It’s a fishing day

Gunnison River (Black Canyon) fishing conditions · Colorado

Now until 4 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 88.

Log a trip here
Right now: 88 for rainbow trout, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 882 pm
  2. 88
  3. 78
  4. 785 pm
  5. 64
  6. 64
  7. 748 pm
  8. 64
  9. 64
  10. 7411 pm
  11. 74Sun
  12. 74
  13. 742 am
  14. 74
  15. 74
  16. 745 am
  17. 74
  18. 74
  19. 748 am
  20. 74
  21. 64
  22. 6411 am
  23. 64
  24. 74
  25. 742 pm
  26. 74
  27. 64
  28. 645 pm
  29. 64
  30. 64
  31. 748 pm
  32. 74
  33. 74
  34. 7411 pm
  35. 74Mon
  36. 74
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
5 mph

From the northwest

Flow
205 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:05 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
49°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Colorado non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

88GoNow until 4 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Catch and release only today. Artificial flies and lures only; all rainbow trout must be released. Brown trout may be kept under the statewide limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Gunnison River, Crystal Dam to the Relief Ditch (Black Canyon Gold Medal)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

88GoNow until 4 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Artificial flies and lures only; brown trout may be kept under the statewide 4-trout limit, but every rainbow must be released.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Gunnison River, Crystal Dam to the Relief Ditch (Black Canyon Gold Medal)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River205 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.27 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:05 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:44 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Colorado Parks & Wildlife has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A Gold Medal trout river plunging through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison — big wild rainbows and browns in dramatic, hard-to-reach water below the dams, plus the more accessible Gunnison Gorge. Live USGS flow below the Gunnison Tunnel.

Crystal Dam to the Relief Ditch: artificial flies and lures only, and every rainbow trout must be released; brown trout may be kept under the statewide 4-trout limit. Upstream, Almont to the US 50 bridge keeps 2 browns at 16" and releases rainbows.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Blue Mesa Reservoir26 mi · ColoradoBest now until 6 pm
72Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Gunnison River (Black Canyon)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Gunnison River (Black Canyon) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Gunnison River (Black Canyon)?

Gunnison River (Black Canyon) is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Gunnison River (Black Canyon)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Gunnison River (Black Canyon) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Gunnison River (Black Canyon) have?

Gunnison River (Black Canyon) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Crystal Dam to the Relief Ditch: artificial flies and lures only, and every rainbow trout must be released; brown trout may be kept under the statewide 4-trout limit. Upstream, Almont to the US 50 bridge keeps 2 browns at 16" and releases rainbows.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Gunnison River (Black Canyon)?

state agency regulations apply at Gunnison River (Black Canyon). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Gunnison River (Black Canyon) tidal water?

No. Gunnison River (Black Canyon) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.