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The Gunnison Gorge Gold Medal water. Big wild browns beneath the canyon walls. The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Drawn out, this is 362 acres of water rimmed by 40.5 miles of bank. The 15.2 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Call it 13.5 mi long by 5.5 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Delta County. The nearest mapped water is Crystal Reservoir, 21 mi to the southeast.
Early season brown trout use the shallows, holding in 1 to 10 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 10 ft; winter keeps them in 1 to 10 ft. The chart's best answer is Current seam (mile 2.5) — current seam, 6 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (6 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dawn | Current seam (mile 2.5) (6 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 4.4) (4 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 10 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 2.5) (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 3 to 10 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 10 ft through summer, 2 to 10 ft in winter. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 2.5), a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 2.5) (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
10 pieces of structure are mapped here — Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), around 8 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Colorado waters are set by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Gunnison River (Gorge) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Colorado fishing regulations →
Gunnison River (Gorge) is about 10 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brown trout, rainbow trout on Gunnison River (Gorge).
Current seam (mile 2.5) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Gunnison River (Gorge) is regulated by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Check the official Colorado regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Crystal Reservoir 21 mi · Reed Reservoir 22 mi · Youngs Creek Reservoir #3 22 mi · Eggleston Lake Big 23 mi · Vela Reservoir 23 mi · Eggleston Lake Little 23 mi · Battlement Reservoir Big 23 mi · Island Lake 24 mi · Kitson Reservoir 25 mi · Bonham Reservoir 25 mi · Neversweat Reservoir 25 mi · Morrow Point Reservoir 27 mi
See how Gunnison River (Gorge) stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Colorado · best brown trout lakes in Colorado
More water nearby: Delta County fishing maps (8 charts). Browse all Colorado fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.