I met with Jeff Oulton, past president of the Gunnison Angling Society chapter of TU, to discuss TU efforts in the area. Jeff is a nice man who also happens to be very knowledgeable about the local fish and wildlife resources. He is a District Wildlife Manager for Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). While Jeff spends his work days thinking about things with fur and hair, he thinks about finned creatures in his spare time.

And Gunnison offers plenty for the trout angler to ponder. With so many great rivers near town, the challenge is deciding which one you want to fish on a given day.

One option is the Taylor River, which is famous for its monster mysis-fed rainbows in the first 200 yards below the dam. Farther downstream in the Taylor River Canyon, the angler can find a little solitude as well as fine brown trout fishing.

On this particular trip, I chose the East River, which flows from Crested Butte to Almont, where it combines forces with the Taylor to create the Gunnison, another fine fishery. The East is recognized by CDOW as a “wild trout” fishery for its outstanding natural trout population. Unfortunately, much of the river flows through private land and access is difficult.

I fished the river near the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery. The hatchery produces kokanee salmon that run into the river from Blue Mesa Reservoir on the Gunnison River. Kokanee are landlocked sockeye salmon that have been introduced into the area. They provide angling in the reservoirs through most of the season, but are also caught in the rivers during the fall spawning run.

Like their saltwater brethren, almost every kokanee dies after spawning, leaving carcasses along the banks. While these remains return nutrients to the system, they also carry high concentrations of whirling disease. The Gunnison Angling Society chapter conducts cleanups to remove the dead carcasses, minimizing the spread of the disease. This certainly isn’t the most glamorous job, but if TUers don’t do it, no one will!

Before the kokanee run, the river is a tremendous brown trout fishery. Following Jeff’s advice, I selected the biggest, ugliest wooly bugger from my streamer box full of big ugly flies. I kid you not, in just a couple hours of fishing I rolled 30-50 fish, including some really nice browns. While most fish eluded the large hook, I did land a few dandies (see the photo gallery).

Wading in the beautiful water also gave me time to reflect on what Jeff had told me about TU work in the area.

Jeff told me that a few key chapter members have moved away, leaving the chapter at a “low ebb.” Despite the need for more active members (and what chapter doesn’t need more participation?), the Gunnison chapter continues to work on numerous conservation fronts.

Perhaps the biggest threat to west slope fisheries is the growing demand for water on the Front Range. Cities like Aurora and Colorado Springs are buying water rights on the west side of the divide and then running it through tunnels to the eastern part of the state. Furthermore, the state of Colorado doesn’t use some of their Colorado River allotment and certain state officials are paranoid about losing this water right for good to California.

In a misguided effort to keep water out of the hands of Californians as well as feed the vicious cycle of growth and water demand on the Front Range, state officials are constantly proposing new dams and diversions, all of which pose a grave threat to the state’s trout fisheries.

The Gunnison chapter does what it can to raise money in opposition to these short-sighted water projects. At the state level, Colorado Trout Unlimited is a leader fighting new dams and shady water deals.

The chapter’s main fundraiser is the “Superfly” competition. This fun fishing tournament is sort of like Jackson’s “One Fly” event and it takes place every fall. Autumn is the most beautiful time of year in Gunnison Country. The cottonwoods glow yellow and every bend in the road brings a new vista that is fit for a postcard.

Even if you don’t believe in competitive fly fishing, I highly recommend that you enter the Superfly event as it provides a great excuse to visit these fine fisheries at the best time of year as well as support a fine TU cause.

The Gunnison Angling Society is also active in protecting the Colorado River cutthroat trout, a native fish. Along with Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), the chapter helped remove brook trout on nearby Beaver Creek to give the native cutts a leg up.

This project was just one effort in the region to protect the native fish from habitat loss, hybridization with rainbow trout, and competition from other non-natives.

Terrestrial invasive species, such as thistle, threaten watershed stability. The chapter aims to assist with thistle control at the Curecanti National Recreation Area on the Gunnison River and the Roaring Judy property on the East River to protect the riparian corridor.

The chapter could use your help with these efforts, so if you live in the Gunnison area, get involved!

See my photos HERE

Click HERE to visit the Gunnison Angling Society chapter website