Taylor River, Colorado

[Mark]

Has anyone fished the Taylor River? Seeking info - there looks to be plenty of campgrounds, public water, but don't know how wadeable the Taylor would be like in late July. Wondering if it gets crowded too. I have been reading about the area and there also seems to be lots of feeder creeks that some have suggested as well. Also wondering about the scenery as the area around Gunnison starts looking barren of trees, with eroded canyons and cliffs. I'm wanting to try a new area of Colorado.

[motroutbum]

There is not much public water on the Taylor. There is just of 1/4 a mile of public water directly below the dam. the closer you get to Almont the more public water there is, but it is still not much. Since there are extremely large fish below the dam, it can be quite crowded especially during the summer time.

[kirbydog]

As said-most of the Taylor River below the reservoir is private land and the fishing just below the dam is

almost always crowded. It has some big fish but they all have graduate degrees in avoiding the hook.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

the Taylor has 20lb fish living in it... so i am intrigued.

[tom bell]

I have been there, as a matter of fact, I killed a

6 x 6 elk at Gunnison 3 years ago! Beautiful place.

[ozarkgunner]

I fished there a bunch. Big fish by the dam but small browns the rest of the river. I would go to several rivers near by.

[podum]

Below the dam, typical heavy pressure tailwater fish. Size 24-28 freshwater shrimp will get you bit and broken off. Use a foam terrestrial for an indicator and hope it gets slammed.

Beautiful canyon. Fun river to raft midsummer. Lower river has steep gradient. Most fishing is pocket water. High sticking nymphs.

Lots of really fun water close by. Gunnison, Lake Fork of Gunnison, Cebolla Creek, etc...

[KCRIVERRAT]

There's some great Brookie fishing in the creeks that feed Taylor Reservoir also...

[KCRIVERRAT]

Mark, FYI... there's a great website called the COLORADO DIRECTORY that is user friendly and has loads of info on everything Colorado (including fishing & hunting).

I've stayed at Three Rivers Campground in Almont a couple of times and, like most of the campgrounds on up through the canyon, own stretches of fishable water. I'd give some of the places a call and see what they've got.

Oh... and don't forget your wading staff.

[Mark]

Thanks all, I am now considering the Frying Pan. My biggest concern is the crowds at the Frying Pan and afraid my friends will be turned off by the crowds. It will be there first camping trip in Colorado and they are expecting a wilderness experience. The campgrounds appear to be clustered around Ruedi Reservoir. On the plus side, from the reservoir to Basalt, there is 8.5 miles of public waters and the feeder creeks are public as well. And the Frying Pan is loaded with fish. Catching fish and great scenery may trump any crowd issues.

Anyone fished the Frying Pan? Is the 8.5 stretches of public waters wadeable water? There is 8 pull offs along the road with access but no clue if there is much wadeable water at accesses. How are the campgrounds? Do you get some privacy in the CGs?

I fished the Crystal River and camped at Bogan Flats a couple years ago. Great campground and 7 miles of public water but man it was tough wading. We could wade maybe a half of mile from camp until water became too fast and cluttered with boulders. We spent most of our time at pull offs along the road, but again the wadeable water was very limited at the pull offs.