Trout Fishing in Western Colorado

[mick968]

Looking for suggestions on some good trout water in southwest/western Colorado in October.We will be coming west(I-70) on our way to National LR Rally in Moab.Last few times have stopped(Silverthorn/Breck area and fished the Blue and or Leadville and the Arkansas).This was easy and right off 70 but looking for something different.Is Durango too far off the route to do a few days of flyfishing and then to Moab(or is there other good water not far from 70 through the pass.?)Usually out there a little earlier(Aug./Sept) for rally so don't know (weather) wil have on fishing or travel.Any suggestions help.

 

[Roverrocks]

There is the Gunnison River in the beautiful Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area southeast of Delta, Colorado. Lots of Browns plus some large Rainbows. I used to hike down into the Gorge to fish from various trail heads on the west rim years ago plus you can also hike south along the river into the Gorge from what is known as the Pleasure Park 10 miles east of Delta along Hy. 92. I don't fish anymore but always enjoyed fishing in the beautiful Gunnison Gorge when I did. Also access to the Gunnison River in various locations from farther east along Hy. 50 downstream from Gunnison, CO past Blue Mesa Res. ( largest Colorado lake) to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. This scenic NP borders the Gunnison Gorge NCA on the south. For some small lake fishing you might try the top of huge Grand Mesa just east of Grand Junction,CO along I-70. There are a couple of hundred small lakes on top of Grand Mesa some of which have some pretty good fishing I have heard. Very scenic area though often very mosquito-ridden due to the large number of small lakes and ponds.

 

[mick968]

There is the Gunnison River in the beautiful Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area southeast of Delta, Colorado. Lots of Browns plus some large Rainbows. I used to hike down into the Gorge to fish from various trail heads on the west rim years ago plus you can also hike south along the river into the Gorge from what is known as the Pleasure Park 10 miles east of Delta along Hy. 92. I don't fish anymore but always enjoyed fishing in the beautiful Gunnison Gorge when I did. Also access to the Gunnison River in various locations from farther east along Hy. 50 downstream from Gunnison, CO past Blue Mesa Res. ( largest Colorado lake) to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. This scenic NP borders the Gunnison Gorge NCA on the south. For some small lake fishing you might try the top of huge Grand Mesa just east of Grand Junction,CO along I-70. There are a couple of hundred small lakes on top of Grand Mesa some of which have some pretty good fishing I have heard. Very scenic area though often very mosquito-ridden due to the large number of small lakes and ponds.

Thanks for feedback.I recently spoke to guide at Duranglers(Durango) and he spoke of a trip on the Gunnison or Animas.The decision we have to make is do we take the(day and half travel from St.louis to Durango area for one day on stream but closer to Moab) or stop along I-70(possibly 2 plus days of fish) but obviously more accessible water(to everyone).Will be trailering Rover so don't really want to get too creative at how far we get off beaten path so still need to figure that route.Again,the rally is usually earlier in year so don't know what to expect weather wise (through pass or alternate route).

 

[Roverrocks]

That late in Oct. could very likely be stormy and snowy in the Colorado mtns but we usually have pretty good weather in October. It's always a crap shoot though and changes day to day in the fall. If it's stormy then I70 is the best way and is cleared off the best if trailering. Coming N out of Durango on Hy. 550 in Oct. towards the Gunnison River would be a real challenge if stormy/snowy with a trailer and not advised as the highway is often narrow, steep, has nasty tight curves, and 2 big passes to go up and over.

 

[mick968]

That late in Oct. could very likely be stormy and snowy in the Colorado mtns but we usually have pretty good weather in October. It's always a crap shoot though and changes day to day in the fall. If it's stormy then I70 is the best way and is cleared off the best if trailering. Coming N out of Durango on Hy. 550 in Oct. towards the Gunnison River would be a real challenge if stormy/snowy with a trailer and not advised as the highway is often narrow, steep, has nasty tight curves, and 2 big passes to go up and over.

Thanks for info.For those of us coming west,the Colorado(weather) factor come in to play with the later date for Rally this year .Probably need to keep my travel route simple(I-70)(even through the pass isn't cakewalk trailering up and down in good weather much less a October blizzard).I will wait until the next year(Rally back in Co. to investigate new water to flyfish).

 

[mick968]

Keeping it simple.Staying near the I-70 path to do our flyfishing.How about the Eagle River or Gore Creek near Vail.Anyone with opinions on those as options? 15 hr drive(from St.louis to that area) but gives us a couple of days on water before we pack up and head for Moab.

 

[landrovered]

Breck? There is no such place as Breck, I assume you are refering to the Kingdom of Breckenridge, and by all means please don't go there until you show proper respect and call it by its name.

 

[mick968]

Breck? There is no such place as Breck, I assume you are refering to the Kingdom of Breckenridge, and by all means please don't go there until you show proper respect and call it by its name.

Sorry on the Breckenridge shortening(no offending intended) but I am not stopping there anyway so no worry. With that cleared up,any trout fishing suggestions further down the road?

 

[Leadvagas]

Everything in Vail/Eagle area gets fished pretty hard. There are a lot of places around Leadville that are a little of the beaten path that are good access and don't get hit so hard, assuming we don't have 10" of snow by then.