Dolores River Fly Fishing Report
Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir. Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 50–275 cfs (FlyGuysNLies). Live gauge data below updates automatically.
What's swimming in the Dolores River
- CPW's body-of-water page for the McPhee Dam-to-Ferris Campground tailwater reach describes a quality Rainbow and Brown Trout fishery, artificial flies and lures only, catch-and-release, with no limit on warmwater species (CPW Dolores River).
- Duranglers reports fish typically running 12 to 16 inches with some over 20 inches, and notes an increasing share of Brown Trout in the tailwater (Duranglers).
- SportFishingReport lists Rainbow, Brown, Cutbow and Mountain Whitefish present below McPhee (SportFishingReport).
- No Gold Medal designation was found for this reach.
Rivers and creeks that flow into the Dolores River
9 hold fish on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's records, listed from the headwaters down. Open one for where to fish and its rules.
-
North Twin Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
About it
It joins the Dolores River about 8 miles NE of Rico. It flows year-round along most of its length.
-
Roaring Forks Creek Cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
San Juan National Forest
CPW access point · Difficult access
CPW special rules
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
About it
It joins the Dolores River about 8 miles SW of Rico. It flows year-round.
-
Rio Lado Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
CPW special rules
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
About it
It joins the Dolores River about 9 miles SW of Rico. It flows year-round.
-
Bear Creek Rainbow and cutthroat trout, plus 1 other species
Where to fish
San Juan National Forest
CPW access point · Difficult access
CPW special rules
From the headwaters downstream to the confluence with the Dolores River
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Bag and possession limit for trout is 2.
About it
It joins the Dolores River about 12 miles SW of Rico. It flows year-round. CPW also records cutbows.
-
Stoner Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
San Juan National Forest
CPW access point · Difficult access
About it
It joins the Dolores River about 13 miles NE of Dolores. It flows year-round.
-
West Dolores River Brown and rainbow trout
Where to fish
San Juan National Forest
CPW access point · Easy access · Stocked with catchable and young trout
About it
It joins the Dolores River about 11 miles NE of Dolores. It flows year-round.
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Lost Canyon Creek Cutthroat and brook trout, plus 1 other species
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 25 miles up the creek · Forest Road 560, high-clearance, open Jun 1 to Nov 14
About it
It joins the Dolores River at Dolores. It flows year-round. CPW also records cutbows.
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San Miguel River Brown, rainbow and brook trout, plus 2 other species
Where to fish
San Miguel SWA
CPW access point · Easy access · Stocked with young trout
CPW special rules
Special CPW rules apply on parts of it; its guide lists them.
About it
It joins the Dolores River about 7 miles NE of Bedrock. It flows year-round. CPW also records channel catfish and green sunfish.
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West Creek Brown and rainbow trout
Where to fish
Bureau of Land Management
CPW access point · Easy access · Stocked with young trout
CPW special rules
From the Colo 141 Bridge downstream 5 miles to the confluence of Ute Creek
- Bag and possession limit for trout is 2.
About it
It joins the Dolores River at Gateway. It flows year-round along most of its length.
Show 39 more named tributaries (no CPW fish data)
These also flow straight into the Dolores River. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has no fish data for them; some may still hold fish.
- South Twin Creek
- Snow Spur Creek
- Slate Creek
- Barlow Creek
- Coke Oven Creek
- Coal Creek
- Truby Creek
- McJunkin Creek
- Marguerite Creek
- Horse Creek
- Silver Creek
- Sulphur Creek
- Burnett Creek
- Scotch Creek
- Roberts Creek
- Fall Creek
- Ryman Creek
- Wildcat Creek
- Tenderfoot Creek
- Taylor Creek
- House Creek
- Plateau Creek
- Beaver Creek
- Canyon Creek
- Glade Creek
- Disappointment Creek
- Nicholas Wash
- Big Gypsum Creek
- Little Gypsum Creek
- Leach Creek
- Coyote Wash
- La Sal Creek
- East Paradox Creek
- West Paradox Creek
- Mesa Creek
- Roc Creek
- Blue Creek
- Salt Creek
- John Brown Creek
Species and special rules are Colorado Parks and Wildlife's. Statewide rules apply everywhere. Before you fish, check land ownership, CPW's current regulations and its temporary closures for drought and low water.
How we pick these
Species are CPW's records from its Fishing Atlas. A creek missing from this list may still hold fish; CPW simply has no record for it. The list runs in the order each one joins the Dolores River, from the headwaters down, and "joins" names the nearest town to where it does on the same side of the mountains: a Census place, or a town with its own post office. Flow is how USGS maps each channel, not a live reading.
Special rules are the ones CPW writes for each creek in its Fishing Atlas. Rules CPW writes for the river itself, such as closures around a creek's mouth, are not repeated on the creek, and no directions lead into water CPW closes all year.
A national forest stretch is one that both the Forest Service's and BLM's ownership maps show as national forest for at least half a mile of the creek, with a road on the Forest Service's motor vehicle map within 500 feet; directions go to that road. Maps can be wrong and road seasons change. Away from CPW access points, check land ownership before you fish.
Getting to the Dolores River
- Lone Dome State Wildlife Area, CPW, Montezuma County (1,724 acres) -- fishing, hunting, hiking; no camping on the property, overnight parking only in designated areas (CPW).
- Bradfield Recreation Site, BLM Tres Rios Field Office -- 17 camping spurs, one fully ADA-accessible site, day-use picnic area, free day use (BLM). Bradfield Bridge marks the downstream end of the flies-and-lures reach below.
- Dolores River Special Recreation Management Area, BLM -- named river access at Bradfield Bridge, Mountain Sheep Point, and Gypsum Valley; boatable releases (when they happen at all) generally fall mid-April to mid-June (BLM).
- McPhee Dam downstream ~11 miles to Bradfield Bridge: artificial flies and lures only, trout returned to the water immediately. Bradfield Bridge downstream to the state line: no bag/possession limit on brown trout (CPW special regulations). CPW has repeatedly asked anglers not to fish below McPhee Dam after noon during low-flow stretches, most recently in July 2026 alongside the Animas and San Juan (CPW news).
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What’s hatching on the Dolores River
7 insects, from the published hatch charts of 1 fly shop, guides and fishing sites. Tap an insect to see where its dates come from. Every river, month by month →
Blue-Winged Olives (BWO)Apr 2 – May 17 and Aug 17 – Nov 1 · hook #16–222 sources
MidgesApr 2 – Dec 1 · hook #16–241 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Midges (various)”: Apr 2 – Dec 1 · #16-24
StonefliesApr 2 – May 17 · hook #14–201 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Early Brown Stonefly”: Apr 2 – May 17 · #14-20
CaddisJun 17 – Sep 16 · hook #10–221 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Caddis (various)”: Jun 17 – Sep 16 · #10-22
Yellow SalliesJun 17 – Aug 17 · hook #14–181 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Little Yellow Stonefly”: Jun 17 – Aug 17 · #14-18
Hoppers & terrestrialsJul 2 – Sep 16 · hook #8–201 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Terrestrials (various)”: Jul 2 – Sep 16 · #8-20
Pale Morning Duns (PMD)Jul 2 – Aug 17 · hook #16–201 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Pale Morning Dun”: Jul 2 – Aug 17 · #16-20
Some sources list only months, not days, so treat the dates as a guide and check conditions before you go.
6 fly pairings from real fishing reports
Browse 50 public pairings across the library. A Free account unlocks 5 more of your choice.
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Fly shops on the Dolores River
Dolores River fly fishing questions
What is a good flow (cfs) to fish the Dolores River?
Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 50–275 cfs on the Dolores River (FlyGuysNLies). TroutTips shows the live current reading against this range so you can check before you go.
Is the Dolores River designated Gold Medal water?
No, the Dolores River does not currently carry Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Gold Medal water designation.
What flies work on the Dolores River?
TroutTips tracks 6 fly pairings reported specifically on the Dolores River, each tied to a season and a real source. See the Fly Pairings section on this page for the full list.
Are there fly shops near the Dolores River?
Yes, Duranglers Flies & Supplies, The San Juan Angler, Telluride Angler / Telluride Outside, Telluride Fly Fishers, Rio Epic Outfitters guide this river. See the Nearby Fly Shops section on this page for details.