Hmmm...Where to Fish?
...rafting trip up the North Fork of the Gunnison, and get a
whole day of scenic beauty and gold-medal fishing while a knowledgeable guide
handles the boat for you. The Gunnison
River Pleasure Park will be happy to arrange a guided trip for you. The guides will also be able to let you know
what hatches are coming up and will help fill in any gaps you may have in your
tackle box.
A short drive northwest takes you to a totally different world on Grand Mesa, with numerous lakes that are filled with cold-water fish, including brown, rainbow and brook trout. The fish tend to migrate on Grand Mesa, and in different years some lakes will produce an abundance of fish, while in other years they produce fewer. The hiking between the lakes in the tall pines is wonderful, and if you're lucky you might come across a less-traveled reservoir in the back country that might produce a nice 3 or 4 pound trout. I've caught brookies of this size, and they're quite a sight with their vividly colored spots.
To the west, we have the National Forest land along Leroux Creek, which offers a half-dozen or so reservoirs to fish. Depending on your inclination, you can go as deep into the National Forest as you like, and fish in places where you will see few humans. You may, however, see deer, moose, coyotes, and large birds of prey. The creeks in that area produce amazing little brook trout, and I've had fun crouching over small finger creeks luring pan-size trout out of the water.
At the east end of the valley up Kebler Pass are the beautiful Lost Lake camp sites, which were recently spruced up. There are three separate lakes to fish there. Lost Lake Slough is the first lake next to the campgrounds. It's a great place to launch a canoe and catch dinner. By hiking an easy three mile loop, you can also access Dollar Lake and Lost Lake. The whole area is beautiful, but Lost Lake is particularly spectacular in its clarity. You can see every submerged log and watch the fish as they take your lure or fly. The area is also a good spot to hunt mushrooms in the early fall.
If you're interested in pike fishing, you can head to Crawford Reservoir, just outside the town of Crawford. In just the past year, this reservoir has produced some very large and heavy pike. It's also good for crappie and catfish, and some rainbows and brown trout can also be caught there from time to time.
As you work your way farther southeast of the North Fork valley toward Blue Mesa Reservoir, you come to the beautiful Curecanti Recreation area, which has camping, hiking, and fishing along both upper and lower Curecanti Creek.
If there's anything you need while heading out to fish, you can always find a friendly smile and helpful directions or advice in any of the North Fork communities. Weekender Sports in Hotchkiss has knowledgeable staff that can help you with any of your outdoor needs. In Crawford, stop by the State Park offices to get the latest updates and if your starting point is in Paonia, check out the Paonia Farm & Home to pick up supplies and information.
Whether you like to wade, walk along the shore of a stream, boat in a large reservoir or raft a river, the North Fork has the means to supply your fishing needs so grab the family, a pole and your gear and head to the North Fork for a day, a week or a lifetime! Hope to see you on the water.
Contributed by: Big Fish
A short drive northwest takes you to a totally different world on Grand Mesa, with numerous lakes that are filled with cold-water fish, including brown, rainbow and brook trout. The fish tend to migrate on Grand Mesa, and in different years some lakes will produce an abundance of fish, while in other years they produce fewer. The hiking between the lakes in the tall pines is wonderful, and if you're lucky you might come across a less-traveled reservoir in the back country that might produce a nice 3 or 4 pound trout. I've caught brookies of this size, and they're quite a sight with their vividly colored spots.
To the west, we have the National Forest land along Leroux Creek, which offers a half-dozen or so reservoirs to fish. Depending on your inclination, you can go as deep into the National Forest as you like, and fish in places where you will see few humans. You may, however, see deer, moose, coyotes, and large birds of prey. The creeks in that area produce amazing little brook trout, and I've had fun crouching over small finger creeks luring pan-size trout out of the water.
At the east end of the valley up Kebler Pass are the beautiful Lost Lake camp sites, which were recently spruced up. There are three separate lakes to fish there. Lost Lake Slough is the first lake next to the campgrounds. It's a great place to launch a canoe and catch dinner. By hiking an easy three mile loop, you can also access Dollar Lake and Lost Lake. The whole area is beautiful, but Lost Lake is particularly spectacular in its clarity. You can see every submerged log and watch the fish as they take your lure or fly. The area is also a good spot to hunt mushrooms in the early fall.
If you're interested in pike fishing, you can head to Crawford Reservoir, just outside the town of Crawford. In just the past year, this reservoir has produced some very large and heavy pike. It's also good for crappie and catfish, and some rainbows and brown trout can also be caught there from time to time.
As you work your way farther southeast of the North Fork valley toward Blue Mesa Reservoir, you come to the beautiful Curecanti Recreation area, which has camping, hiking, and fishing along both upper and lower Curecanti Creek.
If there's anything you need while heading out to fish, you can always find a friendly smile and helpful directions or advice in any of the North Fork communities. Weekender Sports in Hotchkiss has knowledgeable staff that can help you with any of your outdoor needs. In Crawford, stop by the State Park offices to get the latest updates and if your starting point is in Paonia, check out the Paonia Farm & Home to pick up supplies and information.
Whether you like to wade, walk along the shore of a stream, boat in a large reservoir or raft a river, the North Fork has the means to supply your fishing needs so grab the family, a pole and your gear and head to the North Fork for a day, a week or a lifetime! Hope to see you on the water.
Contributed by: Big Fish