Fishing near Lakewood, Colorado
Jefferson County, population 155,984.
- under a mileto nearest lake
- 6ramps nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of South Platte River: Jay Miller from Fly to Eleven Mile Canyon just outside Colorado Springs, CC BY 2.0
Lakewood as a fishing base
In Jefferson County, the city of Lakewood counted 155,984 residents in 2020. Head south under a mile for Main Lake, the closest lake page. No nearby lake page outsizes Bear Creek Reservoir (103 acres). Boats launch closest at Bear Creek Reservoir boat ramp, roughly 4 miles from town.
The closest stream page is the Bear Creek, Jefferson County, 4 miles away. The nearest Gold Medal reach is the South Platte River, about 6 miles out. The CPW notes say yes to ice at 1 lake on this list. Since 2024, nearby water made the stocking report 35 times.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Lakewood; distances are straight lines.
Still water around Lakewood
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Lake | under a mile south | 42 | 5,650 | no boats, trout stocked | |
| Smith Lake, Jefferson County | under a mile south | 46 | 5,658 | no boats, trout stocked | |
| Kendricks Lake | 1 mile southeast | 31 | 5,618 | no boats | rainbow trout, cutbow, snake river cutthroat |
| Cottonwood Park Lake | 1 mile south | 6 | 5,646 | no boats | northern pike, rainbow trout, largemouth bass |
| Bear Creek Pond #1 | 3 miles southeast | 4 | 5,399 | no boats | |
| Bear Creek Reservoir | 4 miles southwest | 103 | 5,553 | ice fishing, gas motors, trout stocked | bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass |
Trout streams around Lakewood
- Bear Creek, Jefferson County4 miles, 1 reach with special rules (14.5 mi); 2 public access properties; on the stocking report
- South Platte River6 miles, Gold Medal 24.1 mi; 9 reaches with special rules (45.2 mi); 7 public access properties; on the stocking report
- Ralston Creek18 miles, 1 public access property
- North Fork South Platte River20 miles, 2 public access properties
- South Boulder Creek20 miles, 3 public access properties
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 Mapped lakes and access near Lakewood
- Bear Creek Reservoir boat rampBear Creek Reservoir, 4 miles
- Arvada Reservoir boat rampArvada Reservoir, 10 miles
- North Ramps on Chatfield Reservoir near ColumbineChatfield Reservoir, 10 miles
- South Ramp on Chatfield ReservoirChatfield Reservoir, 11 miles
- Standley Lake boat rampStandley Lake, 12 miles
- West Ramp on Cherry Creek ReservoirCherry Creek Reservoir, 14 miles
No-boat fishing around Lakewood
- Main Lake fishing access near LakewoodMain Lake, under a mile
- Smith Lake fishing access near LakewoodSmith Lake, under a mile
- Kendrick Reservoir, Kendrick Lake ParkKendricks Lake, 1 mile
- Green Gables Park Pond fishing access near LakewoodGreen Gables Park Pond, 1 mile
- Kendrick Reservoir, Kendrick Lake Park 2Kendricks Lake, 1 mile
- Cottonwood Park Lake fishing access near LakewoodCottonwood Park Lake, 1 mile
CPW boat ramps and Fishing Atlas fishing locations, retrieved October 2026.
Stocked trout water near Lakewood
| 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 |
| Smith Lake, Jefferson County | 6 | 2026: 2, 2025: 2, 2024: 2 | May 8, 2026 |
| Main Lake | 4 | 2025: 2, 2024: 2 | Nov. 21, 2025 |
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.
Stream gauges near Lakewood
USGS has no current reading for these gauges.
Fly shops and bait near Lakewood
Bait and flies near Lakewood
- Golden Fly Shopfly shop, Jefferson, 5 miles
- Arbor Anglersfly shop, Golden, 5 miles
- Gotta Go Fly Fishing LLCfly shop, Golden, 6 miles
- Rick's Rodsbait and tackle shop, Denver, 7 miles
- Discount Fishing Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Denver, 7 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Sheridansporting goods store, Sheridan, 7 miles
- Golden River Sportsbait and tackle shop, Golden, 7 miles
- Charlie's Flybox Incbait and tackle shop, Arvada, 7 miles
Registered outfitters around Lakewood
- Blue Quill Anglers, Inc.fishing guide, Evergreen
- Coal Creek Anglers LLCfishing guide, Golden
- Colorado Canyon Anglers LLCfishing guide, Wheat Ridge
- Colorado Fly Fishingfly fishing guide, Broomfield, (970) 406-1538
- Heron Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Golden
- J & J Flyfishingfly fishing guide, Arvada
Yellow Pages listings and chain store locators; DORA outfitter roster (business city or county). Retrieved October 2026.
Ice contests and derbies around Lakewood
| Dates | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 6, 2027 | Evergreen Lake Ice Fishing Tournament (2027) | Evergreen Lake | Evergreen Park & Recreation District (Evergreen Lake House) |
| June 13, 2026 | Arvada Kids Fishing Contest (2026) | Arvada Reservoir | City of Arvada |
Organizer and CPW event pages for Jefferson County water, checked October 2026.
Lakes near Lakewood in the record book
| Species | Record | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass Carp | 57-13.0 (lbs.-ozs.) | Cottonwood Park Lake | 2013 |
State records as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027).
The statewide chart for Lakewood anglers
CPW prices the annual license at $44.87 for residents, $124.01 for out-of-state anglers and $12.96 for resident seniors. For a quick visit, the one-day license is $18.07 for residents or $21.90 for nonresidents. Two rods at once requires the $14.24 second-rod stamp. The east slope rows of the chart apply around Lakewood.
| 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.
What sits near Lakewood
Mountain and plains towns near Lakewood
- West Pleasant View4 miles
- Applewood4 miles
- Edgewater5 miles
- Wheat Ridge5 miles
- Dakota Ridge6 miles
Counties holding part of Lakewood
- Jefferson CountyCPW Northeast Region
What Piscifun makes for Lakewood anglers
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Species photos for anglers bound for Lakewood
Photo: Purefury182, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Staying in Lakewood to fish: common questions
Where is the nearest still water to Lakewood?
Main Lake, under a mile south.
Can I launch a boat near Lakewood?
Bear Creek Reservoir boat ramp, some 4 miles away.
What access site is nearest Lakewood?
Main Lake fishing access near Lakewood is under a mile out (easy access, stocked: warmwater, 5,650 ft).
What tackle counter sits nearest Lakewood?
Golden Fly Shop, 5 miles from town.
Is there Gold Medal water near Lakewood?
The South Platte River, 6 miles away, with 24.1 Gold Medal miles.
In which county do Lakewood addresses fall?
Jefferson County, Colorado.
Which nearby lake freezes for fishing near Lakewood?
Bear Creek Reservoir, 4 miles away, is flagged for ice fishing in the CPW notes; check ice conditions locally.
Are lakes near Lakewood open all year?
Yes, every month and at night unless the brochure closes that water.
How much is a fishing license near Lakewood?
CPW sells nonresidents a $21.90 day license, $41.04 five-day and $124.01 annual.
Does CPW plant trout within a drive of Lakewood?
Yes; nearby waters appear 35 times on the CPW catchable trout report since 2024, most recently Bear Creek, Jefferson County on Oct. 2, 2026.