Telluride Outside

The Dolores is one of what this outfitter calls its four classic trout rivers, the others being the San Miguel, the Uncompahgre and the Lower Gunnison, and those are supplemented by alpine creeks and by Miramonte Reservoir. Its own homepage imagery is captioned as fly fishing the upper Dolores near Telluride, which places the work on the headwater reaches rather than on the tailwater below the dam. Alongside public water it sells guided access to leased ranch beats, and its private water page describes the Lightenburger Ranch as among the most naturally gifted stretches of the entire river; a Rico River Ranch appears in the same lineup, Rico being the upper Dolores mining town. Half-day walk and wade trips run from 435 to 745 dollars depending on party size and full days from 635 to 910, with a rod fee on top for private water quoted at 140 dollars per rod on most ranches. Trips include hands-on instruction, streamside lunch on full days, and the guide’s choice of where to fish. Rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout are the targets.