Gunnison River Fly Fishing Report - September 6, 2026

Fly Fishing Report

GUNNISON RIVER

Report
SEP 6 — 13, 2026
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Flow
107CFS
GUNNISON RIVER NEAR GUNNISON, CO.
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Water Temp
62.1°F
Updated 2026-09-05
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Weather
43–82°F
Partly Cloudy
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow has dropped to 107 CFS with a gauge height of 0.73 ft and gin-clear water, demanding fine tippet and drag-free drifts; water temperature is a comfortable 62.1°F, keeping trout active and feeding throughout the day.
Hatch Chart
Insect Size Activity Prime Time
Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) 20-22 Moderate 10 AM - 1 PM
Caddis 16-18 Moderate 4 PM - 7 PM
PMD (Pale Morning Dun) 18-20 Light 11 AM - 2 PM
Midge 20-24 Heavy 7 AM - 10 AM
Terrestrials (Ants) 14-16 Moderate 12 PM - 4 PM
Best Time Window
  • 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Early midge activity in slow flats and tailouts — fish the film with small Blowtorch and Zebra Midge patterns before the sun hits the water.
  • 10 AM - 1 PM: Prime BWO and PMD nymph and dry window as temps rise; target rising fish in riffled seams with Juju Baetis and Parachute BWO on fine tippet.
  • 4 PM - 7 PM: Evening caddis and terrestrial hour along grassy banks and riffled edges — swing a CDC Caddis or dead-drift a Bionic Ant tight to the bank before last light.
Guide's Tip
From the benchAt 107 CFS the Gunnison is running low and crystal clear — trout will spook easily, so approach every run from downstream and stay low. Drop to 6X fluorocarbon tippet for all dry and emerger presentations, and don't be afraid to go 7X on the glassy flats. For nymphing, set your indicator at just 1.5 to 2 times the water depth and mend aggressively to keep your fly drifting at the same speed as the current seam — at these flows, even a slight drag will shut fish down. Watch for afternoon thunderstorm buildups on Labor Day; if storms roll in, terrestrial action can actually spike just before the rain hits.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
Report generated September 6, 2026 — Next update: September 13, 2026