Fishing near Denver, Colorado
Denver County, population 715,522.
- 4 milesto nearest lake
- 5ramps nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Craig Talbert, CC BY 2.0
Fishing from Denver
Denver is a city in Denver County with 715,522 residents at the 2020 Census. Nearest still water with a page: City Park Lake, 4 miles west. For launching, West Ramp on Cherry Creek Reservoir is 9 miles out.
The South Platte River, roughly 9 miles out, is the nearest river or creek page. Drive about 9 miles to reach Gold Medal water on the South Platte River. Stocking report listings near town since 2024: 31.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Denver; distances are straight lines.
Ponds and reservoirs by Denver
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Park Lake | 4 miles west | 22 | 5,265 | no boats, trout stocked | |
| Exposition Park Pond | 4 miles south | 4 | 5,463 | no boats | |
| Garland Pk Lake | 5 miles southwest | 3 | 5,379 | no boats | |
| Engineers Lake | 6 miles northwest | 9 | 5,101 | no boats | |
| Smith Lake, Denver County | 6 miles southwest | 16 | 5,313 | no boats | |
| Thornton Gravel Lake #3 | 7 miles northwest | 21 | 5,076 | no boats, trout stocked |
Streams to fish from Denver
- South Platte River9 miles, Gold Medal 24.1 mi; 9 reaches with special rules (45.2 mi); 7 public access properties; on the stocking report
- Bear Creek, Jefferson County17 miles, 1 reach with special rules (14.5 mi); 2 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 Lakes and ramps near Denver on a map
- West Ramp on Cherry Creek ReservoirCherry Creek Reservoir, 9 miles
- East Ramp on Cherry Creek ReservoirCherry Creek Reservoir, 9 miles
- Quincy Reservoir boat rampQuincy Reservoir, 10 miles
- Barr Lake Boat RampBarr Lake, 15 miles
- Boat Ramp on Barr LakeBarr Lake, 15 miles
Bank access near Denver
- City Park Lake fishing access near Glendale, Denver CountyCity Park Lake, 4 miles
- City Park Lake fishing access near Glendale, Denver County 2City Park Lake, 4 miles
- Exposition Park Pond fishing access near Four Square MileExposition Park Pond, 4 miles
- Garland Park LakeGarland Pk Lake, 5 miles
- Engineers Lake fishing access near WelbyEngineers Lake, 6 miles
- Lily Pad Pond fishing access near GlendaleLily Pad Pond, 6 miles
CPW boat ramps and Fishing Atlas fishing locations, retrieved October 2026.
Trout report waters around Denver
| Water | Listings | By year | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek, Jefferson County | 14 | 2026: 3, 2025: 7, 2024: 4 | Oct. 2, 2026 |
| South Platte River | 11 | 2026: 1, 2025: 7, 2024: 3 | June 5, 2026 |
| City Park Lake | 6 | 2026: 2, 2025: 2, 2024: 2 | May 1, 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.
Live USGS flows around Denver
| 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 |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City, Co | 57 cfs, 4.02 ft gage height | Oct 26 5:15 pm |
| Sand Creek At Mouth Nr Commerce City,co | 66 cfs, 9.51 ft gage height | Oct 26 4:50 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 26, 2026 5:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Outfitters and shops by Denver
Shops worth the stop before Denver
- Bass Pro Shops Denversporting goods store, Denver, 2 miles
- Clear Creek Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Denver, 4 miles
- Colorado Trout Fisherbait and tackle shop, Denver, 5 miles
- Trouts Fly Fishing, 1303 E 6th Avefly shop, Denver, 5 miles
- Mystic Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Denver, 6 miles
- Bill Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Denver, 6 miles
- Baitbait and tackle shop, Denver, 6 miles
- Denver Fly Shopfly shop, Denver, 6 miles
Guide businesses near Denver
- Sopris Fishing Outfittersfishing guide, Denver
- The Flyfisher Groupfly fishing guide, Denver, (303) 861-0240
- The Flyfisher LLC.fly fishing guide, Denver
Yellow Pages listings and chain store locators; DORA outfitter roster (business city or county). Retrieved October 2026.
Daily bag figures for Denver water
Colorado charges adult residents $44.87 for the annual fishing license and nonresidents $124.01; residents 64 and older pay $12.96. One-day licenses sell at $18.07 (resident) and $21.90 (nonresident). A $14.24 stamp lets a licensed angler run a second rod. For Denver, CPW limits follow the east slope column.
| 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.
Close to Denver
Towns that work as a base camp for Denver
- Glendale5 miles
- Four Square Mile6 miles
- Derby6 miles
- Holly Hills7 miles
- Welby7 miles
County pages touching Denver
- Denver CountyCPW Northeast Region
Reels from Piscifun that suit Denver
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Telling the species of Denver apart by photo
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Midwest Region from United States, Public domain
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Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fishing trips that start in Denver, explained
Which reservoir is the quickest drive from Denver?
City Park Lake, 4 miles west.
Which CPW ramp lies nearest Denver?
West Ramp on Cherry Creek Reservoir, about 9 miles.
Which shore spot suits Denver visitors?
City Park Lake fishing access near Glendale, Denver County, 4 miles away (accessible pier, easy access, stocked: warmwater, 5,265 ft).
Where do Denver anglers buy gear?
Bass Pro Shops Denver is closest at 2 miles.
Where is the closest Gold Medal reach to Denver?
The South Platte River, 9 miles away, with 24.1 Gold Medal miles.
Which Colorado county includes Denver?
Denver County, whose guide lists each CPW ramp.
Can I ice fish near Denver?
No nearby lake is marked for ice fishing.
Does fishing close in winter near Denver?
Open all year and at night, except waters with a special closure.
What does fishing near Denver cost a visitor?
Nonresidents pay $124.01 a year, $21.90 for one day, or $41.04 for five days.
Are trout stocked near Denver?
Yes; nearby waters appear 31 times on the CPW catchable trout report since 2024, most recently Bear Creek, Jefferson County on Oct. 2, 2026.
Choose a reservoir out of Denver
Lake pages list species, ramps and limits.