The Water
Two of the main factors affecting the fish-ability of Catamount to Burns are clarity and water temperature. Numerous tributaries feed into the Colorado above the Catamount Bridge. These tributaries often run through steep, erosive canyons, and tend to flush sediment into the Colorado making it too muddy to fish. It is important to keep a close eye on both the USGS streamflow chart for the gauge in Dotsero and current fishing reports before planning a day trip on this stretch.
Trout tend to be congregated where currents create riffles. Rocky bank structure also holds fish. During hatches even slow tailouts and long pools will have rising fish.
The town of Burns sits just below six and a half thousand feet above sea level, meaning that there can be times during the heat of the summer where the water gets too hot to catch trout safely. Protect fish by wrapping up your day before the water reaches sixty eight degrees.
New oarsmen will find most of this stretch of river to be fairly mild, with a few class I and II rapids that are easily seen and scouted from shore.
Burns
The float ends at a short, unimproved boat ramp just outside the tiny community of Burns, Colorado. Named for the eighteen hundreds era trapper and frontiersman Jack Burns, this little town consists of nothing more than a few houses and trailers, a small church, and a U.S. Post office. Visiting anglers will not find any services here, and should be prepared with plenty of gas, snacks, and tackle.
As always, the best way to experience the Colorado river between Catamount and Burns is on a guided fly fishing trip in a Vail Valley Anglers drift boat loaded with cold drinks and hot flies. Call the shop for more information or to book your trip today.
Andy “Otter” Smith, Guide and Content Writer