Fishing at Near Draw Reservoir, Dolores County, Colorado

• Overview

  Near Draw Reservoir lies in Dolores County, in Colorado. Mixed woodland runs right down to the water. Small enough that any disturbance crosses the whole surface. Most waters listed here for Dolores County are larger. Cortez at 28 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Albuquerque is 214 miles off. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Near Draw Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Dolores County, recorded fish include black-spotted cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Near Draw Reservoir gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 64°F and January reads 25°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. That is the shape of the year on Near Draw Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Narraguinnep Reservoir, 2.4 miles out. For Near Draw Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.