Douglas County, CO · Reservoir
Chatfield Reservoir
A 1,500-acre reservoir below the foothills in Chatfield State Park near Littleton, on the South Platte. A Denver-metro mixed bag — walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, yellow perch, and stocked rainbow trout.
Live · updated
Top picks today
Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish & Yellow Perch — tied at the top (0/100)
6 species tied for best of 6 tracked at Chatfield Reservoir.
Air Quality Alert issued June 5 at 4:10PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Species at Chatfield Reservoir
6 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 6 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Walleye Skip the Walleye trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Sander vitreus — Maryland's premier cool-water gamefish. Deep Creek Lake is the flagship fishery; also found in the non-tidal Potomac and the Youghiogheny River. Low-light feeder — dusk, dawn, and overcast/windy days are prime. Jigs, crankbaits, and nightcrawler harnesses are standard.
Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · either tide · depth 10–40 ft.
- Daily creel
- 5
Statewide: 5/day, 5 in possession. Several Front Range reservoirs are more restrictive (an 18" minimum).
Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.
#1 Largemouth Bass Skip the Largemouth Bass trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Micropterus salmoides — Most popular gamefish in MD non-tidal waters. Ambush predator around cover — lily pads, submerged timber, docks, grass edges. Hits plastics, spinnerbaits, jigs, and topwater across the season.
Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · either tide · depth 3–25 ft.
- Min size
- 15"
- Daily creel
- 5
Largemouth and smallmouth in aggregate: 5/day, 15" minimum statewide.
Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.
#1 Smallmouth Bass Skip the Smallmouth Bass trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Micropterus dolomieu — Premier gamefish of the non-tidal Potomac, the Upper Susquehanna, and Deep Creek Lake. Pound-for-pound one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish. Hits tubes, crayfish imitations, spinnerbaits, and topwater poppers.
Prefers. Water 55–78°F (ideal 68°F) · either tide · depth 3–30 ft.
- Min size
- 15"
- Daily creel
- 5
Largemouth and smallmouth in aggregate: 5/day, 15" minimum east of the Continental Divide; smallmouth are unlimited west of the Divide.
Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.
#1 Rainbow Trout Skip the Rainbow Trout trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Oncorhynchus mykiss — The most heavily stocked trout in Maryland. Put-and-take fisheries across the state plus holdover/wild fish in Western MD streams (Savage, Youghiogheny tailwater, Gunpowder). Takes PowerBait, small spinners, and standard dry/nymph patterns.
Prefers. Water 45–68°F (ideal 55°F) · either tide · depth 3–20 ft.
- Daily creel
- 4
Statewide trout aggregate: 4/day, 8 in possession (rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat). No statewide minimum size; many waters carry slot or gear restrictions — confirm the water-specific CPW rule.
Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.
#1 Channel Catfish Skip the Channel Catfish trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Ictalurus punctatus — Native catfish of MD non-tidal rivers, reservoirs, and farm ponds. Bottom-feeder that takes chicken liver, stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and cut bait. Most active at night and in warm water.
Prefers. Water 60–85°F (ideal 75°F) · either tide · depth 5–30 ft.
- Daily creel
- 10
Channel, blue, and flathead catfish in aggregate: 10/day, 10 in possession.
Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.
#1 Yellow Perch Skip the Yellow Perch trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- incoming tide — yellow perch prefers slack tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Perca flavescens — Late-winter and early-spring favorite. Schools up in tidal tributaries for the pre-spawn run in February and March, taking small minnows, shad darts, and small jigs. A classic Eastern Shore "neds" fishery.
Prefers. Water 45–70°F (ideal 58°F) · slack tide · depth 5–30 ft.
- Daily creel
- 20
20/day east of the Continental Divide; unlimited west of the Divide.
Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.
Location Info
Water Body
Reservoir
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Colorado non-tidal
Coordinates
Local reports & rules for Chatfield Reservoir: Colorado Parks & Wildlife fishing & regulations → · fish-consumption advisory →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Chatfield Reservoir?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Chatfield Reservoir you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Chatfield Reservoir?
Chatfield Reservoir is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Chatfield Reservoir?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Chatfield Reservoir against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Chatfield Reservoir have?
Chatfield Reservoir has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Chatfield Reservoir?
state agency regulations apply at Chatfield Reservoir. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Chatfield Reservoir tidal water?
No. Chatfield Reservoir is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.