Jamie Mackie opened the scoring after only two minutes, Andy Reid doubled the lead five minutes after half-time and Henri Lansbury made it three in the 65th minute.
Bolton, who had Darren Pratley sent off eight minutes into the second half, were one of the pre-season promotion favourites but they have taken only two points from their opening three games.
Watford are second but had to show their battling qualities in the match of the day against Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Adam Le Fondre (8) and Jem Karacan (42) put Reading two up at the break and, although Marco Faraoni pulled one back in the 66th minute, Karacan restored the Royals' two-goal advantage four minutes later.
Watford were not finished, though, and Troy Deeney reduced the arrears with a 76th-minute penalty before substitute Diego Fabbrini rescued a 3-3 draw with an injury-time strike.
Blackpool, Burnley, QPR and Leicester also have seven points, with young striker Tom Hitchcock scoring a last-minute winner on his Rangers debut to give Harry Redknapp's side a dramatic 1-0 victory over Ipswich.
Leicester beat local rivals Derby by the same score, the only goal coming in the 37th minute as a Paul Coutts clearance hit goalkeeper Lee Grant for an unfortunate own goal.
Blackpool thought they would be joining Forest on nine points when Chris Basham gave them an 83rd-minute lead against Middlesbrough but the hosts were rewarded for persistence as Marvin Emnes made it 1-1 with almost the last kick of the game.
Burnley left it late against Yeovil, Keith Treacy (74) and Sam Vokes (79) earning them a 2-0 victory at Turf Moor.
Source: PA
Source: PA