You're standing on the dam at sunset, the Denver skyline is glowing purple in the distance, and the water looks like glass. It’s beautiful. But if you’ve spent more than an hour casting into Cherry Creek Reservoir, you probably know the frustration of watching your fish finder light up like a Christmas tree while your line stays dead still. It’s a fickle beast. Honestly, it might be the most "educated" lake in all of Colorado because every fish in there has seen roughly ten thousand different lures by the time they reach keeper size.
Cherry Creek Reservoir fishing isn't for the faint of heart or the impatient.
The lake is a 880-acre bowl of murky, high-alkalinity water sitting right in the middle of a massive state park. Because it's so close to the metro area, the pressure is immense. You’ve got jet skiers screaming by at noon, paddleboarders drifting over your honey hole, and a shoreline lined with folks throwing neon orange powerbait. To catch fish here, you have to be better than the average weekend warrior. You have to understand the weird, silty transition zones and the way the walleye behave when the wind kicks up off the Rockies.
Why the Walleye Here Are Different
Most people come for the walleye. It’s the crown jewel of the reservoir. But here’s the thing: Cherry Creek is a broodstock lake for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). Every spring, rangers set up spawning nets to collect millions of eggs that restock lakes across the entire state. These fish are handled, counted, and released. They've seen the inside of a net. They aren't stupid.
If you want to land a trophy walleye, you basically have to hunt them like ghosts. During the early season—usually late March through April—they hug the dam. It’s rocky, it’s rip-rap, and it’s where they want to spawn. But everyone knows that. The secret is the "mud flats." Most of the lake is a featureless, muddy bottom. While your instinct tells you to look for structure, the big eyes are often just roaming the middle of nowhere, chasing gizzard shad.
Try trolling a bottom bouncer with a crawler harness, but keep your speed weirdly slow. Like, 0.8 to 1.2 mph. If you’re going 2.0 mph, you’re just giving the fish a parade to watch.
The Gear That Actually Works
Forget the fancy, expensive Japanese swimbaits for a second. At Cherry Creek, color matters because the visibility is often less than three feet.
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- Chartreuse and Orange: The water has a green tint. You need high contrast.
- Vibrating Jigs: Think Blade Baits or Lipless Crankbaits. The fish rely on their lateral lines here more than their eyes.
- Live Bait: Sometimes, you just can't beat a fat leech or a jumbo nightcrawler on a Lindy rig. It's old school, but it works when the bite turns "kinda" mushy.
The Crappie Explosion Nobody Expected
A few years ago, the crappie fishing at the Creek was... okay. Now? It’s genuinely impressive. We’re seeing a lot of black crappie in the 10-to-12-inch range. They love the submerged timber, but good luck finding much of that. Most of the "timber" is just old debris near the marina or the occasional sunken shopping cart (I'm only half-joking).
Look for the marina slips. If you can get permission or fish the public docks nearby, the shade and structure provided by the floating docks are magnetizing. You'll want 4-pound test line. Anything heavier and these fish—which are already nervous from the boat traffic—will see it and head for the deep. Use a tiny 1/32 oz jig head with a white or silver Bobby Garland plastic.
Cast. Let it sink. Count to five. Reel so slow you think you're not even moving. That's the ticket.
Handling the "Commuter Lake" Chaos
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the crowds. If you show up at 10:00 AM on a Saturday in July, you aren't really fishing; you're just participating in a floating mosh pit.
The best Cherry Creek Reservoir fishing happens when the sun isn't up or when the weather is miserable. Walleye love "walleye chop"—that messy, windy surface tension that breaks up the light. When the wind is blowing 15 mph out of the northwest and most boaters are heading for the ramp, that’s when the bite turns on. The waves stir up the nutrients, the baitfish get disoriented, and the predators go on a tear.
If you're a shore angler, the "Tower Loop" area and the dam are your best bets. But honestly, bring waders. Getting even twenty feet off the bank puts you past the moss and the heaviest silt, giving you a much cleaner presentation.
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The Lowdown on Species
- Walleye: The main event. Minimum size is 18 inches, and you can only keep one over 21 inches. Follow the rules; the rangers here are everywhere, and they're strict.
- Trout: CPW stocks thousands of rainbows here every fall and spring. They don't usually survive the heat of a Colorado summer, so target them when the water is cold. They're "stockers," so they'll eat basically anything shiny.
- Wiper: These are a cross between a striped bass and a white bass. They are pure muscle. If you hook one, hold on. They roam the open water in schools. Look for seagulls diving—that’s the sign that Wipers are pushing shad to the surface.
- Largemouth Bass: Not as common as the others, but there are some hogs hiding in the cattails on the south end near the inlet.
The Inlet: A High-Risk, High-Reward Zone
The Cherry Creek Inlet is where the creek actually enters the reservoir. It brings in fresh oxygen and, more importantly, food. After a heavy rain, this area becomes a biological buffet. The water gets chocolate milk brown, which sounds bad, but it’s actually a cloaking device for big fish.
Catfish hunters love this spot. We’re talking Channel Cats that can hit 10 or 15 pounds. Use something stinky. Chicken liver wrapped in pantyhose (so it stays on the hook) or "dip bait" on a sponge. Throw it out into the current and let it sit. It’s lazy fishing, but it’s effective.
Interestingly, the inlet also attracts some of the weirdest catches. Don't be surprised if you pull out a massive Common Carp. They fight like freight trains and, while most people scoff at them, they are a blast on a fly rod or light tackle.
Understanding the Silt Problem
One thing people don't realize about Cherry Creek is how much silt it holds. The bottom isn't hard gravel; it’s mostly muck. This matters for your lure choice. If you're using a heavy jig, it’s going to bury itself in the mud and disappear. You need lures that stay slightly "buoyant" or ride high.
Try using a "floating" jig head on a Carolina rig. The weight sits on the bottom, but the jig floats 12 inches above the muck, right in the strike zone. It’s a subtle shift in tactics that can triple your catch rate.
Real Talk: The Consumption Advisory
I have to mention this because it’s important for your health. The state often has fish consumption advisories for Cherry Creek due to mercury levels, particularly in the older, larger predators like walleye.
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Basically, if you're a pregnant woman or a kid, be really careful. Most local sticks catch and release anyway. The joy of fishing here is outsmarting a pressured fish, not necessarily filling the freezer. If you want a fish fry, maybe head up to some of the high-altitude lakes where the water is a bit more pristine.
Timing Your Trip
- Spring (March-May): Peak Walleye season. Focus on the dam at night. Use jerkbaits like a Smithwick Rogue or a Rapala Husky Jerk. Use a "pause, pause, twitch" cadence. The water is cold, so the fish are sluggish.
- Summer (June-August): Transition to deeper water. The fish move to the 15-25 foot range. This is when the Wiper bite gets hot.
- Fall (September-November): The "Second Spring." Fish move shallow again as the water cools. This is the best time for trophy-sized Trout and Bass.
- Winter: Yes, people ice fish here. It’s sketchy because the aeration systems and the urban heat island effect make the ice unpredictable. Always check the thickness. Don't be the person who ends up on the evening news because they drove their ATV onto four inches of slush.
Practical Steps for Your Next Outing
To actually find success with Cherry Creek Reservoir fishing, stop doing what everyone else is doing.
First, get the CPW "Fishing Atlas" app or look at the contour maps on a Navionics chip. Look for the old creek channel that winds through the center of the lake. Fish don't just sit in the middle of a flat; they sit on the edge of that submerged "riverbank."
Second, watch the weather. A falling barometer—right before a storm hits—is the absolute best time to be on the water. The fish feel the pressure change and go into a feeding frenzy.
Finally, vary your retrieval speed. Most people reel in at a steady, boring pace. Most wounded baitfish don't swim in a straight line at a constant speed. They dart, they stall, they sink. Mimic that.
Buy a State Park pass before you go. The daily fee is around $11, but if you're going more than six times a year, the annual pass pays for itself. Also, make sure your boat is clean, drained, and dry. The inspectors at the ramp are looking for Zebra Mussels, and they will turn you away if you've got standing water in your bilge.
Pick up a few "glass" color lures—translucent plastics with a bit of glitter. In the murky water of the Creek, these catch the stray sunlight and look exactly like the native gizzard shad. Stick to the east side of the lake if the wind is coming from the west to stay in the "lee," or embrace the wind on the dam if you're hunting for the big girls. Stay late. The best bites often happen twenty minutes after you think it's time to go home.
Go to the West Boat Ramp. Walk toward the dam. Look for the "humps" on your sonar about 100 yards out. Drop a white fluke on a drop-shot rig. Hold on tight.