Fishing near Aurora, Colorado
Arapahoe County, population 386,261.
- 5 milesto nearest lake
- 4ramps nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
Where Aurora anglers go
Aurora, a city in Arapahoe County, had 386,261 residents in 2020. The closest lake page is Quincy Reservoir, some 5 miles to the southwest. Cherry Creek Reservoir covers 881 acres, more than any other lake here. The nearest CPW boat ramp is Quincy Reservoir boat ramp, 5 miles away.
A 15 miles drive reaches the South Platte River. The South Platte River, 15 miles away, carries the nearest Gold Medal reach. Winter anglers have 2 lakes below marked for ice fishing. CPW listed nearby lakes and streams 37 times on its stocking report since 2024.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Aurora; distances are straight lines.
Lakes near Aurora
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quincy Reservoir | 5 miles southwest | 127 | 5,717 | no motors, trout stocked | black crappie, largemouth bass, rainbow trout |
| Aurora Reservoir | 7 miles southeast | 763 | 5,934 | ice fishing, no motors, trout stocked | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Exposition Park Pond | 7 miles west | 4 | 5,463 | no boats | |
| Cherry Creek Reservoir | 8 miles southwest | 881 | 5,550 | ice fishing, gas motors, trout stocked | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Garland Pk Lake | 11 miles west | 3 | 5,379 | no boats | |
| City Park Lake | 13 miles west | 22 | 5,265 | no boats, trout stocked |
Rivers near Aurora
- South Platte River15 miles, Gold Medal 24.1 mi; 9 reaches with special rules (45.2 mi); 7 public access properties; on the stocking report
CPW Fishing Atlas waterbodies and Boatable Waters species; CPW special-regulation and Gold Medal stream layers. Retrieved October 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The water around Aurora, mapped
- Quincy Reservoir boat rampQuincy Reservoir, 5 miles
- Aurora Reservoir boat rampAurora Reservoir, 7 miles
- East Ramp on Cherry Creek ReservoirCherry Creek Reservoir, 8 miles
- West Ramp on Cherry Creek ReservoirCherry Creek Reservoir, 9 miles
Walk-in fishing near Aurora
- Quincy Reservoir fishing access near Foxfield, Quincy Reservoir Natural Area 2Quincy Reservoir, 5 miles
- Quincy Reservoir fishing access near Foxfield, Quincy Reservoir Natural AreaQuincy Reservoir, 6 miles
- Aurora Reservoir fishing access near Foxfield, Aurora Reservoir And Marina 2Aurora Reservoir, 7 miles
- Aurora Reservoir fishing access near Foxfield, Aurora Reservoir And MarinaAurora Reservoir, 7 miles
- Exposition Park Pond fishing access near Four Square MileExposition Park Pond, 7 miles
- Cherry Creek Reservoir fishing access near Four Square MileCherry Creek Reservoir, 8 miles
CPW boat ramps and Fishing Atlas fishing locations, retrieved October 2026.
Catchable trout near Aurora
| Water | Listings | By year | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek Reservoir | 11 | 2026: 4, 2025: 5, 2024: 2 | Oct. 16, 2026 |
| Aurora Reservoir | 9 | 2026: 3, 2025: 3, 2024: 3 | July 3, 2026 |
| South Platte River | 11 | 2026: 1, 2025: 7, 2024: 3 | June 5, 2026 |
| Quincy Reservoir | 6 | 2026: 2, 2025: 2, 2024: 2 | May 29, 2026 |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout, about 10 inches; each listing is a week the water appeared on the report, 2024 to October 2026); CPW publishes no numbers or sizes per water. Retrieved October 2026.
Gauge stations a short drive from Aurora
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Toll Gate Creek Above 6th Ave At Aurora, Co | 12 cfs, 3.70 ft gage height | Oct 26 5:15 pm |
| Cherry Creek Below Cherry Creek Lake, Co | 13 cfs, 4.50 ft gage height | Oct 26 5:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 26, 2026 5:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Tackle and guides for Aurora
Fly shops and bait stores around Aurora
- D's Flyesbait and tackle shop, Centennial, 7 miles
- Valley Country Tacklebait and tackle shop, Aurora, 7 miles
- Cherry Creek Reservoir Marinamarina, Arapahoe, 9 miles
- Mystic Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Denver, 10 miles
- Alpine Tackle Supplybait and tackle shop, Centennial, 10 miles
- Marina at Cherry Creekmarina, Englewood, 10 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Parkersporting goods store, Parker, 10 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Denversporting goods store, Denver, 11 miles
Paid guides within reach of Aurora
- Ascent Fly Guides LLCfly fishing guide, Littleton
- Colorado Fly Fishing Outfittersfly fishing guide, Littleton
- Colorado Trout Hunters LLCfishing guide, Littleton
- Fish on Coloradofishing guide, Centennial
- Fishboy303, LLCfishing guide, Englewood
- Mile High Angler LLCfishing guide, Centennial
Yellow Pages listings and chain store locators; DORA outfitter roster (business city or county). Retrieved October 2026.
Record-book water around Aurora
| Species | Record | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Muskie | 40-2.0 (lbs.-ozs.) | Quincy Reservoir | 1994 |
| Tiger Muskie | 58 inches in | Quincy Reservoir | |
| Smallmouth Bass | 6-11.0 (lbs.-ozs.) | Aurora Reservoir | 2011 |
| Channel Catfish | 43-10.1 (lbs.-ozs.) | Aurora Reservoir | 2010 |
| White Sucker | 5-6.7 (lbs.-ozs.) | Aurora Reservoir | 2011 |
| Wiper | 29.00 in | Aurora Reservoir | 2025 |
State records as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027).
CPW limits near Aurora
Budget $44.87 (adult resident), $124.01 (nonresident) or $12.96 (resident senior) for a season of fishing in Colorado. Day licenses are $18.07 and $21.90, resident price first. Run a second line only with the $14.24 second-rod stamp. Near Aurora the chart rows for the east slope apply.
| Species | Limit | 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 |
| 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 | Daily bag 20, possession 20 | 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 |
Statewide limits chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10. Lake and stream pages list special regulations.
Neighbors of Aurora
Communities within reach of Aurora
- Four Square Mile9 miles
- Denver9 miles
- Cherry Creek10 miles
- Dove Valley11 miles
- Centennial11 miles
Aurora and the counties around it
- Arapahoe CountyCPW Northeast Region
A Piscifun kit for days on Aurora
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A photo lineup of the fish at Aurora
Photo: Purefury182, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Mike Cline, Public domain
Day trips out of Aurora: the usual questions
Which lake can Aurora anglers reach first?
Quincy Reservoir, 5 miles southwest.
Which ramp do Aurora boaters use?
Quincy Reservoir boat ramp, roughly 5 miles off.
Where can a Aurora angler fish without a boat?
Closest: Quincy Reservoir fishing access near Foxfield, Quincy Reservoir Natural Area 2, 5 miles (accessible fishing area).
Is there a bait counter within a short drive of Aurora?
D's Flyes, about 7 miles off.
Which Gold Medal stream is nearest Aurora?
The South Platte River, 15 miles away, with 24.1 Gold Medal miles.
What county holds Aurora?
Arapahoe County covers it.
Is there winter fishing near Aurora?
Aurora Reservoir, 7 miles away, is flagged for ice fishing in the CPW notes; check ice conditions locally.
Is there a closed season near Aurora?
All year, around the clock, apart from named closures.
What does a nonresident license cost for a Aurora trip?
A nonresident year is $124.01; the five-day license is $41.04 and one day $21.90.
Does CPW stock lakes near Aurora?
Yes; nearby waters appear 37 times on the CPW catchable trout report since 2024, most recently Cherry Creek Reservoir on Oct. 16, 2026.
Try the streams around Aurora
Check the lake page for special regulations.