Colorado
Gunnison River below Gunnison Tunnel
Current River Rating
Unavailable
Not enough local guidance to rate conditions.
Low confidence
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is available with the current data.
Why
- This river does not yet have enough local fishing guidance to assign a rating.
Cautions
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Blocking Factors
- Configured water observations are currently unavailable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- Not available
- Gage Height
- Not available
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Latest current reading
- Not available
Monitoring temporarily unavailable. · USGS station 09128000 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
62°F
Feels like
57°F
Wind
5 mph E
Wind gust
6 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 1:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 2 AM
Clear
Temp 62°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 60°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Sat 10 AM
Clear
Temp 72°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Sat 2 PM
Overcast
Temp 80°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Sat 6 PM
Mostly clear
Temp 79°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Sat 10 PM
Overcast
Temp 67°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 80°F / Low 59°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 16 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Drizzle
High 83°F / Low 59°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.02 in
Max gust 18 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 78°F / Low 58°F
Chance 28%
Precip 0.09 in
Max gust 25 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 83°F / Low 58°F
Chance 12%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 17 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
Bounded Gunnison River destination below Gunnison Tunnel, inside the larger CPW Gold Medal from 200 yards below Crystal Dam to the North Fork (Gunnison Gorge / Black Canyon corridor). USGS 09128000 provides live discharge; live 00010 is not present, so thermal context uses the existing river-trout air-derived path. Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point. This is not the Crystal Dam hole and not Gunnison near Gunnison above Blue Mesa.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Gunnison River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Gunnison River below Gunnison Tunnel is a Monitoring-Backed Gold Medal identity for the Gorge / Tunnel reach. It belongs in the Crystal Dam–North Fork Gold Medal but is not described as the Crystal Dam fishing hole. Access includes NPS Black Canyon and BLM Gunnison Gorge NCA rules. Measured water temperature is not invented. Flow Context remains default-deny. Hatch Match publishes destination-specific seasonal salmonfly guidance from peer-reviewed adult-presence studies, plus additional seasonal insect windows corroborated by two independent local fishing sources. Timing is seasonal guidance, not a live hatch observation. Actual insect activity varies with weather, water temperature, elevation, and local conditions.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
CPW 2026 Gold Medal Water (trout standing-stock criteria in the 2026 Colorado Fishing Brochure). Gunnison River from 200 yards below Crystal Dam to the North Fork. Station 09128000 is the Tunnel/Gorge monitor, not the Crystal Dam hole.
Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
CPW 2026 Gold Medal Water (trout standing-stock criteria in the 2026 Colorado Fishing Brochure). Gunnison River from 200 yards below Crystal Dam to the North Fork. Station 09128000 is the Tunnel/Gorge monitor, not the Crystal Dam hole.
Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Wild
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Canyon tailwater / Gorge trout river inside the Crystal Dam–North Fork Gold Medal, monitored at the Gunnison Tunnel gauge.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public access is split across NPS Black Canyon of the Gunnison and BLM Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. Permits, trails, and river-use rules differ by land manager. Catalog coordinates are the USGS point, not a put-in pin.
Stocking information
Confirm current official CPW stocking. Gold Medal criteria are not a live stocking claim.
Official sources
Verify current CPW Gold Medal / lower Gunnison special regulations and NPS/BLM access rules. This identity is not Gunnison near Gunnison (Almont–US-50).
Hatch Match
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Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Montrose, Colorado
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Montrose
Management Category
Gold Medal canyon trout river
Regulation Scope
Gunnison below Gunnison Tunnel / Gorge Gold Medal corridor
Regulation Summary
CPW Gold Medal Gunnison from 200 yards below Crystal Dam to the North Fork. Confirm current brochure and NPS/BLM rules.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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