Blog — Colorado Trout Unlimited

Colorado Trout Unlimited and Mayfly Outdoors Launch Native Reel Series

The Native Reel Series is a collaborative project between Trout Unlimited and Mayfly Outdoors to restore and preserve native fish.

On Tuesday, February 21st, 2023, Trout Unlimited and Mayfly Outdoors launched their new Native Reel Series. The first reel in the series will be based on the greenback cutthroat trout, the state fish of Colorado, and the focus of intense reintroduction efforts over the past decade. The reel, a Colorado 2/3, is the first Ross Reel to be anodized in the dark orange color, as well as the first to include hand painting on the clicker plate, as it is meant to capture the colors of the spawning cutthroat trout. Mayfly Outdoors will donate a portion of each reel sold directly to Colorado Trout Unlimited and its Poudre Headwaters Project, which is focused on restoring a large stronghold for native greenback cutthroat in its original South Platte River basin.

CTU Executive Director, David Nickum, said “We are extremely excited to partner with Mayfly Outdoors and appreciate their dedication to restoring and protecting Colorado’s native trout. Greenback cutthroats are near to the heart of many Colorado anglers, and with Mayfly’s support we can secure a long-term future for these unique fish.”

Jeff Wagner, CEO of Mayfly Outdoors (Ross Reels, Abel Reels, Airflo Fly lines, and Dyna-King Vises) noted, “As a member of the greater fly-fishing industry and as stewards of our lands, we, therefore, have an obligation and duty to conserve and protect our native fish heritage and our river ecosystems that are the lifeblood of the lands we enjoy. It’s the least we can do to partner with Trout Unlimited and help in their efforts to conserve, protect, and restore river habitat in order to preserve existing populations and reintroduce native fish. This mission is not just for today, but for generations to come.”

Mayfly Outdoors is a Certified B Corporation headquartered in Montrose, Colorado, and its mission is to inspire adventure. Their brands include Abel Reels, Ross Reels, Airflo Fly Lines, and Dyna-King Vises. Visit their website: http://www.mayflyoutdoors.com

Colorado Trout Unlimited is a non-profit organization with more than 11,000 members across Colorado in 23 local chapters, working toward a shared mission to conserve, protect, and restore Colorado’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.  http://coloradotu.org

Bringing Home the Gold

Bringing Home the Gold

By Joel L Evans

Gunnison River at Van Tuyl

What did one trout say to the other?  “Hey, if we can just hang out in this beautiful river for a few years, maybe we can win a gold medal.”

Olympic games history dates back to ancient Greece.  However, the current practice of awarding a first place gold medal to the winner is relatively new, having first occurred at the 1904 summer Olympic Games in the United States.  Social culture has figuratively adopted this medal system, whereby gold of anything indicates the best of the best.

So in years past, when the idea came to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife to indicate the highest quality waters for fishing, the Gold Medal moniker was an easy fit.  Eight rivers first garnered Gold Medal designation in 1982; there now are thirteen rivers and three lakes that have earned the Gold Medal designation.  This includes two new river sections in southwest Colorado that were added this January.

Recently added near the towns of Gunnison and Almont were 12 miles of the Gunnison River from Gunnison upstream to Almont and 20 miles of the Taylor River upstream from Almont to Taylor Reservoir.

A Gold Medal designation is not just a mark of the pen.  It takes years of fish population surveys and an expectation that the high quality fishery is sustainable.  This best of the best listing requires consistent 60 pounds of fish per acre and harboring 12 quality fish of 14 inches or greater per acre.

Those who have lived near and fished these waters for decades already knew of their stellar status.  Historically, both rivers have always been quality fisheries.  A significant boost to the numbers and size of fish came after the completion of Taylor Park Dam and Reservoir in 1937.  Constructed as a part of the Upper Colorado River basin storage, the 206-foot high dam and the 106,000-foot acre reservoir, like any mountain tailwater, smooths out the natural annual water high and low flows, benefiting the fishery.

While the quality of the fishery is the same for both of these newly listed waters, public access varies.

Taylor River

The Taylor River from Almont upstream to Taylor Reservoir has abundant public access with a paved road its entire length.  The winding river and hence the winding road that follows is mainly contained in a narrow canyon, but there are numerous pullouts from which to park and descend with relative ease from vehicle to the nearby river.  Several public boat ramps provide rafting access.  Rafting is mainly done with small inflatables due to the rowdy character of the mountain river.  Wading safely has to wait until the spring runoff subsides in early summer.  Public access is not continuous, with several private stretches along the way.

Taylor River

The Gunnison River from the town of Gunnison upstream to Almont is primarily private.  Here the water is a larger volume as the Gunnison River begins at Almont with the confluence of the East and Taylor rivers.  Due to the largely private access and higher water volume, this section is a popular raft fishing adventure.  River character is milder than the Taylor, flowing thru a mild-sloping residential and agricultural valley, allowing both inflatables and drift boats.  There is a significant public access section at the downstream end at the town of Gunnison via the Van Tuyl easement.

Rainbow and brown trout are the predominant species.  Generally, browns are more numerous, but rainbows are larger on average.  The stream population survey by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which was the basis for the gold medal status, indicated in various sections from 200 to over 400 pounds of trout per acre and from 50 to over 200 trout over 14 inches.  The highest numbers occur in the catch and release section of the Taylor immediately below Taylor Dam, a short but well known and heavily fished section of the river with easy access (read big fish that are hard to catch!).

Gunnison River at Almont

Seasons for fishing are precious, as winter cloaks the river for part of the year.  But yes, pre-runoff spring, summer, and fall are splendid.  Although the season is open year-round by regulation, winter in a cold and mountainous terrain makes for minimal winter opportunities.  One winter exception is the Taylor tailwater for those willing to brave slick roads and ice-encrusted rod guides. Even though Taylor Reservoir freezes over, the small volume and continuous above-freezing water releases keep the tailwater section open for a short distance downstream before winter ice encapsulates the river.

Even in these days of increased fishing pressure and drought challenges, it is great to see a river that is not only resilient but improving.  Congratulations to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife and numerous partners, including Trout Unlimited, for “bringing home the gold.”

Joel Evans is president of the Gunnison Gorge Anglers chapter and the current Southwest Regional Vice President of Colorado Trout Unlimited.