Gunnison Gorge Streamers
The best fishing has been in the first two hours of light, with articulated streamers stripped along the walls.
Colorado & Gunnison River fishing report River Report
Honest conditions from guides who were on the water this week. Flows are rounded from the nearest gauges, and temperatures are taken mid-morning.
Last updated
October 19, 2026 · 7:10 AM
Compiled from this week's trips
The short version
Fall fishing is in full swing. The Gunnison Gorge is clear and the browns are getting aggressive ahead of the spawn, so streamers are moving fish. Blue-winged olives are hatching on cloudy afternoons on the Colorado below Loma. Wade carefully and give spawning redds plenty of room.
Conditions
Flows & water
| River / Stretch | Flow (cfs) | Trend | Water temp | Clarity | Fishing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gunnison River Gunnison Gorge Streamers early, BWO dries after 1 PM. | 780 | Steady | 51°F | Clear | |
| Gunnison River Pleasure Park to Austin Nymph the riffles with a pheasant tail and midge dropper. | 1,050 | Rising | 53°F | Slightly stained | |
| Colorado River Loma to Westwater Olives on overcast days. Fish the foam lines. | 2,140 | Steady | 54°F | 18 in. visibility | |
| Colorado River Palisade to Grand Junction Clearing daily. Dark streamers along the banks. | 1,980 | Dropping | 55°F | Off-color | |
| Grand Mesa Lakes Ward, Island & Eggleston Last open-water weeks. Float tubes and leech patterns. | — | — | 46°F | Clear |
Flows in cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing ratings run Poor, Fair, Good and Excellent.
Hatch Chart
What's coming off, month by month
A season-long guide for the Colorado and Gunnison rivers. Lighter blocks mean the bugs are around; solid blocks are the best weeks to plan a trip around.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midges#18–24 · Zebra midge, Griffith's gnat | Peak | Peak | Peak | Hatching | Hatching | Hatching | Hatching | Hatching | Hatching | Hatching | Hatching | Peak |
| Blue-winged olives#18–22 · Parachute BWO, RS2 | Hatching | Peak | Hatching | Hatching | Peak | Hatching | ||||||
| Caddis#14–18 · Elk hair caddis, caddis pupa | Hatching | Peak | Hatching | Hatching | Hatching | Hatching | ||||||
| Salmonflies#4–8 · Chubby Chernobyl, rubber legs | Hatching | Peak | ||||||||||
| Golden stoneflies#8–12 · Foam stimulator, golden nymph | Hatching | Peak | ||||||||||
| Pale morning duns#16–18 · PMD sparkle dun, split-case nymph | Hatching | Peak | Hatching | |||||||||
| Hoppers & terrestrials#8–14 · Foam hopper, flying ant | Hatching | Peak | Hatching | |||||||||
| Tricos#20–24 · Trico spinner | Hatching | Peak | Hatching |
Hatching Peak
In the bins
Hot flies this week
-
01
Zebra midge #20
Black or red under an indicator in the slow seams.
-
02
Parachute BWO #20
Cloudy afternoons on the Colorado below Loma.
-
03
Sculpin streamer #4
Olive or tan, stripped hard along the gorge walls.
-
04
Pheasant tail #18
The dependable dropper on the Lower Gunnison.
-
05
Balanced leech #10
Under a float on the Grand Mesa lakes.
From the guides
Notes from the water
Gunnison River Olive hatch
The olive hatch is short but strong around 2 PM. Have a #20 parachute ready and fish it on a long 6X tippet.
Colorado River Clearing
The Colorado is clearing after last week's rain. Visibility should improve by the weekend; bank streamers are the play until then.
This report is for information only and is not a safety guarantee. Flows and conditions change quickly: always check current gauge readings, weather and Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations before you head out.