Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Gunnison Basin
Below the dams, the Gunnison drops into the Black Canyon: Gold Medal water with big browns and rainbows, sheer walls and hard access.
Looking for the latest Gunnison River Black Canyon river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Gunnison River โ Black Canyon.
Current flows
Heads up: East Portal Road has been closed since the July mudslides. Check with the National Park Service before you go.
Wind forecast
Black Canyon fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
Flows below the Gunnison Tunnel are about 205 cfs, still elevated after the late-October rain. Morning streamers and nymph rigs are producing.
Try a Spanish Bullet, RS2 or jig Pheasant Tail under a high-floating dry. Kokanee are running, so an egg or San Juan Worm behind a Red Copper John is worth a drift.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Black Canyon, bring: Spanish Bullet #16-18, RS2 Emerger #18-20, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, Copper John #12-14, Woolly Bugger #6-8, Egg #14, Zebra Midge #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Black Canyon river details
| Access | East Portal Road (from the South Rim) or steep hiking routes into the national park and Gunnison Gorge. The East Portal Road has been closed since July mudslides. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 6,500 ft at East Portal |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 271 miles, roughly 6 hours 10 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Spring, summer and fall |
| Fish | Large brown and rainbow trout, plus kokanee |
| Regulations | Gold Medal water with special regulations. Kokanee snagging rules apply through December 31. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X to 5X tippet |
| Camping | East Portal campground and South Rim campground in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park |
| Kids | No. Steep, remote and dangerous water. |
| Good to know | A national park pass is needed. Hiking routes are very steep. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Steady tailwater flows. Midges.
Spring
BWOs, then the famous salmonfly hatch in late May and June.
Summer
Caddis, PMDs and hoppers.
Fall
BWOs, kokanee and streamers.
How to get there
Take US-50 through Gunnison to Montrose, then Highway 347 to the South Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.