May 22 Rivers rising and falling in SW Colorado

All eyes on the Gunnison:  In SW Colorado, the first major fishing event of the summer is the explosive but unpredictable salmonfly hatch on the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon.  In the "average" year, the Bureau of Reclamation reduces water flows in early June to "fishable" levels.  Salmonflies start hatching shortly thereafter, as water temperatures rise into the upper 40s and low 50s.  Water flows are the key to the hatch, however, and there are many factors that can cause flows to rise unexpectedly.  We were looking great last year, for instance, but then it rained 27 days in June and the river shot from 1,000 cfs to 3,000 cfs for most of the hatch period.

So far, so good in 2010.  The river peaked about a week ago and flows are marching downward at approximately 300 cfs per day.  At this rate, it will potentially drop below 1,000 cfs in the next week.  If that happens, then we would predict the salmonfly hatch to start around June 10th and run for a couple weeks.  If flows are below 1,000 cfs, the river should also fish well before and after the hatch.

The Gunnison "salmonfly" stonefly hatch is our single most significant trout fishing event of the whole year.  Stay tuned for regular flow reports and, when the hatch begins, specific fishing updates with fly recommendations.

Dolores River:  The Upper Dolores and all of its tributaries are running very high and muddy, as expected in late May.  The Lower Dolores, below McPhee Reservoir, is low and clear.  It takes high water and a full reservoir for the Bureau to release high water from McPhee, so the Lower Dolores is often our early season go-to river.  While the Upper Dolores is running between 2,000 cfs and 3,000 cfs, the Lower Dolores is cruising along at 55 cfs.  They pull a lot of water out of the Dolores for pinto bean farming.  The Lower Dolores is fishing reasonably well, given its quirky nature.  We're catching fish on searching patterns such as parachute hoppers and Turck's Tarantulas, as well as evening match-the-hatch midge patterns.  Wind has been a constant this spring, so terrestrial fishing has often been more practical than long leader midging.  Like always, the Lower D. gives us the tough love more days than not.

San Miguel River:  The San Miguel is really just starting to rise.  The Miguel and most of its tributaries will be more or less unfishable for the next several weeks.  Lake and creek fishing provide a local alternative, but in general we're focussing on other rivers.

Uncompahgre River:  Amazingly, the Uncompahgre is still flowing at only 300 cfs below Ridgway Reservoir.  Logically, that's because it's only coming into the reservoir at about 300 cfs.  It has been a cold spring down here and the Unc is a north-facing watershed.  It will be the last to rise and fall this year.  For now, it's fishing great!  300 cfs is a great flow for the fish, but anglers have to break down the water and fish it carefully.  Flooded banks and intricate currents create all kinds of wonderful holding lies, but drifts are more tricky than at lower flows.  Hatches consist primarily of midges, but there are also a few caddis and plenty of terrestrials buzzing around.