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The South Platte River flows through the center of Denver, past Confluence Park, through the REI flagship store parking lot, under freeway overpasses, and along 26 miles of paved trail that connects downtown to the southern suburbs. And it holds fish. Rainbow trout in the cooler upper sections. Enormous common carp cruising the shallow flats. Smallmouth and largemouth bass in the warmer pools. Walleye in the deeper runs. Channel catfish in the eddies. All within a mile of the state capitol.
Denver's fly-fishing culture is serious. The South Platte urban Grand Slam, catching trout, carp, bass, and catfish on the fly in a single day without leaving the city, is a local badge of honor. Denver Trout Unlimited has invested in habitat improvements and private trout stockings that have transformed the urban river into a legitimate fishery. And the city maintains stocked lakes in parks across the metro where families can borrow rods and catch their first trout.
The South Platte River: Everything in One River
The Denver South Platte is 26 miles of fishable water from Chatfield Reservoir in the south to the northern city limits, with about 90 percent accessible from the South Platte River Trail. The species mix changes as you move downstream, trout in the cooler upper sections give way to warmwater species in the wider, slower lower sections.
Where on the South Platte
Confluence Park (Downtown): Where Cherry Creek meets the South Platte at the heart of Denver. Carp, bass, and catfish in the slower water. Walk-on from Confluence Park, adjacent to the REI Denver flagship. The most urban fishing spot in the city.
Overland Park / Ruby Hill (South Denver): Cooler water from upstream supports trout, rainbows stocked by Denver TU thrive here. Also holds carp, bass, and catfish. Walk-on from the trail.
Englewood / Sheridan sections: The river widens through the southern suburbs. Smallmouth bass, walleye, largemouth bass, and carp in the pools and riffles. Walk-on from the trail.
Chatfield area (South end): The coolest water in the urban stretch. Best trout habitat. Walk-on from Chatfield State Park (entry fee) or the trail.
South Platte Techniques
Trout on the fly: A 5-weight fly rod with floating line. Small nymphs (Pheasant Tail size 16-20, RS2, Zebra Midge size 18-22) drifted under an indicator through the runs and pools. Dry flies during hatches, Blue-Winged Olives and midges are the primary hatches. The trout are in the 10- to 14-inch range with occasional larger fish.
Carp on the fly: A 6- or 7-weight fly rod with a floating line and long leader (12 feet, 3X). Small carp-specific flies, Backstabber, Hybrid Carp Fly, or a simple Woolly Bugger in olive, presented ahead of cruising or tailing carp in the shallow flats. Sight-fish with polarized sunglasses. The carp are 5 to 20 pounds and fight brutally.
Smallmouth bass: Ned rigs, small tubes, or crankbaits worked along the rocky bottom and current seams in the lower river sections. Topwater poppers in summer. Smallmouth average 10 to 14 inches.
The Grand Slam: Fish the upper sections for trout in the morning, sight-fish carp in the shallow flats at midday, target bass in the afternoon, and bottom-fish for catfish at dusk. Four species, one river, one day. It has been done on the fly.
South Platte Grand Slam, Fly Fishing Urban South Platte: Carp, Bass, Catfish, Trout in Denver Fishing Denver's South Platte River, Smallmouth, Walleye, and TroutCity Park Lakes: Stocked Trout and Panfish
Denver and surrounding municipalities maintain stocked lakes in city parks throughout the metro. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks rainbow trout in the cooler months and channel catfish in summer.
Top Stocked Lakes
Sloan's Lake (West Denver): A 177-acre lake in the city. Stocked with rainbow trout. Also holds bass, crappie, catfish, and carp. Walk-on with a paved path around the lake. The largest lake inside Denver city limits.
Washington Park Lakes (South Denver): Two lakes in one of Denver's best neighborhoods. Stocked trout in cooler months. Bass, bluegill, and catfish. Walk-on from the park.
Ferril Lake (City Park): Adjacent to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Stocked trout. Walk-on from City Park.
Berkeley Lake (North Denver): A neighborhood lake stocked with trout. Walk-on from Berkeley Lake Park.
How to Fish Stocked Lakes
Rainbow trout: PowerBait on a bottom rig or small spinners (Panther Martin 1/16-ounce). Fish within 48 hours of stocking. Check the CPW stocking schedule.
Bass and panfish: Senko worms, Beetle Spins, or live worms along the shoreline structure. Ultralight gear.
Trout Fishing the Denver South Platte River Carp Fishing Downtown Denver on the South Platte RiverFishing Licence and Regulations
Colorado fishing licence: Required for anyone 16+. Resident annual $44.87. Nonresident annual $124.01. Nonresident 5-day $41.04. Habitat Stamp ($12.76) required for ages 18-64.
South Platte River (Denver urban sections): Check CPW for specific regulations, some sections have artificial-only, reduced bag limits, or catch-and-release restrictions. Trout limit varies by section.
Stocked lakes: Standard CPW regulations. Trout limit 4 per day on most waters.
Carp: No daily limit. No size limit. Take as many as you want.
When to Fish
March-May (Spring): Trout stocking at city lakes. South Platte trout active. Carp start moving in warming water. Smallmouth bass become active.
June-August (Summer): Carp peak on the South Platte, the best sight-fishing of the year. Catfish at dusk. Smallmouth bass. Fish early morning before the heat, Denver can hit 95°F+ in July.
September-November (Fall): Excellent all-around. Trout feed aggressively before winter. Carp still active on warm days. Brown trout spawn (catch-and-release, handle with care).
December-February (Winter): The South Platte fishes year-round. Trout bite on warm winter afternoons. Midges hatch even in January. Carp and bass dormant. Bundle up, Denver winters are cold but sunny.
Practical Details
Getting there: The South Platte River Trail is bikeable from downtown. RTD Light Rail reaches several trail access points. Confluence Park is walkable from Union Station. City park lakes have free parking.
Gear that travels: A 5-weight fly rod for trout and a 7-weight for carp covers the South Platte. A 6'6" spinning rod covers stocked lake trout, bass, and catfish. Denver is a fly-fishing city, a fly rod is the right tool for the urban South Platte.
For a broader look at Denver-area fishing beyond the urban river, read our complete Denver fishing guide. For another Western fly-fishing city, see urban fishing in Portland, salmon and smallmouth on the Willamette. For desert urban fishing, see urban fishing in Phoenix (canal carp) or urban fishing in Las Vegas (stocked ponds and Lake Mead).
Tackle shops: Trouts Fly Fishing (downtown Denver, the South Platte experts, local intel, guided trips), Discount Fishing Tackle (Lakewood), Bass Pro Shops (Lone Tree, south metro).
Urban Trout in Denver, Winter South Platte Fly Fishing
