Lake Fork Gunnison River
State Park in Gunnison and Hinsdale Counties, Colorado
Water Type:
Conditions:
The Lake Fork of the Gunnison provides anglers quality trout fishing opportunities for rainbow and brown trout. Bank and wade fishing only.
Stocking Report:
Activities:
Common Species:
Lake Fork Gunnison River
State Park in Gunnison and Hinsdale Counties, Colorado
Water Type:
Conditions:
The Lake Fork of the Gunnison provides anglers quality trout fishing opportunities for rainbow and brown trout. Bank and wade fishing only.
Stocking Report:
Activities:
Common Species:
About the Lake Fork of the Gunnison
Spanning Bureau of Land Management (BLM)- and National Park Service (NPS)-managed lands, this major tributary of the Gunnison River provides quality bank and wade fishing opportunities for brown and rainbow trout. Anglers can also snag for kokanee salmon during fall migration.
The fishable area lies from High Bridge Gulch downstream (north) to Blue Mesa Reservoir. Only bank and wade fishing are permitted.
About Quality Waters
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is excited to announce Quality Waters, a new category of fishable waters that our talented team of fish management biologists has identified and nominated based on their fish sampling records, creel surveys, and professional biological assessments.
The Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.
Thick trees along the Gunnison River.
A CPW aquatic biologist leads survey work on the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.
Activities at this Location
Kayaking
Fishing
Camping Nearby
Picnicking Nearby
Visit the Lake Fork of the Gunnison
Near Lake City, running along the west side of CO-149.
Directions to fishing access at The Gate Campground
From Grand Junction: Take US-50 E for 114 miles to CO-149 S in Gunnison County. Turn right onto CO-149 S and drive 28.7 miles. The entrance to the campground will be on your right.
From Gunnison: Take US-50 W to CO-149 S. Turn left onto CO-149 S and drive for 28.7 miles. The entrance to the campground will be on your right. From The Gate, High Bridge Gulch lies to the south, and Blue Mesa Reservoir to the north.
Save Money
Use the Keep Colorado Wild Pass
The Keep Colorado Wild Pass is $29.
Other pass options:
- Affixed Vehicle Parks Pass $80
- Family Multi Vehicle Pass $120
- Individual Pass (foot and bike traffic only) $29
Boating at Lake Fork of the Gunnison
Only non-motorized boats are permitted on Lake Fork of the Gunnison. You may use kayaks; local outfitters offer whitewater rafting.
All vessels and water users must observe all Colorado Boating Statutes and Regulations at all times.
Stay Safe on the Water
Keep your time on the water fun and safe by following some simple safety guidelines.
Life Jackets
You must wear a life jacket or personal floatation device (PFD) of the correct size when using any kind of water vessel, including boats, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and rafts. Check with local outfitters to see if they offer loaner life jackets.
Boating Rules
Be prepared for your day on the water by familiarizing yourself with the guidelines and regulations for your water activity.
Learn the RulesFishing at Lake Fork of the Gunnison
River Acres: 25.5
The fishable area lies from High Bridge Gulch downstream/north to Blue Mesa Reservoir. Only bank and wade fishing are permitted.
River Features:
- About 14 miles of public fishing from five separate access areas
- Seasonal restrooms at BLM Gateview, Red Ridge and The Gate campgrounds
Don't Forget Your Fishing License
All anglers need a fishing license, but youth aged 15 and under fish for free. Reduced cost licenses are available for Colorado residents including: adults, youth aged 16 to 1seniors, active duty members, first responders with disabilites, and veterans with disabilites.
Rules and Restrictions
For the stretch of river from the BLM boundary below The Gate Campground to the confluence with Cherry Creek:
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The bag and possession limit for trout is two fish.
Excepting the stretch of river that runs from the BLM boundary below The Gate Campground to the confluence with Cherry Creek:
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Fishing is by artificial flies and lures only.
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The bag and possession limit and minimum size for brown trout is two fish, 16 inches in length.
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All rainbow trout must be returned to the water immediately upon catch.
Fish at this Location
Staff have stocked 10,0000 fingerling whirling disease-resistant rainbow trout annually since 2009. Seventy-five thousand kokanee fingerlings were stocked at Red Bridge annually from 2006 to 2020 and in 2022.
Brown Trout
This species feeds on aquatic and terrestrial insects and will rise to a large range of small artificial flies, baits and lures.
More About Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
A Lake Fork of the Gunnison, rainbow trout may be caught with a variety of artificial flies, baits and lures.
More About Rainbow TroutCatch a Record
Fishing Awards and Records
Colorado Parks and Wildlife recognizes licensed anglers who catch exceptionally large fish through three separate programs, Record by Weight, Record by Length (released only) and Master Angler. Learn more about what it takes to be a Colorado record holder!
Fishing Survey
Density Estimates from 2016:
Species |
Brown Trout |
Rainbow Trout |
|---|---|---|
| Number of fish 14 in (length) per acre | 28 | 3 |
| Number of fish over 5 in (length) per mile | 733 | 351 |
| Biomass estimate per acre | 54 lbs | 30 lbs |
Mandatory Boat Inspections for ANS Before Coming to Lake Fork of the Gunnison
ANS are invasive species that harm bodies of water by outcompeting native species and reducing water quality. Because ANS can hide in the ballast tanks and other water-holding areas of boats, motorized boats are required to undergo ANS inspections before entering bodies of water in Colorado. On the Lake Fork of the Gunnison, you may only use non-motorized vessels, which are exempt from mandatory ANS inspections.
Though inspections are not mandatory, we highly encourage you to clean, drain and dry all of your water gear between visits to rivers, lakes or any other body of water. This helps prevent the spread of ANS like zebra mussels, New Zealand mudsnails and Eurasian watermilfoil.
Inspection Locations
There are no ANS inspections for boats at the Lake Fork of the Gunnison. Please remember to have your boat inspected ahead of time.
Colorado ANS Inspection Sites
Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)
Learn about aquatic nuisance species including zebra mussels, New Zealand mudsnails and Eurasian watermilfoil.
Learn more about aquatic nuisance species.Aquatic Nuisance Species
How to Clean Your Hand Launch Vessels and Fishing Gear
Invasive species of plants and wildlife harm Colorado's land and water, negatively impacting the state’s economy, recreation, property values and public health. Invasive wildlife spread by hitchhiking on watercraft, trailers, vehicles, tires, boots, waders, equipment, gear, firewood and even dogs!
Anglin — How to Clear Your Gear Video
Angling — Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
After cleaning their gear, anglers should then perform one of the following options to disinfect their gear before going into the next body of water or moving to a new stretch of river.
Option 1
- Disinfect waders and gear with quaternary ammonia cleaner (QAC).
- After cleaning, submerge gear in a tub filled with a solution of 6oz QAC/gallon of water for at least 10 minutes. Follow all precautionary label instructions!
- Rinse water must be from a clean source to avoid re-infection.
- Dispose of the chemical bath properly away from any waters.
Option 2
- Heat treat your gear by soaking or spraying for 10 minutes with 140o Fahrenheit water.
Option 3
- Dry your waders and equipment completely for a minimum of 10 days between use.
Option 4
- Freeze your waders and boots overnight between use.
Clean
- Keep your distance from storm drains and new bodies of water while cleaning all equipment.
- Remove all visible plant material, animals, and mud from the hull, trailer and all compartments including footwells and storage areas.
- Clean all other equipment that was used including paddles, dry storage bags, leashes, anchors and lifejackets.
Dr
- Ensure that all water has been drained from your inflatable watercraft.
- Carry your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard to a dry location to drain and dry. Tilt and lift your watercraft to empty any water that has pooled inside the interior compartments.
- If your inflatable watercraft has a two-layer (bladder/shell) construction or a floor that allows water inside the shell, be sure to drain all the areas where water could be trapped.
Dry
- Sponge or towel any water that remains on the watercraft following your draining process.
- Find a place where the kayak, canoe or paddleboard can continue to dry completely.
- Leave your watercraft inflated until it is completely dry. When fully dry, place the air valve down when deflating to prevent water from getting inside.
Boating and Fishing Regulations
Manual de Navegación (En Español)
El folleto de Manual de Navegación en línea es la versión más actualizada.
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Colorado Fishing Brochure
The online Fishing brochure is the most up-to-date version.
Download the Brochure
Pesca en Colorado (En Español)
El folleto de Pesca en línea es la versión más actualizada.
Descargue el Folleto
Land and Water Regulations Brochure
Have a question about regulations? Check the brochure.
Download the Brochure
Be a Pain in the ANS!
If you use water, aquatic nuisance species (ANS) can affect you. For example, Zebra and quagga mussels clog up the infrastructure that delivers water to our homes. Keeping invasive species under control is a matter of public health.