McPhee Reservoir Fishing
A 4,289-acre Colorado reservoir in Montezuma County at 6,927 feet.
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A quick portrait of McPhee Reservoir
Measured from the CPW water layer, McPhee Reservoir is a reservoir of some 4,289 acres in Montezuma County. Expect thin air: this water sits near 6,927 feet. The surrounding property is San Juan National Forest, per CPW. Dolores is the nearest Census place to the shore, near 5 miles off. Fisheries staff of the CPW Southwest Region oversee it.
The CPW species field names bluegill, brown trout, common carp, black crappie, kokanee salmon and largemouth bass. Craft permitted, per CPW: Motor boats (gasoline). Atlas notes: easy to reach, medium pressure. On ice: ice fishing listed as no.
The state posts a fish consumption advisory for McPhee Reservoir: CDPHE advisory.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Listed fish for McPhee Reservoir, each linked where Colorado has a species page.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Ramp access for McPhee Reservoir
For McPhee Reservoir, the ramp layer is empty; nearby ramps are listed.
Mapped access at McPhee Reservoir
- McPhee Reservoir fishing access near Doloreseasy access, stocked: catchable trout, sub-catchables and warmwater, 6,927 ft
Boat ramps in reach of McPhee Reservoir
- House Creek Ramp on Narraguinnep ReservoirNarraguinnep Reservoir, 1 mile south
- McPhee Ramp on Narraguinnep ReservoirNarraguinnep Reservoir, 2 miles south
- Narraguinnep Reservoir SWANarraguinnep Reservoir, 6 miles southwest
- Puett Reservoir SWAPuett Reservoir, 11 miles southeast
- Summit Reservoir SWASummit Reservoir, 11 miles southeast
- Totten Reservoir SWATotten Reservoir, 12 miles south
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Level telemetry for McPhee Reservoir
Bureau of Reclamation (Station cooperator) storage telemetry for Mcphee Reservoir (station MCPRESCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Low storage at McPhee Reservoir can leave ramps high and dry late in summer.
Limits a warden checks at McPhee Reservoir
| Species | Bag and possession | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee) | Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Brook trout 8 inches or less (bonus) | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Kokanee salmon | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Walleye, saugeye and sauger | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Smallmouth bass | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White bass, striped bass and wiper | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Channel, flathead and blue catfish | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White and black crappie | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Bluegill and other sunfish | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Yellow perch | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Tiger muskie | Daily bag 1, possession 1; at least 36 inches long | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Northern pike and bullhead | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
For the statewide limits chart, McPhee Reservoir counts as west of the Continental Divide water. Unless listed in the brochure special regulations, McPhee Reservoir follows the statewide chart.
Local fishing rules at McPhee Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| McPhee Reservoir | Largemouth and smallmouth bass 10–15 inches long must be returned to the water immediately. No bag or possession limit for walleye. Snagging kokanee permitted Sept. 1–Dec. 31. | p. 27 |
Special regulations as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 11 to 39, checked against CPW Chapter W-1 (as approved 13 November 2025); retrieved October 2026.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Stocking report listings for McPhee Reservoir
McPhee Reservoir appears 2 listings on the CPW trout report, most recently April 24, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| April 24, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| March 29, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout of about 10 inches; the date is when CPW added the water to its weekly list), 2024 to October 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026. Colorado stocking.
Nearby water compared with McPhee Reservoir
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McPhee Reservoir | 4,289 | 6,927 | 0 | yes | |
| Narraguinnep Reservoir | 5 miles southwest | 533 | 6,684 | 3 | |
| Twin Spruce Ponds | 9 miles east | 35 | 7,292 | 0 | yes |
| Puett Reservoir | 11 miles southeast | 155 | 7,272 | 1 | |
| Totten Reservoir | 12 miles south | 225 | 6,153 | 1 | |
| Summit Reservoir | 12 miles southeast | 279 | 7,389 | 1 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Within a short drive of McPhee Reservoir
Further reservoirs a short haul from McPhee Reservoir
- Narraguinnep Reservoir5 miles southwest
- Twin Spruce Ponds9 miles east
- Puett Reservoir11 miles southeast
- Totten Reservoir12 miles south
- Summit Reservoir12 miles southeast
Tackle counters on the way to McPhee Reservoir
- Doc's Marina McPheemarina, Dolores, 9 miles
- On the Hook Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Cortez, 13 miles
Where to stay for a McPhee Reservoir trip
- Cortez13 miles
- Mancos19 miles
Which county pages list McPhee Reservoir
- Montezuma Countyseat: Cortez
Piscifun reels and grips for McPhee Reservoir
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A camera tour of the water by McPhee Reservoir
Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain
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Photo: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
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Straight answers about McPhee Reservoir
Which CPW region covers McPhee Reservoir?
The outline falls in Montezuma County, CPW Southwest Region, about 5 miles from Dolores.
How many acres does the CPW outline give McPhee Reservoir?
Around 4,289 acres of water, at about 6,927 feet.
Does McPhee Reservoir have a CPW-mapped boat ramp?
None on file; see the nearby list.
Which fish does CPW list at McPhee Reservoir?
Fish on the list: bluegill, brown trout, common carp, black crappie, kokanee salmon, largemouth bass and rainbow trout.
Are there extra rules at McPhee Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. It has its own brochure entry too, printed above.
Is a second-rod stamp needed at McPhee Reservoir?
Fishing two lines at once takes the $14.24 second-rod stamp on top of the license; adult residents pay $44.87 for the license and nonresidents $124.01.
Are catchable trout released into McPhee Reservoir?
Stocking report: 2 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2026, 1 in 2024); latest April 24, 2026.
Is there a fly shop near McPhee Reservoir?
Drive about 9 miles to Doc's Marina McPhee.
Is there a level gauge at McPhee Reservoir?
Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry report it; see above.
Is McPhee Reservoir fished through the ice?
CPW shows ice fishing listed as no; carry picks and test thickness.
Circle a weekend for McPhee Reservoir
Check the bag before a fish goes on the stringer.