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. These species represent three of the more popular gamefish at Chatfield. 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. Conditions : Chatfield Reservoir - As of 12/1/2020, recent water temperature measurements were recorded between 39 and 41 degrees. 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. 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. The fishing is … The fishing is slow. Colorado Stream Update: Fishing below Chatfield reservoir has been tough. 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. Clouser minnows, leech patterns, and carp flies will be your best go-to flies. Beavers are really affecting the fishing on the Platte below Waterton Canyon. Slow fishing reported, still pumping water in to slowly raise the lake. Chatfield Reservoir Subscribe to Receive Fishing Report Updates Rating - Fair As of 11/292020, fishing has been great for walleye at night. If brown trout is your game than the Arkansas is the place to be. 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. 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. With a massive selection, free shipping, two locations, & some of Colorado's best guides we strive for the best customer experience possible. 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. Cabela’s is a full-scale outdoor retailer that will have all the necessary equipment and flies to give you success anywhere near Denver. Current Conditions at Below Chatfield: The fishing below chatfield has been tough. Don’t rely on Cabela’s to get all your local fishing information though some employees know more than others. Colorado Stream Update: Due to construction efforts in the area water coming out of Chatfield Reservoir is down to a trickle. 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. 9-foot leader is a great base for great bites. Use jerk baits and swim baits. Clear skies and 56-59 degree weather. The South Platte River drops in from Nebraska before winding its way through Denver and into Waterton Canyon near Roxborough State Park. Now is a perfect time to target that smallmouth, walleye, and carp. 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. You can fish a variety of equipment and flies at Chatfield with success. 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. 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 Arkansas River is much further than the other destinations but is less than a 2-hour drive in most traffic conditions. Fishing in Chatfield Reservoir and Chatfield State Park Species of Fish: Trout, bass, walleye, channel catfish, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, sunfish and carp. All Rights Reserved. Partly Cloudy skies and 60+ degree weather. This section of the South Platte is seeing very low flows, and warm temps. Pack a 9-foot, 5- weight rod and you’re ready to go. Keep yours open, as opportunities to sight fish some carp have started to pick up. Chest waders are recommended if you know you’ll be wading into deeper spots. Learn More Some rising trout have been spotted in the afternoon, and small streamers in olive and black have produced as well. We have seen some great smallies being caught on clousers and leech patterns. You can fish from the shore, wade, or float the Arkansas River so match the waders to your fishing. Chatfield is regularly stocked with rainbow trout if your goal is to target traditional fly fish species. Chatfield Reservoir. Chatfield Reservoir. Trouts Fly Fishing is Denver's Premier Fly Shop and Outfitter. Great fishing spots on the South Platte are only a short drive northwest from Castle Rock. Current Conditions at Below Chatfield: Trout are actively feeding in riffles and tail outs on BWOs, RSIIs, and small midge imitations right now. Watch for midge hatches in the late morning/early afternoon. Current Conditions at Below Chatfield: This section of the South Platte is seeing very low flows, and warm temps. Waterton Canyon is a very good fishery located close to home that will always produce a few fish. Trouts Fly Fishing is Denver's Premier Fly Shop and Outfitter. The fishing is fair. 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. 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. Whether you are a seasoned angler or first time fly fisher, we got you covered. 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. © Copyright River Flies 2018 | All Rights Reserved. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks the lake with rainbow trout and other fish. Aquatic Nuisance Species Inspections will be conducted at the North and South ramps from 6am -10pm seven days a week. One angler noted that they had success pulling in walleye while fishing from shore. We reccommend heading further towards downtown for better fishing. I took my Boss and his brother ice fishing at Chatfield for their first ice trip of the year since Mike was visiting Colorado. The South Platte along Colorado’s eastern slope has earned gold medal status for the size and quality of fish. 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. You can get away with waist waders on the Arkansas, but chest waders are recommended. Until recently, the upper Arkansas has overshadowed the tailwater below Pueblo Reservoir. To the North, the fishing boundary is just downstream from 120 th Avenue located in the city of Brighton, Colorado. Whether you are a seasoned angler or first time fly fisher, we got you covered. One angler noted having success pulling in … Aurora Reservoir Unknown. Clear skies and 60+ degree weather. Strip streamers along the banks and use three fly nymph rigs with Egg patterns, San Juan Worms, and Crane fly Larva patterns. © 1971 - 2020 The Flyfisher Group LLC. This is a great option close to home. The water temperature was between 60+ degrees and Slightly Off. 11/15/2020 Temps are in the upper 40s. 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. 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. Constant construction, and dirty water makes finding fish difficult. Beneath Chatfield, the South Platte changes drastically in form. 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, … A 9-foot 5-wt fly rod with floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and small nymphs on the South Platte River. With a massive selection, free shipping, two locations, & some of Colorado's best guides we strive for the best customer experience possible. If you just want to maximize fishing potential you can go for other sportfish like bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. Fishing has been hit and miss, we recommend heading to other sections of the Platte. The water level was estimated to be approximate 2 feet below full pool. 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. There aren’t many fly fishing hot spots directly in town, but there are a few great options nearby. The most recent CDPW numbers estimate 2,000 fish per mile of river. 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. Latest Colorado Fly Fishing Reports Dec 19 Arkansas River – Below Pueblo Reservoir Dec 17 Arkansas River – Lower The fishing is fantastic. Always check local reports and get your license before going for an uninterrupted and productive day on the water. Only my third time fishing for walleye and second time catching them. Caught plenty of walleyes at Chatfield Reservoir using bottom bouncer worm rigs. Northwest Region June 10, 2020 Southwest Region June 15, 2020 ... Chatfield Reservoir As of 7/11/2020, Chatfield Reservoir is fishing well. Fly fishers can have hours of fun knocking out giant sunfish or trout that would be afraid of heavier traditional fishing equipment. The fishing is good. Colorado Stream Update: The crowds are light and the fishing is solid on The South Platte below Chatfield Reservoir. Reports indicate that the fishing has been slow, shore anglers have had few bites. Springtime signals the start of open water fishing. Minturn Anglers is the closest full-scale fly fishing outfitter to Castle Rock. 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. The Arkansas has many distinct hatches and you can easily find success by matching the hatch. 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. Bring a medium weight rod and line for targeting multiple species. Check out this great stretch of water close to home. Carp can be found anywhere in the South Platte river below Chatfield Reservoir all the way out to Jackson Lake roughly 100 miles northwest. 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. 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. 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. Free Fly Fishing Classes at Yampa River and Elkhead State Parks ... below to watch the recorded Angler Roundtables. 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. Fishing is open at Chatfield but please do not crowd the boat launch or shore access. Smallmouth and walleye fishery fishers can have hours of fun knocking out giant or. There is very little water coming out of Chatfield Reservoir using bottom bouncer worm rigs a.! 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