John Alves, Colorado Department of Wildlife, CPW, senior aquatic biologist, recalls fishing the Dolores River back in the early 1980s when the McPhee Reservoir had just been built. He describes the stretch of river just below the dam as the classic tailwater and remembers landing trout on RS2s.
He said it is still a great fishery where it is possible to land a good-sized brown trout, however a historic drought, combined with hot summer days, is threatening the famed fishery. For the first time in history, the CPW placed a voluntary fishing closure on the Dolores River from McPhee Reservoir to Bradfield Bridge.
“The Dolores River is a local favorite tailwater fishery with quality-size brown and rainbow trout,” said Jim White, a Durango area aquatic biologist, in a press release. “We know that anglers care deeply about this fishery and we need their help to conserve this resource.”
The CPW asks anglers to self-regulate fishing due to extremely low flows and concerns about warm water temperatures. The voluntary closure is from noon through the remainder of the day on the river located in southwest Colorado. Alves said they took quick action to limit fishing on the river to preserve the great fishery that exists.
Temperatures in certain parts of the country are so high that the Department of Wildlife is asking anglers not to fish some rivers at all. The Yampa River in Colorado is currently on a mandatory full-day fishing closure. Alves said they are keeping a close eye on other angling streams such as the Animas and the Rio Grande in case more closures are needed.
Extreme Heat
Colorado is just an example of what the western half of the United States is facing right now. Summer and heat go together like fishing and a cold beer, but this summer, from Montana to Oregon, there are extreme heatwaves coupled with severe drought conditions — two factors that every responsible angler should take into consideration, not just when landing a fish, but also when considering if they should fish to begin with.
Due to the ongoing drought throughout much of the west, rivers are facing closures to help preserve the fish’s health. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks have instituted what is known as “hoot owl” restrictions for many rivers, which means fishing is closed from 2 p.m. to midnight each day. Some waters are under full-day fishing closures and will remain in place until the heat dissipates. As of July more than a dozen closures were in place, including a full closure on portions of the East Gallatin River and a hoot owl for parts of the Shields River.
Oregon Fish and Wildlife have instituted its hoot owl conditions from 2 p.m. to one hour before sunrise for several rivers through Sept. 30. The restrictions are for all angling for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and trout. The restrictions cover the Willamette, Clackamas and Santiam Rivers among others.
The CPW reports that the Dolores River is flowing far below its historic flows for this time of year. Towards the end of June heading into July, flows averaged 10 cubic feet per second, CFS. Last winter’s snowfall, which was less than 83 percent of average in the Dolores Basin, is part of the reason for the decline, which is expected to be 90 percent less water than normal. As of July, Montezuma County, which is home to McPhee Reservoir was in severe drought conditions.
Low water is only part of the issue for fish; the other concern is hot temperatures. In June, a “Heat Dome” settled over much of the country and sent temperatures into the triple digits in some areas. Looking to the historic closure of the Dolores, temperatures hit 75 degrees at times in the river, according to CPW, which is unhealthy for the trout population.
This accounts for the closure times, noon throughout the rest of the day, which is when the river is the hottest. Rivers cool overnight and limiting fishing to the morning helps protect fish.
“This is the first time we’ve made this kind of voluntary-action request on the Dolores. It’s not something we like to do, but it’s the right thing to do and we hope anglers will join us in this conservation effort,” said Alves.
Despite the extreme heat and calls from local anglers to enact fishing restrictions like other states in the west, Idaho Fish and Game has opted not to close rivers to fishing to date this summer. In a press release, Idaho State Fisheries Manager Joe Kozfkay stated that trout are resilient and that even extreme weather rarely has a long-term impact on populations.
No Fish Dry July
After the river flow rates and the temperature of a river, the third consideration responsible anglers should consider is the catch and release method. The less time spent fighting a fish on the hook and handling it during hot days, the better. CPW notes that even if fish look unharmed when they swim away, they expend a lot of energy when they are caught and recovery is hard in low, warm waters.
It’s with this in mind that the nonprofit organization Keep Fish Wet, which is dedicated to helping anglers improve the outcome of each fish they catch, named July “No Fish Dry July,” encouraging all anglers to not photograph fish.
Recognizing the extreme drought and water temperatures, Keep Fish Wet encouraged anglers to post other artful shots showcasing love for the sport of fly fishing. They even sweetened the pot for the fish-less shots by offering prizes for photos posted with the hashtag “NOFISHDRYJULY.”
As temperatures continue to rise, voluntary and mandatory closures on other rivers throughout the west are likely. However, responsible anglers should know when it’s safe for fish to take a fly and act accordingly. If we take care of the fish population, they, in turn, take care of us and the amazing sport of fly fishing will continue for generations to come.
Reference guide on water temperatures and fishing
- Below 65 degrees Fahrenheit (F)
- Fish away! Fish are healthy and ready to feed. You can fish with proper catch and release techniques.
- Between 65 – 68 degrees F
- Trout are feeling the heat. Land fish quickly and keep them in the water, skip photos and release ASAP.
- Above 68 degrees F
- Trout are feeling the burn. It’s too hot to safely fish at this temperature so cut them a break and wait until things cool down.
*Source: Colorado Trout Unlimited
