lower Gunnison River, Gunnison Gorge
The Gunnison Gorge sits just downstream of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, inside a National Conservation Area managed by the BLM. The float covers roughly 14 miles of river through canyon walls that keep most casual anglers out. Access is limited by regulation and by terrain, which is a large part of why the fish population is what it is.
Rainbow Trout are the main target. Trophy fish over 20 inches are a real possibility on this river — not a marketing promise, but a product of the fish density and the protected water. Your guide will work you through the holding lies, but you need to put the fly in the right place.
Brown Trout round out the fishery. The Gunny holds a healthy brown population alongside its rainbows, and both species respond to nymph rigs and streamers through most of the season.
The gorge also delivers things you don’t get on most trout rivers: several Class III rapids and numerous Class II drops that need to be negotiated through the float. This is one of the few trips where you’ll be gripping the oars between fishing runs. Multi-day trips are paced more slowly and give you meaningful time out of the boat, wading and fishing from foot. Single-day floats keep you moving.
Bighorn sheep, mule deer, river otters, and eagles are regular sights in the gorge. Plan to look up occasionally.
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Season: May Through October
The trip operates from May through October. Here is an honest look at what that range means:
- May and June bring runoff variability. The river can fish well, but flows depend on snowpack and weather higher in the drainage. Check conditions before you lock in dates.
- July and August are the heart of summer. Water temperatures climb but remain fishable in a canyon environment with consistent shade. Expect crowds in the gorge relative to shoulder months — the BLM limits the river to a maximum of 12 people (8 clients and 4 guides in 4 boats) per launch day, so the pressure is controlled, but the put-in will feel busier than October.
- September and October are the best months for many experienced anglers. Temperatures cool, the crowds thin, and brown trout begin to stage for fall. The canyon can be cold in the morning by late October, so layer accordingly.
There is no single "best" month. Where you fall in that window depends on your schedule, your tolerance for summer heat in a canyon, and whether you want to target rainbows at peak activity or browns in pre-spawn mode.
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What to Expect on the Water
You start and end at the lodge, which sits riverside. Your guide handles the oars, reads the water, and puts you on fish — but the Gunnison Gorge is rated Difficult, and that rating is there for a reason.
The whitewater is real. Several Class III rapids sit in the middle of a fishing float. You are not signing up for a lazy drift. Between the rapids and the canyon walls, there is a physical element to this trip that a flat-water float does not have. If you are not comfortable in moving water, say so when you inquire — your guide needs to know.
Fishing from the boat means casting from a moving platform with a guide managing the drift. You’ll also get time on foot, especially on multi-day trips, where the pace allows you to wade productive runs. The Gunnison’s fish are pressured by guided floats over the course of a season, and they have seen flies. Good presentation matters more than fly selection on most days.
A note on group structure: BLM regulations cap the river at 12 people per launch day — 8 clients and 4 guides in 4 boats. If your group is smaller than a full 4-boat launch, our outfitter reserves the right to combine parties to fill available spots on a given day. You may share the river with other anglers you didn’t book with. If an exclusive float matters to you, book the full complement or ask us about availability.
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Who This Trip Is For
This float works best for anglers who:
- Have spent time on a drift boat and are comfortable casting from a moving platform
- Can handle a full day on the water in a canyon environment — sun, reflected heat in summer, cold mornings in fall
- Want high fish density and a legitimate shot at a trophy rainbow without leaving the country
- Are comfortable sharing the launch with other guests when their group is small
This is not the right trip if you want total solitude, a private-water experience, or a wade-only day on a quiet spring creek. If that description sounds more like what you’re after, New Zealand backcountry fly fishing or the Chile-Patagonia Fly Fishing Lodge may be closer to what you want.
If you want the Gunnison but have never been on a guided float before, be honest with us. We can set expectations and your guide can work with your skill level — but showing up unprepared wastes part of a day that matters.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the float, really?
The trip is rated Difficult. The Class III rapids are the primary reason. You are not in danger on a guided float with an experienced oarsman, but you will be in moving water, and you need to follow your guide’s instructions in the rapids. If you have a back condition, knee problems, or significant balance issues, talk to us before booking.
Can I wade fish instead of fishing from the boat the whole time?
On multi-day trips, yes — and that is often the better fishing. The slower pace of a multi-day float allows meaningful time on foot in productive runs. Single-day trips are more boat-centric by necessity given the mileage.
What flies and gear should I bring?
Your guide will have recommendations specific to the season and current conditions when you book. In general, the Gunnison responds to nymphs and streamers through most of the season, with dry fly opportunities during hatch periods. Bring a 5-weight and a 6-weight. Ask us what’s working at the time of your trip.
What is the combined-party policy, and can I avoid it?
BLM regulations cap daily launches at 4 boats with 2 clients per boat. If your group doesn’t fill all four boats, our outfitter may add other guests to complete the launch. If you want a fully private float, you need to book all 8 client slots. Contact us and we’ll tell you what’s available.
How does this compare to other trout fishing trips OI offers?
The Gunnison is a domestic, accessible trip with high fish counts in a dramatic canyon setting. It is a very different experience from, say, Strobel Lake in Argentina, where you are sight fishing to large individual fish in open water. The Gunnison gives you volume and whitewater. Strobel gives you trophy sight fishing at the end of a long flight. Neither is better — they are different objectives.
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Plan Your Trip
The Gunnison Gorge is open May through October. If you have a preferred window, book early — the BLM cap on daily launches means that dates fill before people expect them to, particularly in July and August.
Tell us your group size, your experience level, and whether you’re thinking single-day or multi-day. We’ll match you to the right launch configuration and set honest expectations about what you’ll encounter on the water.
For more details on the river and the lodge setup, visit our Gunnison River Fly Fishing Float Trips page, or talk to a trip consultant who can answer your specific questions and help you pick dates.
Book This Trip
Ready to start planning your Colorado Trout Fishing trip? Ask us about availability, current pricing, and dates — one of our consultants will get right back to you.
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