Fishing Platte Canyon Reservoir in Jefferson County, Colorado

• Overview

  Platte Canyon Reservoir sits in Jefferson County, out in Colorado. The land about it is open valley. Roughly 53 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The edge runs 1.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Roxborough Park at 1.1 miles is the nearest place to stop. Centennial sits 13 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Platte Canyon Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Fish documented in Jefferson County include rainbow trout, brown trout, common carp and green sunfish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Platte Canyon Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 66°F for July and 28°F for January. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. At Platte Canyon Reservoir the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. High Line Canal Trailhead Parking holds the nearest mapped parking, half a mile out. A picnic site half a mile off makes this workable with family in tow. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Aurora-Rampart Reservoir at 3 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Platte Canyon Reservoir for certain.