Fishing near Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Douglas County, population 103,444.
- 4 milesto nearest lake
- 6ramps nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of South Platte River: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
Fishing from Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch is a Census-designated place in Douglas County with 103,444 residents at the 2020 Census. Nearest still water with a page: Blackrock Lake, 4 miles northwest. At 1,355 acres, Chatfield Reservoir is the biggest water within reach. For launching, South Ramp on Chatfield Reservoir is 5 miles out.
The South Platte River, roughly 4 miles out, is the nearest river or creek page. Drive about 4 miles to reach Gold Medal water on the South Platte River. 1 of the lakes below allow ice fishing in the CPW notes. Stocking report listings near town since 2024: 63.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Highlands Ranch; distances are straight lines.
Ponds and reservoirs by Highlands Ranch
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackrock Lake | 4 miles northwest | 7 | 5,367 | no boats, trout stocked | |
| Redtail Lake | 4 miles northwest | 11 | 5,358 | no boats | |
| Eaglewatch Lake | 4 miles northwest | 42 | 5,368 | no boats, trout stocked | |
| Littleton Flood Plain Pond #5 | 5 miles northwest | 6 | 5,361 | no boats | |
| Chatfield Reservoir | 5 miles west | 1,355 | 5,435 | ice fishing, gas motors, trout stocked | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Kettering Lake | 5 miles north | 12 | 5,458 | no boats |
Streams to fish from Highlands Ranch
- South Platte River4 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 County13 miles, 1 reach with special rules (14.5 mi); 2 public access properties; on the stocking report
- Bear Creek, Douglas County13 miles, 1 public access property; on the stocking report
- North Fork South Platte River15 miles, 2 public access properties
- Spring Creek, Jefferson County16 miles, 1 public access property
- Pine Creek, Douglas County17 miles, 1 public access property
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 Highlands Ranch on a map
- South Ramp on Chatfield ReservoirChatfield Reservoir, 5 miles
- North Ramps on Chatfield Reservoir near ColumbineChatfield Reservoir, 5 miles
- West Ramp on Cherry Creek ReservoirCherry Creek Reservoir, 9 miles
- East Ramp on Cherry Creek ReservoirCherry Creek Reservoir, 10 miles
- Bear Creek Reservoir boat rampBear Creek Reservoir, 12 miles
- Quincy Reservoir boat rampQuincy Reservoir, 12 miles
Bank access near Highlands Ranch
- Redstone Park Pond fishing access near Highlands RanchRedstone Park Pond, 3 miles
- Flyin' B Pond fishing access near Littleton, Fly'n B ParkFlyin' B Pond, 3 miles
- Flyin' B Pond fishing access near Littleton, Fly'n B Park 2Flyin' B Pond, 3 miles
- Cherry Knolls Pond fishing access near Greenwood VillageCherry Knolls Pond, 3 miles
- Johnny's Pond fishing access near LittletonJohnny's Pond, 4 miles
- Little's Creek Pond fishing access near LittletonLittle's Creek Pond, 4 miles
CPW boat ramps and Fishing Atlas fishing locations, retrieved October 2026.
Trout report waters around Highlands Ranch
| Water | Listings | By year | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek, Jefferson County | 14 | 2026: 3, 2025: 7, 2024: 4 | Oct. 2, 2026 |
| Bear Creek, Douglas County | 14 | 2026: 3, 2025: 7, 2024: 4 | Oct. 2, 2026 |
| Chatfield Reservoir | 12 | 2026: 3, 2025: 4, 2024: 5 | July 3, 2026 |
| South Platte River | 11 | 2026: 1, 2025: 7, 2024: 3 | June 5, 2026 |
| Blackrock Lake | 3 | 2026: 3 | April 17, 2026 |
| Eaglewatch Lake | 9 | 2026: 3, 2025: 3, 2024: 3 | April 17, 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 Highlands Ranch
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Dry Creek Below C-470 At Highlands Ranch, Co | 1 cfs, 1.64 ft gage height | Oct 27 7:15 pm |
| Plum Creek At Titan Road Near Louviers, Co | 1 cfs, 8.83 ft gage height | Oct 27 6:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 27, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Outfitters and shops by Highlands Ranch
Shops worth the stop before Highlands Ranch
- Hook Flyfishingbait and tackle shop, Highlands Ranch, 2 miles
- Chatfield Marinamarina, Douglas, 5 miles
- Cabela's Lone Treesporting goods store, Lone Tree, 5 miles
- The Denver Anglerfly shop, Centennial, 6 miles
- Anglers Allfly shop, Littleton, 6 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Sheridansporting goods store, Sheridan, 8 miles
- Ken's Anglersfly shop, Littleton, 8 miles
- Marina at Cherry Creekmarina, Englewood, 8 miles
Guide businesses near Highlands Ranch
- Hook Flyfishingfly fishing guide, Highlands Ranch, (720) 920-9780
Yellow Pages listings and chain store locators; DORA outfitter roster (business city or county). Retrieved October 2026.
Tournaments and derbies near Highlands Ranch
| Dates | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 18, 2026 to Aug. 19, 2026 | Catch Rate Tournament Series (2026) | Chatfield Reservoir | Tightline Outdoors |
Organizer and CPW event pages for Douglas County water, checked October 2026.
Record-book catches from lakes by Highlands Ranch
| Species | Record | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 32.25 in | Chatfield Reservoir | 2026 |
| Black Bullhead | 22 inches in | Chatfield Reservoir | |
| Channel Catfish | 42 inches in | Chatfield Reservoir | |
| Common Carp | 42 inches in | Chatfield Reservoir | |
| White Sucker | 22 1/2 inches in | Chatfield Reservoir |
State records as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027).
Daily bag figures for Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch, 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 Highlands Ranch
Towns that work as a base camp for Highlands Ranch
- Acres Green4 miles
- Littleton4 miles
- Columbine Valley5 miles
- Lone Tree5 miles
- Greenwood Village6 miles
County pages touching Highlands Ranch
- Douglas CountyCPW Northeast Region
Reels from Piscifun that suit Highlands Ranch
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Telling the species of Highlands Ranch apart by photo
Photo: Meine Mutter (Erlaubnis liegt vor), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Daniel Mayer (Mav), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Photo: Thefishingnomad youtube, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fishing trips that start in Highlands Ranch, explained
Which reservoir is the quickest drive from Highlands Ranch?
Blackrock Lake, 4 miles northwest.
Which CPW ramp lies nearest Highlands Ranch?
South Ramp on Chatfield Reservoir, about 5 miles.
Which shore spot suits Highlands Ranch visitors?
Redstone Park Pond fishing access near Highlands Ranch, 3 miles away (accessible fishing area).
Where do Highlands Ranch anglers buy gear?
Hook Flyfishing is closest at 2 miles.
Where is the closest Gold Medal reach to Highlands Ranch?
The South Platte River, 4 miles away, with 24.1 Gold Medal miles.
Which Colorado county includes Highlands Ranch?
Douglas County, whose guide lists each CPW ramp.
Can I ice fish near Highlands Ranch?
Chatfield Reservoir, 5 miles away, is flagged for ice fishing in the CPW notes; check ice conditions locally.
Does fishing close in winter near Highlands Ranch?
Open all year and at night, except waters with a special closure.
What does fishing near Highlands Ranch cost a visitor?
Nonresidents pay $124.01 a year, $21.90 for one day, or $41.04 for five days.
Are trout stocked near Highlands Ranch?
Yes; nearby waters appear 63 times on the CPW catchable trout report since 2024, most recently Bear Creek, Jefferson County on Oct. 2, 2026.
Choose a reservoir out of Highlands Ranch
Lake pages list species, ramps and limits.