2/1/10 - Winter fishing is underway with some options open.  Lower flows make for easier wading as well as being able to get a little closer to the fish.  Deep nymphing with double fly rig is the prefered method, as the fish are glued to the bottom of the deepest holes. The C&R of the Taylor is also fishing good on nice days, with a lot of fish over 5 pounds hitting the net. 

The ranch is closed and opens in May.  Come fish with us for exotic species and giant trout with the snowcapped peaks in the background.

Below : This monster brown was fooled in willow lake.  This trout is a good example of what is possible at this trophy fishery

             1/31/10 Rainbow                                         1/31/10 28" cutbow

Flows- Below Dam-100cfs, Almont-120cfs                                                      

Techniques and Conditions- Being a tailwater the Taylor has a personality of it's own with different conditions on the 21 mile stretch.  Below the dam, try deep nymphing with long leaders and light tippet.  Also keep your eyes peeled for midging fish and suspended trout in the middle of the water column.   Concentrate on the runs, holes, pockets, and transitions in the river.  Some surface action, but for the most activity try boucing your nymphs along the bottom. 

Flies and Hatches- Midge, bwo.  Below the dam try egg, worms, mysis,rs2 18-24, wd 40 18-24, Baetis nymph #18-24, Black beauty #18-24, Poxy Midges red, black, ufo #18-24, Chocolate emerger, Poly and foam wing #18-24.  Lower Tayor fishes more like a freestone river, so nymphing with varieties of beadheads, eggs, and worms is the beast choice. 

**We have been guiding on a 1 mile piece of private Taylor River that sees very little pressure this time of year.  We are lucky to have this fishery in our backyard.   Expect to see numbers and quality with many fish over 18". $50 half day rod fee and $100 full.

Below : John from Lakewood shows off one his many trout that he landed on that beautiful April day.  This rainbow was 23" and plump.  Our private Taylor access is on fire, come check it out!

Flows - Almont-260cfs , Gunnison-320cfs , Above Blue Mesa-400cfs

Clarity - Low and clear

Conditions and Techniques- The fish have retreated to winter holes, so concentrate on the deepest water you can find. Try deep two or three fly nymph rigs, dry/dropper, and short-line.  Egg patterns and trout beads along side your favorite beatis imitation has been the most productive rig for the past couple of weeks.                                                  

Flies and Hatches- slate drake, bwo, caddis, and eggs                                                                                        Streamers- CH Bugger, black #4-10, Bugger, Black #4-14, Muddlers #6-12, Double Bunny, olive/white, black, olive/black #4-8, Sculpinator #4-6, CH Bristlecone #4-8, CH Tan bugger #4-8, CH Splendors #4-8, CH Black and Olive zonkers #6-10, Feather Duster $6-8 Olive/Black Rubber leg Buggers #4  Nymphs- Beatis  nymphs 18-20, eggs, beads, blm, Caddis nymphs # 14-16, Soft Hackles,  20 incher #6-16, BH PT's #10-18, BH Prince #6-18, BH Hare's ear #8-16, Brown Stone #8, Halfback #4-10, SJ Worms #10-16, Eggs, Trout Beads, BH Lightning Bug #12-16, BH NFS #10-14, BH DJ Juice, Olive #14-16, BH Baetis #14-18  Dries- Caddis, caddis, caddis, triple decker #6, PMX #6-14, Trudes, PA, Mother's day caddis #12-16, Foam caddis #14-16,

Give a call for more details                970-209-6555      

Below : 04/08 This 28" 10-12 pound bow ate a #6 olive/white double bunny and put up a 15 minute fight.  That's a real fish! 

Flows - 95cfs

Techniques and Conditions - Low and clear with decent action throwing dries and droppers in fast riffles.  Nymphing the deeper runs is also productive.  Fish around salmon pods with eggs and small beatis nymphs.  For salmon, use the same rig just increase to 2x or 3x and add according weight.

Flies and Hatches - bwo and slate drakes are hatching mid-day

Streamers - BH and CH Black Brown Tan Buggers #4-10, Pearl Buggers #6-10, Muddlers, CH Orange Blossom#4-10, Spendors #4-10, Double Bunny Olive/white #4-10

Nymphs - BH Beatis, Small PT's, wd, Eggs, Troutbeads, SJ Worms, Western Coachman #8-14, 20 incher #6-16, Purple 20 incher #8-14, PT #8-16, BH Prince #6-16, Biot Stones #8-12, Copper Stones #8-10, Halfback #4-10,

Dries - Midges in the Hatchery ponds, stimulator, mad x, pmds, caddis, p adams

Below: This brown was caught below the confluence of the East and Taylor River.  He was a glutton full of kokanee fry.  Like many trout during the fry release, his eyes were bigger than his stomach. 4/18/09

We are finished trout fishing on the Blue Mesa for the winter

Flies - The current main food source is crayfish, baitfish, and midge larva with tributaries providing some insects being washed in.  Brown Buggers #4-8, Brown Krystal Bugger #4-8, Olive Buggers #4-8, Black Zonker #6-10, Crayfish, Clousers, muddlers, Perch Fly, Trout Angels, Egg patterns in tributaries

Below :  4/28/09 A fat Blue Mesa rainbow caught up a tributary.  The moving water of the many feeders provides great habitat that is rarely hit by flyfishers and accessable only by boat.  This is a very unique experience, come fish we us and we will share it with you!