Western Colorado University

College Ambassador: Zachary Sauer

Well, to keep it simple, Western could be called Trout Bum University. Actually, no, it’s mostly ski bums, but you get the point. People here love to be outside, and lucky for us, there are endless ways to do that.

Species

Trout: In Gunnison, we’re chasing mostly trout. In town, you can hop right onto the Gunnison River, sneak in a few casts between classes, and have shots at large Rainbow and Brown trout. You’ve also got endless access to creeks holding endless Brook and Cutthroat trout, as well as the occasional Tiger. For the Stillwater guys, you can catch all that- plus some mega Lake Trout in the local lakes.

Salmon: Right as the fall semester starts here, the Salmon run does too. You can have a ball, and wear your arm out pretty well chasing some lake-run fish during the more colorful months of fall.

Pike: It's not the easiest to get into, but a short drive up the valley will get you into some big toothy creatures if you need a break from the excellent trout fishing.

Accessibility

Gunnison River: If you’ve spent time in Colorado fly fishing, you’ve likely heard of the Gunni. It’s our namesake town and offers endless access. Random highway pull-offs, town parks, and a national recreation area provide opportunities for anything from a quick few casts between your classes today- and even overnight float trips throughout the river system.

Taylor River: This is the place for the techy guys. It’s one of my favorites because there’s amazing variety throughout the canyon. It’s where Pat Dorsey sharpened his teeth, and now where anglers from around the world come to have chances at massive trout. The C&R section of the canyon deserves its hype, but don’t pass by the lower sections of the river, there are some hidden gems. Also, the whitewater here is real.

High Country: This is where things become truly mind-boggling- there might truly be an endless amount of creeks in our area. Take a short drive into the mountains, pull over on some random creeks or small rivers, put some casts in, and you won’t be disappointed in the results. If you get a weekend off, backpacking into some local alpine lakes is also a surefire way to have a good time, feeding large Cutthroats big, foamy dry flies.

Blue Mesa Reservoir: The reservoir is quite the lake to have this close to us. You can catch pretty much any species of trout here as well as have the potential to land world-record-sized Lake Trout (Seriously!!). Bottom jigging in the summer out of boats is always a good time, and in the winter, Ice Fishing here is a good way to take a quick break from the abundance of snow up valley.

Taylor Reservoir: This lake has a similar story to Blue Mesa. You can catch all the same species here, in a serene, high country environment. Taylor sets itself apart because it can offer some good Pike fishing. Both on the fly and in conventional gear, these toothy predators can be a riot to chase.

Community

The college itself has lost a lot of its fishing community. That being said, it’s still here, just harder to find. You’ll end up finding a good group of people to fish with, but there are no longer clubs to do it through. Within the valley, you’ll see a truck with a rod vault every day, and a quick stop into the fly shops or local fishing holes will help you meet some of the old, local legends of the area.

Hangouts

Gene Taylors: is the spot for all things outdoors in Gunnison. They have endless tackle for all anglers, and they know their stuff. However, this place can get BUSY. Luckily, when this happens, it is usually because guides are stocking up, so it’s a good time to take a peek at what they’re buying, and maybe you’ll get some pro tips to help you put a few more fish in the net.

Gunnison River Fly Shop: is another great shop locally. Swing in and grab some more local intel on the happenings on the local fisheries, and some flies to make your day a little better.

The Almont: is kinda the spot, but it’s a little out of town. Come by after a day on the water and grab a burger, play some pool, and hear some of the best fishing stories of the valley.