[fishing3o3]

hi im new here, and was wondering whats the best method for catching large bluegill, without using live bait at the chatfield ponds.
o i forgot to ad any one know the best area to catch big bluegills in the south platte ponds? and what kind of jigs do best? color, any info will be much apreciated.

 

[flyfish]

if you are talking about the ponds all the way to the south of Chatfield I have had good luck with oversized flies. use size 4-8 minnow and leech imitations (wooly bugger, tadpole, muddler minnow etc.) I have also used large nymph patterns and hopper imitations from time to time. I occasionally catch largemouth bass on the same flies as well. Hope that helps.

 

[Red Sox Rock]

My dad and i always go to the ponds south of chatfield and have never gotton anything.The fish do love to jump there so try a fly pattern or a topwater.good luck

 

[fishing3o3]

oops my mistake ive never fished in the chatfield ponds i dont think, are they called the dog ponds? can someone show me where it is, i would like to go there.
i actually go to the south platte ponds, i used to catch huge gills there a couple years ago, now they just disapeared, pretty large bass living there though.

 

[cowboyfisherman]

From what I understand, the "Dog Ponds" are two ponds behind the Dam area (if you are on the lake looking at the Dam). The "Dog Ponds" is an area where numerous people take their dogs to run (what we use to do).
If you go into the Park off of Wadsworth, after the Main Gate, there is a Stop Sign (right in front of the beach area), turn left there and follow the road up and over the Dam. Once you are at the bottom of the Dam, look to your left and you should see the ponds.
Cody

 

[fishing3o3]

im still a little lost the chatfield ponds and the dog ponds are the same thing? sorry for all the questions!
and i was at the south platte ponds today and stumbled into some mega huge catfish bones, i mean this thing looked like it could swallow a 1liter bottle with no problems, any one ever fish for catfish in these ponds?

 

[Red Sox Rock]

Ok when u enter the park u go down the hill to the entrance gate to get ur tickect for the day.Further down the road is a stop sign if u go right at the stop sign and take that road for a while u'll see two big ponds "chatfield ponds".If u go left at the stop sign and go over and behind the damn those are the "dog ponds".hope that helps.

 

[fishing3o3]

thank you i havent been to chatfield for a long time now, but i think i have an idea where it is thanks, hows the catfish there?

 

[Night_Shadows]

We have been hanging around Chatfield alot the past month, the "Chatfield ponds" to the left are also known as gravel ponds and are said to have Catfish but talking to people there it is very hit and miss, there are TONS of bugs, kind of swamp like on the left, but if your going to try, walk to the back of the pond, as the front half is usually pretty full of people, but most are too lazy to walk. There is also an area across from those ponds called King Fisher area, lots of people fishing during the day, but not sure what they catch.
The dog ponds on the right behind the dam and spillway, are okay but haven't caught in catfish. And you'll have a hard time if you try to fish there during the day, because they are "dog ponds" and there are tons of people with dogs swimming. We have caught a few sm bass 8-10inches (of course threw them back)
Look at my post called "Fun & Luck" it has pretty good info on the spillway and there have been alot of people catching big cats there. Hope that helps & Good luck.

 

[idratherbfishing]

Hey Fishing 3o3,

Try this from an earlier post it may help explain which body of water is which at chatfield.

Here is an Aerial Photo of the Chatfield area,  Hopefully its big enough to make sense.  If its not let me know and I can e-mail a larger version.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/idratherbfishing/ChatfieldAerialView.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

The top is north so I will use that as reference.

North of the dam you see C-470.  The ponds to the north of that are not part of Chatfield.  They are the South Platte Ponds  They are usually good for bluegill and bass using typical baits and lures.

South of 470 there are several bodies of water north of the reservoir they are from left to right known as: Spillway (more or less square shaped), Chatfield outlet and South Platte River, Dog Ponds (2 side by side bodies forming an elbow shape)

South of these is the reservoir.

South of the reservoir you have the South Platte River emptying into the reservoir.

West of the South Platte and South of the Reservoir are the Chatfield ponds.  The further north ones are accessible from inside the park.  The further south ones are accessible from from Wadsworth near the Waterton Canyon turn off.

A parks pass is required for all areas except for the South Platte Ponds.  If you walk or bike in I think its not required.  But don't qoute me on that!

Hope this helps clear up what we are talking about.

Dan