GUNNISON GORGE, GUNNISON RIVER 3 DAY FLOAT FISHING TRIPS

The Gunnison Gorge, below the Black Canyon National Park in western Colorado, is a 14 mile wilderness journey combining spectacular scenery with one of Colorado's finest Gold Medal fisheries. A mile hike down the Chuckar Trail brings us to the river and the narrow canyon carved through the polished Protereozoic schist and gneiss formations. Mild rapids punctuate the crystal clear pools on the first day as we enter this secluded retreat. The Gunnison Gorge is arguably the most beautiful 3-day float fishing trip in the West. The Gunnison River is world famous for its prolific German Brown and Rainbow trout population with more fish per mile than any other Colorado river. The latest counts show 7,000 fish per mile! Float fishing is the only way to access several prime holding areas in the canyon.

Our fishing trips are 3 days to allow plenty of time to walk-wade early in the morning and into the evening from camp after a day of fishing from our rafts at a leisurely pace. We stop to allow anglers to fish secluded water as we slowly make our way to a different camp each night. We select isolated camps for each night we are on the river where our guides prepare wholesome meals from fresh ingredients including our own Dutch oven recipe delights. Our evenings are filled with conversations of the day's events, quiet relaxation time or more fishing with the evening hatch. The Gunnison Gorge is punctuated with Class III rapids which add to the excitement of the trip.

FISHING: The fishing is a combination of nymph, streamer and dry fly fishing depending on the hatches we encounter. The Gunnison fishes like most freestone rivers with stoneflies, caddis and mayflies dominating the available food source. Our early trips in May focus on stonefly and mayfly nymphs and streamers as the trout get ready for the Salmon fly hatch. This tends to be a predictable time for choosing the food source. Rainbows are in post-spawn mode and active and the Browns become more active as the water temperatures warm up. Caddis hatches are also possible. This trip encounters very few other groups. Our late season trips in August and September enjoy classic hopper - dropper fishing. The under cut banks, pocket water and seams are all holding eager trout looking for that terrestrial treat. Several attractor dry fly patterns are productive at this time of the year. We will furnish you a detailed fly pattern list before your trip to give you time to purchase flies or tie your own. We recommend Royal Gorge Anglers in Canon City for your pre-trip purchases. Last minute flies are available at the Gunnison River Pleasure Park.

GROUP SIZE: Limited to 8 anglers. Two per boat with a guide. An exclusive launch may be booked for a group of friends or a club trip. Minimum trip size is 4 and groups can be combined.

RATES: $ 975 per person + $ 44.25 BLM fees.

2009 DATES: May 21-23, August 22-24, September 2-4, 5-7.

* Other dates may be available during the summer for groups of 6-8 anglers.

PACKING INFORMATION: This trip requires special attention in your packing because all your personal gear is transferred into a waterproof pack with shoulder straps and carried by you down the Chuckar Trail, an easy 1mile hike to the river. PACK LIGHT! Please call us if you have questions. Your bag is 16" in diameter x 33" high, the size of a medium capacity backpack. Tents and sleeping pads may possibly be consolidated into a group bag for these items only.

PRE-TRIP INFORMATION: Pre-trip lodging is available in Delta, CO. We suggest the South Gate Inn, which is 1 mile east of downtown Delta. They have reasonable rates, clean rooms, a pool and hot tub. Call them at 800-621-2271.

The Gunnison River Pleasure Park is our meeting point on the first day of the trip at 7:30 am. The do have cabins and camping available. Their number is 970-872-2525. They are located 14 miles north of Delta on CO HWY 92