Takeing my 4 year old fishing. Where?

[ColoWyo]

Hey guys. I want to take my four year old out on his first fishing trip. While I have done a ton of fly-fishing in the state, I don't really know where to head with a bobber and worms. Preferably within an hour of Denver.

Any ideas guys? I'd appreciate it.

[Big Wall]

There is a business park on Lincoln just east of I-25 with a pond. That is where I would take my son when we lived in Parker. At first they had rainbow trout in there and then switched to crapie. I improvised some yellow wooly buggerish flies that seemed to work quite wellfor us with a casting buble reeled in slowly. If they have trout in there again, we used salmon eggs. It's been at least 5 years since we've been there though.

[ray1970]

Evergreen. I used to take my son there. They stock the lake so he should catch plenty of fish. Small ones.

[Lurch]

Not sure if they are stocking yet but you should check the DOW as they have a stocking report. I see your down in Elizabeth like me you can go over to the park and catch bass and trout but only on lures no live bait. But you can always have him reel them in. Also if he doesn't get into it your a short ride home. I hear they bite on the little yellow squid looking lures.

[Jmetz]

Quincy and Aurora reservoirs.

ETA: Quincy is artificial only.

[vossman]

Check the CO DOW fishing page and look under reports. They have a listing of the recently stocked lakes. Find one that was stocked last week and you should improve your chances greatly. COS has some good small lakes as well as Monument.

[th3w01f]

I've been looking for something similar for our kids; I grew up in Brighton and Thornton and there were a bunch of lakes with lots of bluegill / sunfish, perch, bass etc but I can't seem to find anything like that south of Denver. My mom used to drop us off at Adams County fairground on her way to work and pick us up on the way home. I'd love to find some lakes like those to take the kids to.

Taking them to Chatfield a few times has just about turned them off of fishing completely; we need to find a place where they can have some fun since we can't seem to ever catch anything at Chatfield or the gravel ponds

I was looking at Adams County on Googlemaps and they've redone it quite a bit, I think the "Fishing is fun Pond" is the one we used to spend our days at. There are some forum posts from last year that sound pretty good.

Just found this and it's not too far from you, if they've recently stocked it would probably be pretty good - http://highlandsranch.org/services/natural-resources/fishing-in-highlands-ranch/

I haven't tried any of them yet.

[Rabid]

I've been looking for something similar for our kids; I grew up in Brighton and Thornton and there were a bunch of lakes with lots of bluegill / sunfish, perch, bass etc but I can't seem to find anything like that south of Denver. My mom used to drop us off at Adams County fairground on her way to work and pick us up on the way home. I'd love to find some lakes like those to take the kids to.

Taking them to Chatfield a few times has just about turned them off of fishing completely; we need to find a place where they can have some fun since we can't seem to ever catch anything at Chatfield or the gravel ponds

I was looking at Adams County on Googlemaps and they've redone it quite a bit, I think the "Fishing is fun Pond" is the one we used to spend our days at. There are some forum posts from last year that sound pretty good.

Just found this and it's not too far from you, if they've recently stocked it would probably be pretty good - http://highlandsranch.org/services/natural-resources/fishing-in-highlands-ranch/

I haven't tried any of them yet.
Good call. Anywhere that has a ton of bluegills and dock is great. I remember the first time i went fishing with my dad clear as day we were hand lining bluegills off a dock.

[newracer]

definitely go to a pond with sunfish, kids need to catch fish

[Stone83]

If you like Crappie and Blue Gill, check out "Barbor ponds" (they spell "Barbor" diffrently)

Take I-25 to either the Frederick or Firestone exit?, the ponds are on the west side of I-25.
I think they have 5 or 7?? fairly small ponds. The bigger ones can get crowded on weekends,
smaller ones more west are better. Use a small jig, and you guys will have fun....good luck!

[Rabid]

A friend of mine told me the bluegills are thick as thieves in the gravel ponds at Chatfield. He was fishing the lake in the lower left of the map where the arrow for "Chatfield Wetlands" is. North of the island. http://www.parks.state.co.us/SiteCollectionImages/parks/Parks/Chatfield/ChatfieldAreaMap.pdf I know there are also a lot of bass and huge catfish in there too.

[Irving]

The pond south of Water World has small mouth bass and crappie. It is catch and release, very small, and a little trashed up, BUT a worm and a bobber and you WILL catch fish.

ETA: I wouldn't drive up from Elizabeth for that pond though. Only worth it if you live close.

[ColoWyo]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the suggestions. I think we might head up to Evergreen tomorrow morning and give it a go.

[jhirsh5280]

Head up north to St. Vrain Stare Park($7 entrance unless you have the pass). It's about a 30 minute drive from Denver (25 north exit Firestone). I take my 3 year old there all the time and I've never been skunked. We use cheater bait (read: Powerbait, rainbow variety) on a hook add a little split shot about a foot from the hook and get it out there about 10-15 feet from shore, then just slowly reel in and you should have a bite in no time. Most I've ever caught up there was 15, fewest 1 but I average about 5. My son loves it because we actually catch instead of watch. I'm a fly fisherman at heart but when my boys want to go I go here. Just beware that they will gut the powerbait so either pinch the barb or have some skinny pliers or forceps to reach down in there and take the hook out. The lakes there are stocked with trout, bass and I once caught a Saugeye there. Good luck and happy fishing
!29041

[buffalobo]

St Vrain State Park(formerly Barbour Ponds) is great place to take the kids during the week. Usually crowded weekends and holidays.

Sent from my DROID Pro using Tapatalk 2