Creel surveys are the most common angler use survey used by fisheries managers but can be time intensive and expensive to conduct. Time‐lapse cameras have been evaluated as a cost‐efficient alternative to creel surveys on small lakes, streams, and nearshore marine systems but have yet to be evaluated on a reservoir. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of using time‐lapse cameras to assess angling use on a high‐use reservoir and provide methodology for use by fisheries managers. One time‐lapse trail camera was installed at a heavily used boat ramp at Lake Pleasant, a large reservoir located near Phoenix, Arizona, from December 2015 to May 2016. A single observer counted fishing and recreational boats and tracked individual fishing boat trips using a randomized schedule. Camera data were first validated against creel counts conducted in person, and subsequent corrected counts were used to estimate both angling and boating use for the study period. Camera counts were easily corrected using the validation approach and were more cost effective than traditional creel survey methods. Overall, we found that time‐lapse cameras can efficiently and accurately collect angler use data on a high‐use reservoir and thus provide a useful alternative to stand‐alone creel surveys. Creel surveys are the most common angler use survey used by fisheries managers but can be time intensive and expensive to conduct. Time‐lapse cameras have been evaluated as a cost‐efficient alternative to creel surveys on small lakes, streams, and nearshore marine systems but have yet to be evaluated on a reservoir. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of using time‐lapse cameras to assess angling use on a high‐use reservoir and provide methodology for use by fisheries managers. One time‐lapse trail camera was installed at a heavily used boat ramp at Lake Pleasant, a large reservoir located near Phoenix, Arizona, from December 2015 to May 2016. A single observer counted fishing and recreational boats and tracked individual fishing boat trips using a randomized schedule. Camera data were first validated against creel counts conducted in person, and subsequent corrected counts were used to estimate both angling and boating use for the study period. Camera counts were easily corrected using the validation approach and were more cost effective than traditional creel survey methods. Overall, we found that time‐lapse cameras can efficiently and accurately collect angler use data on a high‐use reservoir and thus provide a useful alternative to stand‐alone creel surveys.