Voluntary afternoon closures on fishing the Dolores River were lifted Thursday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced in a news release.
High water temperatures and low water flow exposed trout to stress, which would have been exacerbated by afternoon fishing when water temperatures were higher, it said.
The ban applied to the area below McPhee Reservoir continuing down to Bradfield Bridge, and encouraged anglers to avoid fishing after 12 p.m.
The ongoing drought this year contributed to an “extreme situation” said John Alves, senior aquatic biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The monsoon in the later part of the summer helped, though, he said.
Temperatures are now dipping below the set threshold of 71 degrees, after consistently climbing above this summer.
Water flow is still below normal, but fish are doing OK with a decrease in fishing pressure, the news release said.
Currently, the Dolores River is flowing at 5 cubic feet per second. This is a stark contrast to 70 cfs — the typical flow from McPhee dam in a year with normal snowpacks. The decreased snowpack, dry conditions and a drought-induced stunted reservoir carryover from 2020 contributed to decreased water flow, according to the Dolores Water Conservation District.
The June 24 voluntary closure order was the first of its kind for the Dolores River. Afternoon closure of Tomichi Creek was also lifted Thursday — although it has faced limits in the past, Alves said.
When the water is warmer and thus, lower in oxygen, it’s harder for fish to recover after expending energy fighting.
Alves recommends that anglers still fish in the morning when possible, as it will be easier on the fish when water temperatures are lower outside of warmer afternoon hours.
“Don’t fight the fish to exhaustion and let it go immediately ,” he said.
Additionally, he advised anglers to use barbless hooks and heaver fishing line leaders.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists will survey the river’s fish population below the McPhee Reservoir next week Monday to Thursday, he said.
Water temperatures will continue to drop with the onset of fall.
“Before long, it will be in the 50s,” he said.
