Colorado Fishing Reports ยท San Juan & Dolores Basin
Through the town of Dolores, the river runs fast and cold toward McPhee Reservoir, with stocked rainbows and wild browns.
Looking for the latest Dolores River (town section) river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Dolores River (town section).
Current flows
Heads up: Major flooding hit southwest Colorado on November 1 and 2. Expect high, dirty water and check road conditions before you drive.
Wind forecast
Dolores River (town section) fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The November 1 and 2 storms caused major flooding across southwest Colorado. The gauge at Dolores shows about 1,180 cfs, many times normal for November.
Stay off this stretch for now. For fishable water nearby, try right below McPhee Dam, which is staying clearer.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Town of Dolores, bring: Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-18, Hare', s Ear Nymph #12-16, Pat', s Rubber Legs #8-10, Woolly Bugger #8, Elk Hair Caddis #14-16, Zebra Midge #18-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Dolores River (town section) details
| Access | Town parks and pullouts along Highway 145. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 6,950 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 390 miles, roughly 8 hours 53 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Spring, summer and fall |
| Fish | Brown and rainbow trout |
| Regulations | Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X to 5X tippet |
| Camping | Campgrounds near McPhee Reservoir |
| Kids | Yes at the town parks when flows are normal. |
| Good to know | Check flows before you go. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold and slow.
Spring
Runoff.
Summer
Caddis and attractors.
Fall
Browns and streamers.
How to get there
Take US-160 to Cortez, then Highway 145 to the town of Dolores.