Upper Taylor: Below Taylor Dam
Upper Taylor: Below Taylor Dam — Fishing Report for April 26, 2026
Quick Stats
Flow: 150 CFS | Trend: Rising sharply (+37.6% in 24h) | Fishability: Good | Weather: Snow showers, high 38°F
The Bite
Snow showers and a high of 38°F — on the Taylor, that's not a reason to stay home. It's a reason to be on the water by noon. Overcast, cold, and unsettled skies are the exact trigger conditions for the river's peak BWO hatch, and April is when this fishery earns its reputation. Expect surface activity to build through the early afternoon as cloud cover holds and light snow suppresses barometric pressure — fish should be looking up between roughly 12 PM and 4 PM if the hatch comes off as conditions suggest.
Flows have jumped sharply — up nearly 38% in the past 24 hours to 150 CFS — likely reflecting early dam management ahead of snowmelt. That said, 150 CFS sits comfortably within the ideal range, and the dam's cold, clear releases mean water clarity should remain good despite the uptick. Worth noting: this is a dry year in the Gunnison basin, with snowpack sitting well below normal. That means the runoff pulse is likely to be modest and shorter-lived than usual, which is actually good news for the Taylor's extended fishable window through spring.
Water temps aren't available from the gauge today, but April tailwater temps on the upper Taylor typically run in the upper 30s to mid-40s°F — cold enough that fish will be slower to commit, but the hatch activity should pull them to the surface. Mornings before the hatch window are better suited to nymphing the deeper slots and seams.
What to Fish
- CDC BWO Emerger #20-22 — Primary dry fly during the afternoon hatch; fish it in the film in the tailouts and slower current edges
- Sparkle Dun BWO #20-22 — Excellent when fish are keying on cripples; trail it behind a Parachute Adams as a dry-dropper indicator if you want to cover both stages
- RS2 (olive) #20-22 — Workhorse nymph for morning sessions; dead-drift through mid-depth seams
- Juju Baetis #20-22 — Highly effective Baetis imitation; pair as a dropper below a Pheasant Tail on point
- Griffith's Gnat #18-20 — Useful during the midge overlap window (10 AM–noon) before BWOs take over
- San Juan Worm (red) #14 — Reliable all-day subsurface option, especially with flows elevated and substrate disturbed
Tactics & Rigging
For the morning nymph session, rig a Pheasant Tail #18 on point as your anchor with a RS2 or Juju Baetis #20-22 trailing 14–16" above on a tag. Use 5X to the anchor, step down to 6X for the dropper. Fish the deeper slots and current seams in the Hog Trough with a drag-free drift — let the flies ride the current column naturally without any swing at the end of the drift.
When the hatch window opens in early afternoon, switch to a single dry or a dry-dropper: a Parachute Adams #18 as your indicator fly with a CDC BWO Emerger or Sparkle Dun dropped 16–18" below on 7X fluorocarbon. Position downstream of rising fish and dial your drift on a clean piece of current before committing your cast. The Taylor's fish are selective — presentation matters far more than pattern here. One clean drag-free drift beats a dozen sloppy ones. If you see fish refusing the dun, drop down to a CDC emerger in the film; they're often taking the bug before it fully hatches.
Access & Logistics
The Hog Trough access off CO-742 is straightforward, but expect company even in cold weather — April BWO season draws serious anglers. Parking at the dam pullout fills early on weekends. Road conditions may be slick with snow today; drive accordingly. The upper 1.7 miles below the dam is catch-and-release only — be aware of the boundary sign and verify current regulations with CPW before fishing.
Stop by Taylor River Fly Shop for flies, local intel, and to support the shops that keep this fishery healthy.
Looking Ahead
Snow showers are in the forecast through Tuesday with overnight lows dropping into the low 20s — expect continued cold, overcast conditions that should sustain the afternoon BWO hatch window for the next several days. Flows may continue to tick upward as dam managers adjust releases, but with a light snow year in the basin, a major runoff event looks unlikely — the Taylor should stay in fishable shape well into May.