Reservoir · Denver Metro
Bear Creek Lake
The ripple stillwater anglers want. Work the bank the wind is blowing into — food drifts there and the fish follow it.
Wind reading Jul 31, 12:45 PM MDT. Source: National Weather Service.
Seasonal notes
Bear Creek Lake is a Jefferson County Open Space reservoir in Lakewood, positioned roughly halfway between downtown Denver and the South Platte canyon mouth at Waterton — making it a convenient warm-up stillwater before or after a Waterton Canyon trip. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout in spring and fall and supports a resident population of smallmouth bass and channel catfish in warmer months. The surrounding 2,600-acre park has several fishing piers and significant bank access, making this one of the more family-friendly trout lakes on the metro's west side. Trolling small spinners and roostertails accounts for stocked rainbows; bank anglers use PowerBait near the marina and inlet. The lake level can fluctuate significantly depending on South Platte flood-control operations — a high-water year can dramatically change the shoreline.
What’s hatching
CallibaetisGoodMay–SepLight wind
Best: calm mornings
Leeches & BaitfishIn seasonYear-roundIn season — this one isn't tied to the day's conditions
Best: near the marina & inlet
Confidence is graded from live National Weather Service conditions and gage flow as of Jul 31, 12:45 PM MDT. Time of day is left to you — check the “Best” line above.
What changed this week
No new stocking, closures, or condition changes in the past week.
Weather
Air temp
84°F
Wind
8mph
Precip
26%
1027 mb → · Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest Stocking
Last stocked Mar 13
Special regulations
Bear Creek Lake is a Jefferson County Open Space State Park — a Colorado State Parks pass or daily fee is required in addition to a Colorado state fishing license. Standard Colorado fishing regulations apply; all legal gear and methods are permitted for trout. The lake also supports warm-water species under their respective regulations. Bear Creek above Evergreen Lake is a separate fishery with different rules.
Quick ref: City of Lakewood (recreation operator; dam owned by USACE); stocked trout; state park
Location
Nearby waters
Nearby fly shops
Get Bear Creek Lake conditions every Thursday
Flow, the go/no-go call, CPW stocking and closure notices for Bear Creek Lake — one email, Thursday morning. Sign up and we'll send this week's report right now.