Best Time to Fish in Denver
Colorado · Friday, September 11
🌅
6:38 AM
Sunrise
🌇
7:17 PM
Sunset
🌙
0%
Moon
The next 7 days in Denver
| Day | Dawn window | Dusk window | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6:08 AM – 7:38 AM | 5:47 PM – 7:47 PM | 🌑 New Moon · 0% |
| Sat, Sep 12 | 6:09 AM – 7:39 AM | 5:45 PM – 7:45 PM | 🌑 New Moon · 1% |
| Sun, Sep 13 | 6:10 AM – 7:40 AM | 5:44 PM – 7:44 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 5% |
| Mon, Sep 14 | 6:11 AM – 7:41 AM | 5:42 PM – 7:42 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 10% |
| Tue, Sep 15 | 6:12 AM – 7:42 AM | 5:40 PM – 7:40 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 17% |
| Wed, Sep 16 | 6:13 AM – 7:43 AM | 5:39 PM – 7:39 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 26% |
| Thu, Sep 17 | 6:14 AM – 7:44 AM | 5:37 PM – 7:37 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 36% |
Dawn and dusk windows are computed from sunrise/sunset for Denver; times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Today's best windows in Denver
🌅 Dawn — 6:08 AM to 7:38 AM
The first light window is the most reliable bite of the day for most species — fish move shallow to feed before the sun gets high.
🌇 Dusk — 5:47 PM to 7:47 PM
The last couple hours of light are the second prime window, especially as water cools and bait moves.
🌙 Moon — New Moon (0% lit)
Solunar feeding activity peaks around the new and full moons. Overlap a solunar period with dawn or dusk and you have the best window of the day.
Sunrise, sunset, and moon phase are computed for Denver (Colorado); times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Get the precise solunar + tide forecast for your spot
Dawn and dusk are the reliable daily answer, but the exact solunar major/minor periods and the tides for the specific water you're fishing shift day to day. The MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner pulls live NOAA, USGS, and solunar data to score the best times for your exact Denver spot.
See the AI Trip Planner →Best season to fish Denver
The plains reservoirs fish from ice-out in spring through fall — walleye and bass in spring and summer, trout stocked and catchable most of the year, and kokanee salmon best in late summer and fall. The mountain trout rivers and tailwaters fish year-round: the tailwaters below the dams (South Platte, Blue River, Arkansas) stay open and productive even in winter because the water is cold and steady. High-country lakes and streams are best from summer after ice-out through fall. Winter turns many reservoirs into ice-fishing destinations for trout, walleye, and perch when the ice is safe.
Best time to fish in Denver — FAQ
What is the best time of day to fish in Denver?
The most reliable windows are the low-light hours around sunrise and sunset. Today in Denver, sunrise is about 6:38 AM and sunset about 7:17 PM, so the dawn and dusk windows either side of those are your best bets — especially on an overcast day or a moving tide.
Does the moon affect fishing in Denver?
Yes. The strongest solunar feeding periods and biggest tides come around the new and full moons. The moon is currently a New Moon (0% illuminated). For the precise solunar major/minor times and tides for your exact spot, use the MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner.
What is the best season to fish in Denver?
The plains reservoirs fish from ice-out in spring through fall — walleye and bass in spring and summer, trout stocked and catchable most of the year, and kokanee salmon best in late summer and fall. The mountain trout rivers and tailwaters fish year-round: the tailwaters below the dams (South Platte, Blue River, Arkansas) stay open and productive even in winter because the water is cold and steady. High-country lakes and streams are best from summer after ice-out through fall. Winter turns many reservoirs into ice-fishing destinations for trout, walleye, and perch when the ice is safe.
Do I need a fishing license to fish in Denver?
Yes — most adult anglers need a Colorado fishing license. See the Colorado fishing license guide for 2026 resident and non-resident prices, who's exempt, and where to buy.
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