Great Rivers of the West Raffle

Help river conservation and get your chance to win four trips on four of the Rockies' great rivers: the Green, North Platte, Roaring Fork/Fryingpan, and the San Juan!

Drawing takes place at 12pm MT on Monday, May 1, at the Colorado TU offices at 1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 320, Denver.  Need not be present to win.

Prize Package

One lucky winner will receive four full-day guided trips for two anglers on four of our region's top rivers, for use in the 2023 season, with advance reservations required. The winner and their guest will enjoy trips on each of these four great Rocky Mountain rivers:

Green River - Flaming Gorge. The Green River below Flaming Gorge is known as one of the west's finest tailwater fisheries. Two anglers will enjoy a full-day float on the Green below Flaming Gorge with Spinner Fall Guide Service, leading guides on the Green for more than 35 years. Your guide will work with you to help choose the reach (A, B, or C) that best fits your interests - but whichever section you float, you will be in for spectacular scenery and plenty of large and feisty trout! 

North Platte River - Grey Reef or Fremont Canyon. Two anglers will enjoy winner's choice of a full-day float through the Grey Reef or a full-day walk-wade trip in Fremont Canyon with the guides from Thermopolis Fly Shop. The Grey Reef is known as one of the west's best rainbow trout fisheries with many 16-20 inch fish, including plenty in the 5-10 pound range. Fremont Canyon is a lesser known wade fishing gem with excellent dry fly fishing opportunities.

Roaring Fork - Fryingpan Rivers. The winner will get to choose from two of Colorado's most beloved Gold Medal waters for a full-day walk wade guide trip for two anglers with Roaring Fork Anglers. Whether experiencing the productive freestone Roaring Fork in the heart of one of Colorado's most scenic valleys - or the legendary tailwaters of the Fryingpan - or splitting your time to experience some of them both - you will be in for one of Colorado's great fishing experiences. 

San Juan River. New Mexico's quality waters reach of the San Juan is one of the west's most loved tailwaters and offers excellent fishing opportunities throughout the year. The winner will get a full-day float trip on the San Juan with The San Juan Angler out of Durango. With incredible trout densities reported at 20,000 per mile and productive and varied insect life taking advantage of the tailwater's stable temperatures and flows, the San Juan's abundance and size of fish make it a great place to catch that fish of a lifetime.

The total prize package value for these four trips is $2,300.

Thank you to our supporters:

https://www.alpineangling.com/

https://tworiversinnwy.com/

https://www.spinnerfall.com/

https://thesanjuanangler.com/

Raffle Tickets

 1 for $10

3 for $25

8 for $50

20 for $100

• Online raffle ticket sales end April 30, 2023, at 12 pm MT.

• The winner will be drawn on May 1, 2023, at 12 pm MT at 1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 320, Denver, CO 80202.

Trout Unlimited Western Regional Rendezvous

Join fellow TU members, supporters, and volunteers from across the West from May 18th-21st, 2023 at the Sagebrush Inn in Taos, NM for some great Spring fishing, networking opportunities, workshopping and presentations ranging from leadership development to regional habitat work.

Located in northern New Mexico at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos is an incredible melting pot of landscapes, cultures, and fishing opportunities. This is an amazing opportunity to join us for the weekend – and stay longer if you’d like to make this a family trip or fishing buddies escape!

Taos is within striking distance of some amazing trout fishing opportunities, and we hope to score some great Spring weather to make that a reality. Please reach out to local fly shops Doc’s High Country Anglers  and Taos Fly Shop for more info on fishing the area.

TU regional rendezvous are occasions to be inspired – by the work of TU staff, lessons from volunteer leaders, and conversations with newfound friends. They are also an excellent opportunity to discuss the unique issues facing the region as well as a chance to network and build relationships with fellow TU volunteer leaders.

The Sagebrush Inn, Taos

Lodging & Registration 

The Sagebrush Inn
Address: 1508 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM 87571

Phone: (575) 758-2254

Ask for “Trout Unlimited” when reserving.

More info, including the agenda, can be found at tu.org/regionals.

The New Spring Issue of High Country Angler is Live!

Check out the Spring 2023 issue of High Country Angler e-zine, including these stories:

• Landon Mayer on getting ready for a day on the river with Preparing for the Day;

• Brian LaRue on the Big Hole River with 85 Miles of Magic;

• John Davenport with eDNA Sampling Surprises Trout In The Classroom Students;

• Joel Evans on Colorado's new Gold Medal waters on the Gunnison and Taylor rivers with Bringing Home the Gold;

• Hayden Mellsop with You Don't Know What You're Missing;

• Peter Stitcher with The Anatomy of a Euro Nymph

• Columns by  CTU Staff, Jack Bombardier, and the Old Professor!

• Be sure to see information for Troutfest Colorado and the new Ross Native Series Reel!

March 2023 Currents

THIS MONTH’S ISSUE OF CURRENTS FEATURES the Ross Native Reel Series, CTU Youth Camp, Speak Up for Oil & Gas Rulemaking, and More!

CTU Gala Recap 2023

WOW- What an incredible evening!

Thank you to our donors, supporters, & attendees of the 2023 CTU Gala, hosted at Mile High Station on March 9, 2023. We were able to come back in person for the first time since early 2020 and a great time was had by all!

We were able to successfully raise over $100,000 for coldwater conservation in Colorado through our gala this year, smashing through our goals and putting us on a path towards more mission work this year and beyond. 2023 has been off to a great start and we look forward to many more gatherings across the state.

Interested in volunteering, sponsoring or attending our next event? Contact info@coloradotu.org for more information.

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

CTU Winter Raffle Winner Announced

The winner of the CTU Winter Raffle is Chris L. of Denver with number 527! Thanks for donating to Colorado Trout Unlimited, and stay tuned for more chances to win.

February 2023 Currents

THIS MONTH’S ISSUE OF CURRENTS FEATURES THE CTU ANNUAL GALA, Bringing Home the Gold, Winter Raffle, and more!

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.

CTU Launches Winter Raffle

Help river conservation and get your chance to win a custom SaraBella Colorado Native rod, along with a gift card to access private water with RareWaters!  Prize value: $1,049