Topos and other maps: USGS Doe Canyon, Yellow Jacket, Trimble Point 7.5 quads, and USFS San Juan National Forest.
Location: Southwestern Colorado below McPhee Reservoir west of Durango.
Description: Tailwater below reservoir; freestone above. This 12-mile tailwater has long, wide, still glides and pools, plenty of tricky crosscurrents, some pocket water around boulders and submerged rocks, lots of slack water, and some nice runs.
Directions: Travel west from Durango on Highway 160 about 60 miles to Cortez. Take Highway 666 north past the hamlet of Pleasant View, follow the signs, then turn right to CR 16, then turn north (left). Veer right toward river and cross Bradfield Bridge over the Dolores. Lone Dome Road runs along the north side of the river 11 miles to the dam.
Lodging, camping: In nearby Cortez, Mountain View Bed and Breakfast (970-882-7861) and the Holiday Inn Express (970-565-6000) are pleasant enough. Campgrounds in the area include the McPhee Reservoir Recreation Complex (on the Mistix Reservation system 800-280-CAMP) at the entrance to the lake. House Creek Campground is one mile east of Dolores. A private campground is Priest Gulch Campground and RV Park (970-562-3810) on the East Fork of the Dolores River northeast of Dolores. The upper Dolores forks each have riverside campgrounds. Several are on the Mistix system but there are plenty of campsites along the way for first-come, first-served. For more information, call the San Juan National Forest (970-882-7296).
Accesses: The Dolores has much public access but anglers must be aware of private property above and below the reservoir. Anglers will have no problem accessing the Dolores even in winter when the gate closes. There are campgrounds & picnic areas all along the road. The road follows the river. And the upper forks are also easily accessed since they parallel roads.
Season: Year-round but summer heat puts fishing off. Best in fall and winter.
Tackle: 8=- to 9-foot rod for 4- to 6-weight lines. Neoprene chest waders are preferable most of the year. Felt-soled wading boots are a must. Hip waders are useful when the water is low.
Flies: Brassie, Yellow Sally 1416, Annelid, Olive Comparadun, Pheasant Tail, Disco Midge, Midge Cluster, Griffiths Gnat, Midge larva and pupa 1824, WD-40, Chocolate Emerger, Elk Hair Caddis 1218, Caddis larva 1824, Caddis pupa 1824, Golden stoneflies 812, Irresistible 1418, Royal Wulff 1218, Royal Trude 1218, Blue Winged Olive 1622, Pale Morning Duns 1622, Brown Drake 1014, Sculpin 26, Stonefly nymphs 612, Midge Adult 1826, Hopper 810, Stimulator 1216, Hare's Ear nymph 1018, Comparaduns 1824, Thorax patterns 1824, Pheasant Tail 1622, Halfback 68, Crawfish 48, RS2 Emerger 1622, Muddler Minnow 48, Zonker 48, Emergers 1622, Light Spruce 26.
Regulations: From Bradfield Bridge to McPhee Dam for 11 miles, anglers must only use artificial lures and flies, catch and release only.
Species of game fish: Snake River and Colorado River cutthroat, brown, rainbow trout (browns have a self-repopulating population). The river is supplemented with fingerling plantings. The browns and rainbows are now the predominant fish the angler will catch.
Hazards: None.
Highlights: Additional miles of fishery could be added if a proposed reservoir is impounded on the river. The lower Dolores offers solitary winter angling, abundant wildlife sightings, and challenging angling in nearspring creek conditions. This was once one of the top tailwater fisheries in the West but mismanagement has severely affected the quality of the trout population. Nevertheless, the fishing experience of angling in such extreme surroundings is still top-notch.
Scenery: Spectacular high-desert canyon.
Navigable: Not applicable for anglers.
Other: Gate is closed to protect wintering elk herds but anglers may still park and walk in.
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