The hatchery was built over several years in the late 1960s and includes 783 acres along the East River south of Crested Butte. The hatchery and raceways utilize about 200 acres of the total. Kokanee salmon are spawned in the hatchery from late October to early November and visitors can view the milling and fertilization of eggs. Young salmon and trout can be viewed in ponds. A lot of shorebirds and songbirds can be seen in the marshy willow bottoms during the spring and summer.
Black Canyon Fly Fishing
The Gunnison River within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is designated as Gold Medal Water. Streams and rivers in Colorado are designated as Gold Medal Waters by the state wildlife commission because they provide outstanding angling opportunities for large trout.
The Gold Medal Waters begin at the boundary of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area and continue downstream to the North Fork of the Gunnison River.
Special regulations are required to maintain gold medal quality experiences. Of the more than 9,000 miles of trout streams in Colorado, only 168 miles are designated as Gold Medal.
These regulations apply to the Gunnison River within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and within Curecanti National Recreation Area at East Portal (between the closure at Crystal Dam and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park boundary):
Use artificial flies or lures only. NO BAIT! ALL Rainbow trout are CATCH AND RELEASE
- Brown trout 12-16 inches must be returned to the water immediately.
- Bag and possession limit for brown trout is 4 fish, 12 inches or less OR 3 fish less than 12 inches and 1 fish 16 inches or longer.
- A Colorado fishing license is required.
Catch and Release Fishing
The numbers of fish important to anglers are declining for a variety of reasons. Anglers often catch fish that the law requires them to return to the water, such as rainbows in the Gunnison.
Fish become stressed through capture and handling which upsets their blood chemistry. The effects can be cumulative and decimate a fish. We recommend these actions to increase the survival chances of a catch and release fish:
- Bring the fish in as quickly as possible.
- Use barbless hooks, or crimp the barbs with needle nose pliers.
- Minimize handling the fish. Be sure your hands or net is wet before touching the fish. Use a net with knotless mesh.
- Keep the fish in the water. It preserves its protective slime coat.
- Use a hook disgorger to remove hooks in the throat. Do not remove a deep hook, but cut the line just above the lure.
- Use a heavy leader line, which exerts maximum pressure on the fish.
- Gently hold fish in water facing upstream to allow it to gain equilibrium and add oxygen to its blood.
- Release it when it struggles.
