Taylor River, Colorado
Gold Medal Tailwater — Remote Gunnison Country tailwater with trophy brown trout
The Taylor River below Taylor Park Reservoir is Colorado's most remote Gold Medal tailwater — a 12-mile catch-and-release fishery in the high Gunnison Country that rewards anglers willing to make the journey to Almont (the confluence with the East River that forms the Gunnison) with some of the finest trophy brown trout fishing in the Rocky Mountain West.
The Taylor is fundamentally a brown trout fishery, which sets it apart from the rainbow-dominated tailwaters of the Frying Pan and the Provo. The cold releases from Taylor Park Reservoir — typically around 42°F year-round — maintain ideal brown trout habitat through the long Colorado summer. The river's brown trout are wild, genetically sound, and genuinely large: fish in the 18–24 inch class are encountered regularly, and the occasional brown over 26 inches makes this river legendary among Colorado anglers.
The remote setting in the Gunnison National Forest at 8,600 feet elevation means genuine solitude by Western tailwater standards. The Taylor River Road (FS-742) parallels the river from Taylor Park Reservoir to Almont, providing access throughout the Gold Medal section, but the distances involved from Front Range cities (4 hours from Denver) keep crowds manageable except on peak summer weekends.
Hatches are reliable and diverse for a high-elevation tailwater. The summer PMD emergence is the river's showcase event — late June through August brings reliable daily hatches of Pale Morning Duns that draw the Taylor's large browns to the surface in classic dry fly feeding behavior.
Taylor Park Reservoir — Dam Outlet
Upper access via Taylor Park Road (FS-742). Most productive water for trophy browns. Small parking area at the dam outlet.
Lottis Creek Campground Area
Mid-river access with campground facilities. One of the most productive and accessible sections. Popular in summer — arrive early on weekends.
Almont — Confluence with East River
Lower access where the Taylor meets the East River to form the Gunnison. Good dry fly water. Also the start of the Gunnison River fishery.
Brown Trout
Dominant species with exceptional average size. Wild, genetically sound browns averaging 16–22 inches. The most impressive brown trout tailwater fishery in Colorado. Most active during summer PMD and fall spawning.
Rainbow Trout
Less numerous than browns but present throughout. Some sections hold better rainbow populations. Mix well with brown trout in productive runs and pools.
Taylor browns are technical dry fly fish — use 5x or 6x tippet and accurate presentations rather than large patterns or heavy leader material.
The Taylor fishes best mid-week in summer. Weekend crowds at Lottis Creek and the dam outlet are real — plan accordingly.
Fall (September–October) streamer fishing for pre-spawn browns is spectacular and sees significantly less competition from other anglers.
The drive from Salt Lake City (4 hours) or Denver (4 hours) makes this a natural overnight destination — camp at Lottis Creek and fish two full days.
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