Now
30°C · Partly cloudy
Today
30° / 17°
Sun
06:34 – 19:19
Moon
Waning Crescent · solunar good
Fishing around Denver
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyDenver-Area Fishing: Early Fall on the South Platte & Mountain Lakes
What's biting
Brown Trout
Where: South Platte River (downtown to Chatfield), mountain lakes above 2400 m (8000 ft)
Fall turnover begins; fish deeper holes and undercut banks in the Platte. Mountain lakes cool rapidly—fish shallower structure early morning. Nymphs (Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear) and small streamers work best.
Caution: South Platte catch-and-release only in most sections; check CPW regs for your specific reach.
Rainbow Trout
Where: Bear Creek, Clear Creek, Chatfield Reservoir, Bear Lake
Cooler water temps (18–21°C) favor active feeding. Spin with small spinners or toss dry flies at dawn. Chatfield Reservoir: troll or cast from shore near dam and inlet.
Caution: Chatfield has a 2-fish limit and size restrictions; verify current regs.
Walleye
Where: Chatfield Reservoir, Cherry Creek Reservoir
Early fall is prime; fish deeper structure (4–7 m / 13–23 ft) at dusk and dawn with live shiners, jigs, or crankbaits. Night fishing often productive.
Caution: Reservoir-specific bag and size limits apply; check CPW before you go.
Largemouth Bass
Where: Cherry Creek Reservoir, Chatfield Reservoir, Bear Lake
Still active in warm shallows but moving to deeper drop-offs. Topwater early/late; switch to soft plastics and jigs mid-day. Weed edges and structure hold fish.
Caution: Largemouth season and limits vary by water; confirm with CPW.
Kokanee Salmon
Where: Mountain reservoirs (Elevenmile, Antero, Tarryall)
Fall spawning run underway; fish deeper (6–12 m / 20–40 ft) with small spoons, jigging, or trolling. Early morning and late evening peak.
Caution: Kokanee season and limits are time-sensitive; check CPW for current dates and closures.
Best times
Early morning (6–9 a.m.) and dusk (6–8 p.m.) as water cools; overcast days and calm mornings before wind picks up (forecast shows gusts to 24–30 km/h mid-week). New moon (Sept 11) may improve low-light feeding.
Waters to try
- South Platte River (downtown to Chatfield), Chatfield Reservoir, Cherry Creek Reservoir, Bear Creek, Clear Creek, Bear Lake, Elevenmile Reservoir, Antero Reservoir, Tarryall Reservoir
Regulations
Colorado Parks & Wildlife sets all season dates, bag limits, size restrictions, and catch-and-release rules by water and species. Visit https://cpw.state.co.us/fishing or call (303) 291-7227 to confirm regs for your target water before fishing. South Platte sections near Denver are catch-and-release only; mountain reservoirs have variable limits.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife ↗The fishing note for Denver, every week
One email, Sunday evening. Unsubscribe anytime.