When water is low and clear, it can be easy to find carp in the South Platte, getting them to eat a fly can be a different story. There aren’t many fly fishing hot spots directly in town, but there are a few great options nearby. Orvis Endorsed Outfitter, Royal Gorge Anglers has been guiding on the South Platte for 30 Years, and offers the best fishing reports on the South Platte. There are plenty of trout to chase here but Chatfield has gained a reputation as a tremendous smallmouth and walleye fishery. Learn More © 1971 - 2020 The Flyfisher Group LLC. Chatfield Reservoir. Fly fishers can have hours of fun knocking out giant sunfish or trout that would be afraid of heavier traditional fishing equipment. Carp can be found anywhere in the South Platte river below Chatfield Reservoir all the way out to Jackson Lake roughly 100 miles northwest. Come join the Colorado Women Fly Fishers and Colorado Parks and Wildlife for a day of beginning fly fishing, Saturday, May 12 at the Kassler Center at Chatfield Reservoir in Littleton. With a massive selection, free shipping, two locations, & some of Colorado's best guides we strive for the best customer experience possible. With a massive selection, free shipping, two locations, & some of Colorado's best guides we strive for the best customer experience possible. The fishing is … Chatfield Reservoir. You can fish a variety of equipment and flies at Chatfield with success. Chatfield Reservoir is a reservoir located just 26.8 miles from Hayden, in Rio Blanco County, in the state of Colorado, United States, near Yampa, CO. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including smallmouth bass, perch, largemouth bass, carp, bream/bluegill, catfish, … Beavers are really affecting the fishing on the Platte below Waterton Canyon. For those that want to stick it to the man, an attractor rig with worms, leeches, hare's ears, and large caddis offerings is ideal. Here at the fly shop, we believe that Waterton is one of the top locations in the front range to either learn to fish, teach someone to fish, or even practice a new style of fishing. Current Conditions at Below Chatfield: Trout are actively feeding in riffles and tail outs on BWOs, RSIIs, and small midge imitations right now. Chatfield is one of Denver's most popular Front Range lakes and was built to control flooding after several floods caused major damage to Denver. The fishing is fair. If you’re smart, you’ll be fishing for brown trout on the Arkansas so keep that species in mind when you’re packing up. Constant construction, and dirty water makes finding fish difficult. There aren’t many places to fly fish within Castle Rock city limits but there are several offerings nearby or a short drive from town. For those that want to stick it to the man, an attractor rig with worms, leeches, hare's ears, and large caddis offerings is ideal. Use jerk baits and swim baits. One angler noted having success pulling in … Great fishing spots on the South Platte are only a short drive northwest from Castle Rock. Anglers have also noted catching walleye and smallmouth bass on a combination of flies, and hard and soft plastics. As of 11/02/2020, a recent water temperature measurement was recorded at 43 degrees in shallow waters and the water level was estimated to be approximate 2 feet below full pool. Free Fly Fishing Classes at Yampa River and Elkhead State Parks ... below to watch the recorded Angler Roundtables. Fishing in Chatfield Reservoir and Chatfield State Park Species of Fish: Trout, bass, walleye, channel catfish, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, sunfish and carp. Chatfield Reservoir Subscribe to Receive Fishing Report Updates Rating - Fair As of 11/292020, fishing has been great for walleye at night. Chatfield is regularly stocked with rainbow trout if your goal is to target traditional fly fish species. The Arkansas River is much further than the other destinations but is less than a 2-hour drive in most traffic conditions. These species represent three of the more popular gamefish at Chatfield. Conditions : Chatfield Reservoir - As of 12/1/2020, recent water temperature measurements were recorded between 39 and 41 degrees. All Rights Reserved. Anglers enjoy a day in Deckers, fly fishing in the South Platte River Denver South Platte (DSP) After Deckers, the river flows through Waterton canyon, and then into Chatfield Reservoir. Clear skies and 56-59 degree weather. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks the lake with rainbow trout and other fish. Now is a perfect time to target that smallmouth, walleye, and carp. Chatfield Reservoir Subscribe to Receive Fishing Report Updates Rating - Unknown Most of the lake is now frozen with thin ice. Current Conditions at Below Chatfield: We recommend fishing elsewhere is there is very little water coming out of Chatfield right now. Castle Rock is adjacent to loads of outdoor adventure including on-the-water fun like fly fishing. Northwest Region June 10, 2020 Southwest Region June 15, 2020 ... Chatfield Reservoir As of 7/11/2020, Chatfield Reservoir is fishing well. The fishing is … Often times in low water, fish are podded together and can be very spooky. You can fish for classic Colorado catches in the Platte including rainbow and brown trout, but also other sport fish like bass, walleye, and carp, which has become one of the most popular fly fishing targets in the Denver area. Because this is a reservoir you won’t be reading the current or finding riffles, but you can easily use your fly rod and reel to nail some great fish. Aquatic Nuisance Species Inspections will be conducted at the North and South ramps from 6am -10pm seven days a week. Water is very clear with visibility around 12ft. If you just want to maximize fishing potential you can go for other sportfish like bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. Before I had set out, I checked our Stream Flows page and noted that a mere eight (8) CFS was being released below Chatfield Reservoir. Let’s learn everything you need to know for fly fishing near Castle Rock including where to go, what flies and equipment work well, and nearby resources for a productive day of angling. Always check local reports and get your license before going for an uninterrupted and productive day on the water. We caught Rainbows with Wax Worms and Minnows! 11/15/2020 Temps are in the upper 40s. Trouts Fly Fishing is Denver's Premier Fly Shop and Outfitter. Shipments within Colorado arrive quickly and we work with some of the best fly tiers in the world, making sure our flies are just right for Colorado destinations. The South Platte along Colorado’s eastern slope has earned gold medal status for the size and quality of fish. One angler noted that they had success pulling in walleye while fishing from shore. Because you could be targeting sunfish or trout depending on your mood and conditions, it’s best to bring a wide range of flies including smaller dry flies to top-water fish species like bluegill. Current Conditions at Below Chatfield: This section of the South Platte is seeing very low flows, and warm temps. The Arkansas has many distinct hatches and you can easily find success by matching the hatch. The most recent CDPW numbers estimate 2,000 fish per mile of river. Because this is a reservoir you won’t be reading the current or finding riffles, but you can easily use your fly rod and reel to nail some great fish. Which flies work depend on the time of year and what hatches are happening so match the hatch for your best fly selection. Some rising trout have been spotted in the afternoon, and small streamers in olive and black have produced as well. You can fish from the shore, wade, or float the Arkansas River so match the waders to your fishing. Though it isn’t on Castle Rock’s doorstep the Arkansas provides some of the best fishing in all of Colorado and is worth the drive for any Castle Rock residents who want an amazing fishing destination. Slow fishing reported, still pumping water in to slowly raise the lake. The South Platte River drops in from Nebraska before winding its way through Denver and into Waterton Canyon near Roxborough State Park. Located a few miles northwest of Castle Rock, Chatfield Reservoir in Chatfield State Park is fed by the South Platte and offers options for both traditional and fly fishing. If you just need to grab fishing equipment and quickly be on your way you can stop by Cabela’s off Interstate 25 a few miles north of Castle Rock. A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 3X to 6X to … Aurora Reservoir. 9-foot leader is a great base for great bites. Minturn Anglers is the closest full-scale fly fishing outfitter to Castle Rock. Arkansas River, below Pueblo ReservoirWhen most fly fishers think of the Arkansas, they envision the river that flows unimpeded from the snow-capped Collegiate Range near Leadville, providing 150 miles of superb river fishing. Strip streamers along the banks and use three fly nymph rigs with Egg patterns, San Juan Worms, and Crane fly Larva patterns. © Copyright River Flies 2018 | All Rights Reserved. We have caught lots of fish but nothing above 10 inches. Please do not wade too far into the river as the river bed is full or crevasses that you can get a boot stuck in, and with these flows that is very dangerous. The fishing is good. Most anglers are at other South Platte sections right now (cough cough Dream Stream), but this piece of water in Denver's backyard is an … Until recently, the upper Arkansas has overshadowed the tailwater below Pueblo Reservoir. The Beaver dams are stopping the larger fish moving up from Chatfield Reservoir. Colorado Stream Update: Fishing below Chatfield reservoir has been tough. Colorado Stream Update: Due to construction efforts in the area water coming out of Chatfield Reservoir is down to a trickle. You can fish multiple sets of roads, reels, and flies with success on the Arkansas, but an ideal rig is a 9 foot 5 to 6 weight rod with a floating line. If brown trout is your game than the Arkansas is the place to be. Chest waders are recommended if you know you’ll be wading into deeper spots. The fishing is slow. You can also purchase a fishing license at Cabela’s. Bring a medium weight rod and line for targeting multiple species. To the North, the fishing boundary is just downstream from 120 th Avenue located in the city of Brighton, Colorado. According to the Colorado Department Parks and Wildlife (CDPW) the Arkansas is roughly 90% self-producing brown trout with introduced rainbow trout rounding out the numbers. Don’t rely on Cabela’s to get all your local fishing information though some employees know more than others. Chatfield Reservoir FISH SURVEY AND MANAGEMENT DATA Paul Winkle, Aquatic Biologist, Denver paul.winkle@state.co.us / 303-291-7232 The figure below shows the length frequencies of walleye, smallmouth bass, and rainbow trout collected in 2017. Fly Fishing Report for the South Platte River in Colorado. Latest Colorado Fly Fishing Reports Dec 19 Arkansas River – Below Pueblo Reservoir Dec 17 Arkansas River – Lower We reccommend heading further towards downtown for better fishing. Decide your destination and what you want to fish, hit up a great local retailer, and use our advice above to get on the fish. Springtime signals the start of open water fishing. Although we don’t have a physical store you can wonder into on your way to the river, we do offer quick shipping and a selection of the best flies at a fraction of the big box stores. Only my third time fishing for walleye and second time catching them. You can wade as deep as you want to in Chatfield though it’s designed for shore and float fishing – hip waders are all you need. We have seen some great smallies being caught on clousers and leech patterns. Trouts Fly Fishing is Denver's Premier Fly Shop and Outfitter. Check out this great stretch of water close to home. You can use Minturn Anglers to grab equipment, find out what local areas are hot, book a guided trip to several nearby destinations, grab a license, and more. A 9-foot 5-wt fly rod with floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and small nymphs on the South Platte River. Caught plenty of walleyes at Chatfield Reservoir using bottom bouncer worm rigs. This section of the South Platte is seeing very low flows, and warm temps. You can get away with waist waders on the Arkansas, but chest waders are recommended. Aurora Reservoir Unknown. Beneath Chatfield, the South Platte changes drastically in form. Fishing has been hit and miss, we recommend heading to other sections of the Platte. Cabela’s is a full-scale outdoor retailer that will have all the necessary equipment and flies to give you success anywhere near Denver. The browns in the Arkansas have an open and varied appetite due to the local variety of insects so pack a mixture of dry flies, nymphs and streamers. South Platte River - Cheeseman-Chatfield, Colorado Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions Flows are currently at 82 cfs Water clarity is excellent, Standard small nymph rigs in the 20-26 sizes have been successful. Pack a 9-foot, 5- weight rod and you’re ready to go. The fishing is fantastic. Current Conditions at Below Chatfield: The fishing below chatfield has been tough. If you want to only stop at one place before fishing near Castle Rock, Minturn Anglers is a great choice. Clear skies and 60+ degree weather. recent water temperature measurement was recorded at 51 degrees and the water level was estimated to be approximate 2 feet below … For flies you can use dry flies, nymphs, and streamers, depending on the hatch. Chatfield Reservoir As of 9/7/2020, fishing for carp has been good at Chatfield Reservoir. Fishing is open at Chatfield but please do not crowd the boat launch or shore access. Located a few miles northwest of Castle Rock, Chatfield Reservoir in Chatfield State Park is fed by the South Platte and offers options for both traditional and fly fishing. Fishing has been hit and miss, we recommend heading to other sections of the Platte. Icing in the guides is a common occurence lately. This is a great option close to home. The water temperature was between 60+ degrees and Slightly Off. Waterton Canyon is a very good fishery located close to home that will always produce a few fish. Unlike other spots in Colorado fish on the Arkansas hit a wide variety of flies so bring plenty of tackle to find the biggest fish. Partly Cloudy skies and 60+ degree weather. Current Conditions at Below Chatfield: The South Platte below Chatfield is fishing great right now. The water level was estimated to be approximate 2 feet below full pool. Whether you are a seasoned angler or first time fly fisher, we got you covered. Colorado Stream Update: The crowds are light and the fishing is solid on The South Platte below Chatfield Reservoir. Watch for midge hatches in the late morning/early afternoon. Keep yours open, as opportunities to sight fish some carp have started to pick up. Whether you are a seasoned angler or first time fly fisher, we got you covered. I took my Boss and his brother ice fishing at Chatfield for their first ice trip of the year since Mike was visiting Colorado. There is currently no ice on the reservoir. Clouser minnows, leech patterns, and carp flies will be your best go-to flies. Reports indicate that the fishing has been slow, shore anglers have had few bites. On a combination of flies, and streamers, depending on the South Platte River below Chatfield has a. Full-Scale fly fishing Classes at Yampa River and Elkhead State Parks... below to watch the recorded angler Roundtables was! Fishing reported, still pumping water in to slowly raise the lake rainbow. 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