Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Trout fishery restored at Lake John

WALDEN, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has completed a reclamation project at Lake John, setting the stage for a rejuvenated fishery that will be open for angling in early September.  Lake John is located northwest of Walden along CO Road 7A.

“The success we have had with the reclamation is like a reset button for Lake John," said Kurt Davies, aquatic biologist for the northeast region. "The lake will be back online by the first week of September and back to growing fish at its maximum potential. The fish we are planting now will see tremendous growth before the lake is even iced up and with the large brood fish we are putting in there, there's the possibility someone will hook into a real trophy.”

Parks and Wildlife biologists and managers anticipate dramatic improvements in Lake John post –reclamation. Signs posted at the entrance to Lake John will notify the public of the re-opened fishery in the near future.

"The reclamation has been very successful to this point and I'm looking forward to seeing anglers catch fish out of Lake John this September," said Walden District Wildlife Manager Josh Dilley. "This water is important to the local economy as well as to the recreation of my district.

To learn more about Colorado Parks and Wildlife's fish management, go to:

http://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/Management/Pages/Management.aspx


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

LFC exclusive: new thermocline data for Lon Hagler!


Give Tom Miller a new toy, and he'll try it out on the water.  Lately he's equipped that new pontoon boat of his a temperature probe, and he's coming up with information I've never seen before on Carter Lake (see related story) and most recently, Lon Hagler.

On Aug. 18, Tom took Lon Hagler temperature readings at depths ranging from the surface down to 40 feet.
The temperature was virtually constant, 74 degrees F at the surface down to 72.6 degrees at 20 feet.  And then, at 25 feet,  he found - the thermocline!  Drag your lure or worm along at the 25 foot level and the temperature is more than 6 degrees cooler.   

Rainbow trout are said to prefer a temperature of 56-62 degrees, walleye from about 67-72, and warmwater species like largemouth and bluegill prefer it between 70 and 85.  Draw your own conclusions. 
Here are Tom's readings:
  • Surface:               74 degrees
  • 5 foot                    73.8
  • 10 foot                  73.8
  • 15 foot                  73.2
  • 20 foot                  72.6
  • 25 foot                  65.9
  • 30 foot                  62.1
  • 35 foot                  59.1
  • 40 foot                  58

Monday, August 15, 2011

Club members featured in videos on fishing in Loveland and the Big Thompson River



Two new videos produced by NoCO Link highlight fishing opportunities and wildlife viewing in the Loveland area.  Past Club President Tom Miller narrates "Fishing in Loveland," with additional commentary by club members Aimee Ryel, Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Wildlife Manager; and Walt Graul, head of the Friends of the Big Thompson.
Tom talks about Loveland area lake and stream fishing, Aimee describes fishing and wildlife along the Big Thompson, and Walt talks about unique aspects of the river that flows along U.S. 34 between Estes Park and Loveland.
Here are links to the two videos:

NoCO Link products videos about local businesses and nonprofit organizations, and produces 30-minute shows that air on
NoCo Channel 5 (Comcast 8 or 14) and at 10:30 p.m. on KCDO-TV Channel 3

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

REPOSTED: Learn where Carter Lake fish are hiding this summer!

Editors note:  some faithful readers had trouble opening the spread sheet, so this article is being reposted as text only...

Tom Miller, never content to just catch fish, wants to know where they're spending hot summer months.  He's just recorded temperature readings at various depths of Carter Lake, giving us giving us important data about possible fish location.  Let him know if you find it useful; he may do it for other lakes.