Using near-field microscopy, the performance of dielectric-loaded plasmonic waveguide-ring resonators (WRRs) operating at telecom wavelengths is investigated for various waveguide-ring separations. It is demonstrated that compact (footprint approximately 150 microm(2)) and efficient (extinction ratio approximately 13 dB) WRR-based filters can be realized using UV-lithography. The WRR wavelength responses measured and calculated using the effective-index method are found in good agreement.