The
Dolores River
The
Dolores River is a classic clear flowing stream that
flows out from McPhee Reservoir before heading downstream
into the slickrock country of Utah. The valley is
rimmed by scrub oak and Ponderosa pines and guarded
by large sandstone formations. The river banks are
lined by old Cottonwood trees and on any given day
you can run across deer, elk, wild turkeys, mountain
lions or rattle snakes. And if you're lucky, maybe
a feisty brown, rainbow or cutthroat trout.
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Dolores
River flows, guide
reports and hatches
7-20-10 (if this
date is from months
or years ago, just
click refresh in
your browser)
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Flows
and Guide Report
80 CFS and very
low and clear.
Lots of rattlesnakes
this season,
so keep a keen
eye out for buzzworms.
Summer
flows below McPhee:
60-80 CFS
Summer flows
above McPhee:
150 to 300+
CFS
Dolores
Water | Flows |
Buzzworm Story
Guide
Activity:
Will, Chris
Guide Report
June 3 2010
Guide:
Will Blanchard
Section: Floated
McPhee to Bradfield
Weather: Sun
and and hot| AM temps 72 F
| PM temps 91 F
Hatches: PMDs
Fishing:
Great fishing day.
A couple big fish, a couple small ones, good hatch of PMDs and coyotes barking
and howling at the afternoon sun. Long, but fun day.
Guide
Report: May 12th 2010
Fishing was good to OK. Some
nice fish and few small guys
looking
for caddis and mayflies. Lots
of snakes (buzzworms) near
the dam.
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Hatches
Midges, BWOs, caddis and PMDs near the dam. Terrestrials are always king
on the "D".
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Spring:
Midges, BWOs, caddis,
some stones, sculpins
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Summer:
Midges, BWOs, caddis,
may flies, stones,
ants, beetles, hoppers,
sculpins
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Fall:
Midges, BWOs, sedge,
ants and sculpins
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Winter:
Midges and various
nymphs and small
aquatic worms
Insects
and food in the system:
Caddis pupa (both cased and free) caddis larva, midge larva and pupa, mayfly
nymphs, snails, stones, eggs, worms and sculpins.
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Predictions
and forecast
The
Dolores did have a high
flow season! These increases
in flow are very important
for the health of the river.
The silt, ash and fire debris
that was a result of last
years fire near Bradfield
Bridge has been moved downstream.
Yahoo! Flows will be around
70 to 80 CFS most of the
summer. |
Dolores
details
Below
McPhee
The "D" is technical river that continues to challenge our guests
as well as us guides. This is fun fishery for anglers fishing solo and looking
for a challenge. This fishery has had its fair share of tough years, but has
managed to rebound pretty well over the past couple years. AvA guides 12 miles
of the catch and release waters below the dam and the 19 miles of BLM land
below Bradfield Bridge. The upper 12 miles of catch and release waters consist
of DOW land and a small section of Forest Service.
Due
to poor management, the
Dolores has suffered
a few set backs the past
few years. Low flow releases
in the late eighties,
nineties and early two
thousands have greatly
diminished the quality
of this once great fishery.
However, the river has
rebounded to some degree.
This river is not for
the angler The fish can
be fairly challenging
at times, but with persistence
and a decent presentation,
anglers can get into
a few fish.
Fish
size does vary, with
10 to 20 inch fish possible.
Don't expect high numbers
of hookups, but there
are days an angler can
entice 10 or 12 fish
to the fly. Fabled fish
stories continue to surface
from the Big D, modern
tales of trout 23 plus
inches long and deep
bodied are heard in hushed
trout-bum circles across
the Southwest.
Watch
for rattle snakes. Most
days on the Dolores will
be good for a sighting
or two. Might consider
leaving the hounds at home.
Dolores
River
Above
McPhee to Rico
The Dolores is a wonderful freestone river with plenty of holding water. Fishes
well in the summer and fall, however there can be some fantastic early season
fishing on the Dolores in this section.
Guided
Fly Fishing on the
Dolores River
Animas
Valley Anglers offers guided
wade trips on 31 miles
of river below McPhee Reservoir
and 8 miles near Rico and
Dolores Colorado. We also
float guide the upper section
when flows allow.
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