Fishing with Children in Colorado: Best Places to Fish

When fishing with children in Colorado, you want a place where the kids can have fun while fishing. For kids, catching fish is much more fun than just the activity itself, so look for fishing spots where children can have some success, even if it is a small one. In addition, fishing with children is more fun when there are other activities for the kids in case they get easily bored and want to do something else. Children often enjoy fishing from the shore or a dock because they can always explore if the fish aren't biting.

With this in mind, here are some of best places to fish with kids in the Colorado Front Range around Denver.

Best Places for Fishing with Children in Colorado - Bear Creek Reservoir
One of the best places to fish with children in the Denver metro area is Bear Creek Reservoir in Bear Creek Lake Park at the junction of 470 and Morrison Road in Lakewood. Bear Creek Reservoir is stocked May through September with rainbow trout, saugeye, small mouth bass, and yellow perch. Small mouth bass are particularly abundant, making Bear Creek Reservoir a great place for fishing with children in Colorado, since they can have easy success catching fish. It is also a quick trip from the south and west sides of Denver, allowing for short fishing trip with kids.

Children can fish from the shore, dock, or boat if you have one (limited to 10HP at Bear Creek Reservoir). The cost is $5 for a day pass or $45 for an annual pass. Children can also swim in the park, so if fishing with the children doesn't work out, they have other activities at hand.

Best Places for Fishing with Children in Colorado - Barr Lake
If you live on the Northeast side of Denver, Barr Lake State Park is an easy trip for going fishing with children in Colorado. Barr Lake State Park is stocked with channel catfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass, rainbow trout, walleye, bluegill, wiper and tiger muskie. Children enjoy fishing from the shore or the dock; you can also launch boats on the north side of Barr Lake (limited to 10HP). The southern half of the lake is a wildlife refuge and boating and fishing are not permitted there. A daily pass is $6 or an annual pass is $60.

Best Places for Fishing with Children in Colorado - Evergreen Lake
Located off I-70 in Evergreen, Evergreen Lake is a great place to go fishing with children in Colorado. Not only is it scenic, it is free to fish from the shore or to boat in Evergreen Lake. Only electric engines are allowed, no gas powered engines. You can also rent small boats from the lake house. The lake is stocked monthly in the summer and is great place for kids to catch some fish. There is a scenic trail around the lake for children to burn off energy when not fishing.

Best Places for Fishing with Children in Colorado - Georgetown Lake
For a daytrip out of Denver to go fishing with your children, Georgetown Lake makes a great adventure. Easily accessible off of I-70 in Georgetown, children can fish for free from the shore or from a boat here. Only non-motorized fishing boats allowed. Frequently stocked, Georgetown Lake has a number of rainbow and brown trout for children to catch. Make a day to remember and fish in the morning and then take your kid to the Georgetown Energy Museum to teach them how the reservoir not only is for fishing but for powering the town. Or take your child on the Georgetown loop railroad for a memorable fishing day.

Best Places For Fishing with Children in Colorado - Eldorado State Park
Lakes aren't the only places to take children fishing in Colorado. Rivers also offer great opportunities for fishing with kids. A good river for fishing with children is South Boulder Creek in Eldorado State Park. You can teach your kids to fly fish here, or they can just do regular fishing at some of the fishing holes along the creek. Even if the kids don't catch fish here, they will love exploring along the river. Fees are $7 daily or $60 for an annual pass.

Things to Remember when Fishing with Kids in Colorado
Adults must have a fishing license to fish in Colorado. Annual license for Colorado residents is $26. Children under age 16 can fish without a license. See here for more information on license and fishing regulations. Colorado has a license-free fishing the first weekend in June 2009. Anyone can fish without a license on this weekend.

If you want to check fishing reports and conditions at various fishing places throughout Colorado see here. Have fun fishing with your children this summer in Colorado!