If you are a fan of rough living and the great outdoors, there are numerous campgrounds in and around Lake Fork that provide easy access to the river as well. Visit our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Colorado. The Colorado Division of Wildlife has stocked more than 24,000 fingerling and catchable trout in the Lake Fork in … The Lake Fork, which is located south of Gunnison along Highway 149 near Lake City, is the least known of the Gunnison River’s major tributaries. Fly Fishing Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, CO by The Angling Channel. Neversink and Beaver Creek are popular access points at the top of the lake where the Gunnison flows in. Gunnison Gorge of … News. Here you will find numerous fast riffles and slower sections of pocket water to ply your skills regardless of what style of fly fishing you prefer. Colorado Lake Fork Gunnison SWA - Unit Overview. Located in Western Colorado near the town of Gunnison, Colorado’s largest body of water is a must-see destination. Colorado Public Access Properties Lake Fork Gunnison SWA. This is just a dirt road down to the water, and some clearance may be required. This comparatively uncrowded trout stream is surrounded by stunning scenery, has big fish potential, and angles particularly well in the springtime. To put-in, drive up 4 RD toward Burrows Park and Cinnamon Pass. This river contains a high density population of trout with the opportunity to catch decent size fish as well. This campground is conveniently located on the Silver Thread National Scenic Byway, about 16 miles north of Lake City. Not only is it one of the most beautiful stretches of mountain river for fly fishing in all of Colorado, but it also boasts some of the most productive Gold Medal waters in the west. Lake Fork Campground is located 27 miles west of Gunnison on CO Highway 92 near the intersection with U.S. Highway 50 on the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Lake Fork of the Gunnison. Your email address will not be published. The project partners and the family will collaborate with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to formalize permanent public access for fly-fishing along 0.62 miles of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River that flows through the property. 2016 CPW: The Lake Fork of the Gunnison River provides good to excellent opportunities for primarily stocked rainbow trout and wild brown trout. Comments. Full News; Click to hide state-specific text * IMPORTANT: Next Generation Station Page. The mayfly hatch in the springtime is your best bet for early prime season fishing, and caddis flies are the best summer hatch by far. The campground is paved except for the tent walk-in sites. N/A. There is access off this road and also at the inlet to Blue Mesa Reservoir. All types of camping from tents to large RVs can be accommodated at Lake Fork. High Bridge . The waters here are so rich with trout at Lake Fork that the CDOW has stated that it has more than double the number of 14-inch and larger trout to qualify as a Gold Medal fishery. All rainbow trout must be returned immediately to the water (catch and release) and you … It is best fished following run off through fall. The Lake Fork of the Gunnison dumps into Blue Mesa just above the dam. Live Water Enjoy access to one of the West’s premier private fishing and hunting clubs! There are also numerous privately-owned access and accommodation facilities in the immediate vicinity of the lake. View the DIY Fly Fishing Web Map to get turn-by-turn directions to the access points shown on the map above. Get directions to access points, boat ramps, and real-time USGS stream flow data. Something of a hidden treasure along the Upper Gunnison, the Lake Fork provides drainage during runoff and heavy rains for the North East San Juan Mountain range. Lake Fork Public Access Facilities. Put-in at whatever access point looks best. A lot of anglers find some of the best fishing near Cherry Creek or downriver over Argenta Falls. Fly fishing has historically been allowed on the property through a handshake agreement with the landowner. Leave A Comment. Lake City Town Run Edit this River; Difficulty: III: Length: 3.6 Miles: Gauge: LAKE FORK AT GATEVIEW, CO. Flow Range: 300 - 2000 CFS Flow Rate as of: 30 minutes ago 264 [CFS] Reach Info Last Updated: 08/06/2013 2:46 pm: River Description. Upper Gunnison River. Lake Fork of Gunnison Fishing Information Main Section - near Gunnison, CO A longer river than it looks, there is ample access in both the lower sections and the upper sections. As others have mentioned - very little cellular service here. The Gunnison River offers several public access points (see map above) for wading, though fishing from drift boats when the waters are high is preferable. Download today, and you can record, track, and navigate for free. will meet up with the Lake Fork. Check out our interactive map of over 30,000 of the best places to fly fish in the US. You have access to over 1,376.69± deeded acres of strategically located ranch land, including one of the West’s finest trout fisheries. Gunnison River Flow and Current Conditions. Parking can be found at the Lake Fork boat ramp just off CO-92 by the dam. The Sabine River Authority (903) 878-2262 operates four public boat ramps and a free day use area. Lake Fork of the Gunnison flows from Lake City, CO in the San Juan mountains to the Gunnison River at Blue Mesa Reservoir. Right after the runoff in the spring until early fall provides excellent fishing opportunities all along the Lake Fork. Please feel free to drop us a note through the "Contact R&R" menu option at the top of the page. Min/Max Elevation. A brief introduction to Lake Fork Of The Gunnison Riv With approximately 14 miles total of public fishing access, the Lake Fork is excellent for fishing from the banks or for wade fishing. Anglers in search of trophy rainbows, cutthroats, and browns in large numbers will not be disappointed should they decide to visit the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. The river's source is Sloan Lake near Handies Peak in the San Juan Mountains of Hinsdale County. Lake Fork Gunnison 02. Copyright 2020 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. Further down US 50 are the Dillon Pinnacles and Lake Fork Visitor Center areas that allow you to explore the drainages that run into Lower Blue Mesa. Lake Fork of the Gunnison River - There is public fishing access from about 14 miles north to 2.5 miles south of Lake City along Highway 149. Only non-motorized boats are allowed. Colorado Parks & Wildlife fishing rules are as follows:(I) High Bridge Gulch downriver to BLM boundary (below Gate Campground) and Cherry Creek to upper Red Bridge CG boundary: artificial flies/lures only, bag and possession for Browns is 2, minimum 16", all rainbows catch-and-release(J) BLM boundary below Gate Campground to Cherry Creek: Bag and possession for trout is 2(K) Argenta Falls downstream to Blue Mesa Reservation: Kokanee Salmon snagging permitted Sep. 1 to Dec. 31. Lake Fork of Gunnison River Flies. The Lake Fork starts 50+ miles upstream above this gauge and flows into Blue Mesa Reservoir.. With approximately 14 miles total of public fishing access, the Lake Fork is excellent for fishing from the banks or for wade fishing. Day 2: Lake Fork of the Gunnison and Cebolla Creek. The Lake Fork of the Gunnison, which eventually flows into Blue Mesa Reservoir, rises on the northern slopes of the 14,000-foot San Juan Mountains, starting as small feeder creeks and growing rapidly before dumping into Lake San Cristobal near the small community of Lake City. Access to the river for Lake Fork is usually accomplished via the campground roads from the highway just outside of Gunnison. Winter fishing can be a bit treacherous along certain stretches, but the year-round supply of midges keeps the fish biting. When the line was abandoned, timbers from the bridge were removed and used to build a school in Gunnison. Kokanee migrate into the Lake Fork from Blue Mesa Reservoir in late fall with the snagging season kicking off on September 1st. It's hard to pick a wrong spot to fish along Lake Fork or the rest of the Gunnison for that matter. GUNNISON RIVER NEAR GUNNISON, CO.. USGS. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Access to the river for Lake Fork is usually accomplished via the campground roads from the highway just outside of Gunnison You can also hike from San Cristobal Lake Inlet as well if you don't mind making your way over a little rough country. Similarly, there are many RV parks, regular hotels and motels, and even a lakeside resort nearby that offer varying levels of luxury and comfort depending on your budget. Add to My Account. Accommodations range from motels and cabins to RV sites and tent camping. Recommended fly patterns for Lake Fork include:- Micro Egg (pink/org #18)- RS2 (grey #20)- TH Zebra Midge (black #20)- TH Zebra Midge (cream #20)- Tunghead Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail (PT #16)- Tunghead Hare's Ear Flashback (HE #16)- Globug Egg (orange #16)- San Juan Worm (brown #14)- Parachute Adams (gray #18)- Two Bit Hooker (red #14). 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