The Dolores River
Below McPhee
is a small clear flowing, classic 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 trout.

Due to poor management, the Dolores has suffered a few set backs the past few years. Low flow releases in the late eighties, the nineties and early two thousands have greatly diminished the quality of this once great fishery. However, the river has rebounded somewhat and with the right outlook and attitude, the river can still give wonderful memories. 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 quiet hushed angler circles.

If you are looking for a challenge, and wish to be in an incredible canyon book a Dolores River guided trip. This is as close to New Zealand as it gets; long casts to large challenging trout.

The Dolores River below McPhee is getting a bit of a face lift to restore trout habitat as well as the health of the river. Click this link for the DOW Dolores project page. DOW

Dolores River
Above McPhee to Rico
The Dolores is a wonderful freestone river with plenty of trout holding runs and pocket water. Fishes well mostly in the summer and fall, however there is some fantastic early season fishing on the Dolores.