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I started my trip to Almont where the Taylor and
East Rivers became one and joined the mighty
Gunnison. Thanks to hunting season and everyone
thinking it was going to be a cold weeknd the empty
parking lots and campgrounds came in handy when it
was time to wet a line.
What was weird was that I left Denver at 85 degrees
Friday and awoke to brush frost off my dog Zekes' face
at 22 degrees in the morning. It didn't take much for
me to get out of the tent and start casting at 7am below
the Three Rivers Section. It wasn't long before a few
browns were lighting up my #18 BWO and trying to find
some Brown trout in a sea of spawning bright red Kokanee
salmon was a little tough. After a little while and about
10 Browns later I was ready to test my skills against
these Tarpon like fish that were very truly aggressive
at defending their areas and keeping all flies and fish
away. Finally a 4lb Kokanee hit my Woolly Bugger and it
was off to the races. Boy that was a blast and to have
the opportunity to catch another after that made it
even more worth while.
That evening I went back to the camping area to catch
a few more Browns to eat for dinner and a ceremonial
cocktail celebrating a hard day of work before retiring
to bed for an early day. The next morning I was off to
the Black Canyon of the Gunnison only to find about
three other groups of fisherman. The one thing about
this canyon fishing is the deeper in the canyon you
hike the bigger the fish.
Two guys I met hiked five miles into the canyon and were
catching plenty of 21-25 inch Rainbows.
I fished about a mile in and had enough rising Browns
to keep me busy for a few hours. One lasting impression
on this area was besides its grand beauty, remoteness,
nonexistent traffic and great weather, were the
countless big Browns 3-6lbs that teased you the whole
day from the put-in to the very far reaches down the
river. These wild brownies flaunted it much like Florida
Mullet jumping around making noise and through many
arduous attempts, not many fly fishers were able to
catch anything over 20 inches in this front section.
I will be back to this place and after a fall weekend
of low 70 degree weather and no crowds what more could
one ask for?
Was going to top it off with a little evening dry
action on the Arkansas with the Collegiate Peaks
in close view but Zeke was impatient and a little
beat up from the hiking/fishing and was forced to
head home. Until next time ~ Tradd Duggan
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