Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Lakes ยท South Platte Basin
Chatfield Reservoir sits just southwest of Denver, about 40 minutes from our shop. It is a busy state park lake with trout, walleye, bass and carp.
Looking for the latest Chatfield Reservoir fishing report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with current conditions, wind, stocking news and the flies working now at Chatfield Reservoir.
Water level
Wind forecast
Chatfield Reservoir fishing report
Updated November 11, 2026.
The water is cooling into late fall. Trout are cruising the shallows near the inlets and along the rocky shorelines, and the warmwater fish are keying on baitfish and leeches before winter.
Our shop crew is fishing balanced leeches under an indicator and stripping bigger streamers along drop-offs and rocky points. On warmer afternoons, bass will still come to a popper or a jointed, Game Changer style swimming baitfish. Chironomids and midges are more of a spring and summer program on Chatfield, so leave them in the box for now.
Midday is usually best on cold days. Wind can build fast on the open water, so check the wind forecast below before you go.
Sources: AvidMax fly shop staff. Written by the AvidMax team.
Stocking report
Recent trout stocking from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's weekly report.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Chatfield, bring: Balanced Leech #10-12, Balanced Bou Leech #10-12, Pitching Leech #10, Balanced Leather Leech #10, Circus Peanut #4, Menage a Dungeon #2, Slump Buster #6-8, Clouser Minnow #2-6, Woolly Bugger #6-10.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Chatfield Reservoir lake details
| Access | Chatfield State Park, off C-470 and Wadsworth Boulevard. A state parks pass is required. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 5,430 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 18 miles, roughly 42 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | All year |
| Fish | Rainbow trout, walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, carp and catfish |
| Regulations | Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X to 5X tippet |
| Ice fishing | Ice is not reliable this low. Fish open water in winter. |
| Camping | Chatfield State Park campground, open all year |
| Kids | Yes. Easy shore access, close to town. |
| Good to know | Busy in summer. Fall and winter weekdays are quiet. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Open-water trout on warm days.
Spring
Trout cruising the shallows, carp start.
Summer
Carp, bass and walleye.
Fall
Trout come back to the shallows.
How to get there
Take C-470 west to Wadsworth Boulevard, then go south to the Chatfield State Park entrance.