Few activities epitomize the indulgent pace of summer like sitting on the water’s edge, watching a bobber dance about as you wait for a fish to bite.
Beyond the opportunities for family bonding, fishing offers kids a big dose of Vitamin N (The fresh air! The Colorado sunshine!) while boosting confidence, building patience, and encouraging teamwork to boot. If nothing else, it gets everyone off screens for a few glorious, undistracted hours.
Here in Colorado, anglers have access to 6,000 miles of streams and 1,300 public lakes and reservoirs. There are some excellent mountain fishing holes, but with kids in tow, you might want to skip the long drive and instead opt for one of these local, scenic — and well-stocked — spots. We can’t guarantee a bite, but these destinations are your best bet for ensuring young anglers will actually experience the thrill of a first catch.
Know before you go
In Colorado, youths ages 15 and under fish for free. Anyone 16 and older, though, including parents helping out, should have a valid state fishing license. Purchase your annual license online, through the , or at local sporting goods stores. Keep in mind that fishing sites themselves generally don’t sell licenses.
Before you cast, be sure to brush up on local laws and statewide daily bag limits, which can vary by species and location. The , available on Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s website, has the information you’ll need. To keep Colorado’s waters healthy, anglers should always clean, drain, and dry their gear before and after use to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species. For a quick tutorial, CPW offers an excellent instructional video on YouTube titled “.”
Denver area reservoirs
Cherry Creek and Chatfield state parks are two heavy-hitters for city-proximate fishing. Periodically stocked with rainbow trout, these reservoirs also house walleye, bass, perch and catfish. Because both parks are popular with motorized boaters and swimmers, the key is finding a tranquil pocket of shoreline.
At , skip the main docks and try the south side of the reservoir. My kids and I have had luck along the low-key banks near the Platte River Trailhead parking lot. If you head to , check out the reservoir’s quieter south end as well as the shores beyond the Tower Loop parking area, near the dam. (Just remember to keep a 60-foot distance from the tower structure itself.)
Don’t discount east Aurora, which has some of the best water in the metro area. is a fantastic multi-use spot for families. Even if the tiger muskie, catfish and smallmouth bass aren’t biting, kids usually get a kick out of the crawdads and abundance of waterbirds, from herons to plovers.
Anglers with disabilities will find an ADA-accessible pier on the south side of the upper parking lot. Unlike Chatfield and Cherry Creek (above), Aurora Reservoir is not a state park, so your Keep Colorado Wild pass won’t work here; expect to pay a day-use fee ($10 in the off-season; $15 during the summer months).
For a more tucked-away feel, there’s . With 160 surface acres of water, this destination is teeming with bass, trout and perch, but take note: Only artificial flies and lures are allowed at Quincy Reservoir; bait of any kind is prohibited. Pack a picnic to enjoy at the gazebo near the water just below the ranger’s office.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks both Aurora reservoirs; check Aurora’s municipal website for specific bag limits before heading out. No matter where you settle in, remember that the best fishing action usually happens during golden hours, in the early morning and evening.
Commerce City’s wildlife refuge
Measuring 15,000 acres, the is a Commerce City gem and one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the country. More than 300,000 visitors come each year to observe some 330 species of wildlife safeguarded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services — and the on-site fishing is also a big draw.
Anglers of all ages are invited to try catch-and-release fishing at lakes Mary and Ladora now through November for $3 per day. (Thatap $3 in addition to the standard Colorado fishing license, but high school and college students can fish at the refuge for free with a current student ID.) All fishing is catch-and-release only; anglers must use barbless hooks, and live bait is prohibited.
You can pay any required fees at the super-fun Visitor Center, where my kids always love exploring interactive exhibits on prairie wildlife. For families totally new to the sport, the refuge offers free learn-to-fish programming all summer long. Gear is provided, and rangers are on hand to teach the basics. Consult the refuge’s website for specific dates and times.
Creek dishing in Golden
Clear Creek runs through the city of Golden, and tubers know firsthand that its rapids can get wild. For youth fishing, park at Lions Park (1300 10th St.) — (the massive playground will be an incentive to any young holdouts — and follow the Clear Creek Trail upriver, until the cement turns into gravel. Eventually you’ll arrive at shallow banks that make it easy for little ones to access the water safely.
If you’re short on equipment, you can rent fly fishing gear nearby, at . All the normal Colorado fishing rules apply on creeks, and before heading out, always check the runoff report to ensure the water level isn’t too high to fish.
A private pond experience
Also known to some as Grandma & Grandpa’s Fishing Pond (4125 Chicago Creek Road), g is a delightful little lake thatap stocked so generously with rainbow trout that kids are practically guaranteed to hook something — just keep in mind that fishers pay for every catch they keep. (But since the water is privately owned, there’s no fishing license required.)
Poles and tackle are available to rent in the main office, where staff members will answer questions and clean your fish for a nominal fee.
Family-forward programming
All summer long, through its Fishing is Fun! program, urban rangers from Denver Parks and Recreation team up with local recreation centers to introduce fishing skills to families, while discussing topics such as gear, local fish species, and water safety. Nominally priced drop-in style events take place at several sites, including Garfield Lake, Berkeley Lake, Washington, Harvey, and Huston Lake parks. Equipment is provided through a Colorado Parks & Wildlife grant, while supplies last, but families with poles are encouraged to BYO.
Register online on the Denver Parks & Recreation Activities and Programs page at .
If you can’t make it to a clinic, Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes excellent learn-to-fish pamphlets and digital guides .
Mark your calendar
On Saturday, June 27, Colorado takes over Coors Field for its annual . From noon to 5 p.m., the open concourse transforms into a giant, fly-fishing-themed expo. Expect a family-friendly lineup of activities, including casting areas, fly-tying tutorials, youth crafts, and stadium tours. Entry is free, but you’ll need to snag tickets in advance on the Troutfest Colorado website. Enter through Gate A and come hungry for standard ballpark fare.
