Dolores
River flows, guide reports
and hatches (winter
2010) |
Flows, guide
report and flows
Flow
Below McPhee: 29.5 cfs
Flow above McPhee: (ice)
Flows
above and below McPhee are low and
the river is iced over.
Guide
Activity: spring 2010
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Hatches
Midges, BWOs, PMDs, hoppers and some caddis.
-
Spring:
Midges, BWOs, sculpins
-
Summer:
Midges, BWOs, caddis, may flies,
stones, ants, beetles, hoppers
and
sculpins
-
Fall:
Midges, BWOs, sedge, ants and
sculpins
-
Winter:
Midges and nymphs
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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The
Dolores River
Below McPhee
The "D" 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,
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 hushed trout-bum
circles across the Southwest.
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
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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.
Watch for rattle
snakes. Leave 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 is some
fantastic early season fishing on the Dolores.
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