The South Platte River flows directly through the heart of Downtown Denver. It is home to some of the best urban carp fishing in the United States. But if you know where and when to look, you can also find some beautiful rainbow trout.

Any species that is in or above the Chatfield Reservoir can find it’s way into the city.
The trout feed on crayfish, leeches, worms, and other bugs in the river, and are usually aggressive to the same lures and flies you would throw for smallmouth and walleye. Trout do better in colder water, so if the Platte is low and hot, these fish are harder to find.

These fish are extremely aggressive towards leech flies and crawfish patterns.

Please practice Catch & Release in urban settings to preserve these precious resources for other urban anglers.