Loveland Fishing Club Blog

The annual dinner will be held at Chilson Center on Friday, Jan. 19, with serving beginning at 5 p.m. Spouses or another guest are welcome at this annual free event, which includes installation of 2018 club officers. Signup information will be distributed beforehand.

Because of the New Year's Day holiday the January board meeting will be held on Tuesday.  All members are welcome.

It's been a long, warm lead-up to winter, but the folks at Lake John are reporting solid ice and good early season fishing.  So Norm Engelbrecht will be leading a crew to the lake west of Walden on Wednesday, Dec. 27, returning Dec. 28. Plans are still tentative; they'll overnight in Walden.  Interested?  Contact Norma at 970-669-4984. 

As always, no formal agenda for the December.  We'll run over the possibilities for club officers, head for the cookies and coffee, and then have our annual gift exchange. Remember, if you want to participate, get something (new) for about 10 bucks, and wrap it up but don't put your name on it.  We have a kind of raffle to decide who gets to pick first.

It's early December, a time when Norm Englebrecht starts getting hungry for Rocky Mountain oysters.  Which means it's time for one of the club's most cherished traditions:  a road trip to Bruce's! Spouses are encouraged to come along on this one; assure them that alternatives meal choices exist, but the big draw is All-You-Can-Eat Oysters.   The plan is to gather at the southeast corner of the King Sooper Parking Lot off Lincoln Avenue and 29th Street at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, and carpool to Bruce's, a half-hour or so northeast of Loveland.  Or just meet us there about noon.  It's a pretty big place, but we make up a pretty large crowd, so let Norm know whether you plan to join us. DIRECTIONS:   Take I-25 to Harmony Road in Fort Collins (38E toward Timnath) and head east about 7 miles to Severance.  Look for Bruce's on the left.  Or take  Colorado 392 through Windsor to U.S. 85, then go north about 4 miles to first street i...

It's been nearly 15 years since charter members got a hat with the Loveland Fishing Club logo.  Most are getting kinda dirty and worn. So get yourself a new one!  George Kral has lined up a local embroiderer to create some flashy new ones.  You have a choice of three styles - one with a bass, a walleye or trout.  Cost is about $25. Contact George as soon as possible - Friday at breakfast, or click here to e-mail him. Here's what they look like (plus the club logo on the front)

That'll be it for the season, folks.  The Horsetooth South Bay ramp and North ramp at Carter will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, except for Thanksgiving.  No definite date has been set for Boyd, where boating remains open seven days a week at least through November. 

Okay, last week at Carter worked pretty well:  good turnout, reasonably good trout fishing.  Kind of a rotten week, but the forecast looks good for Friday.  Want to try Carter again, or somewhere else?  We can decide at breakfast - or discuss on the Facebook page.  Click here .  If you don't have a Larimer park pass we can carpool. Wayne and I are heading to Windsor Lake around 10:30 a.m. Thursday if anyone wants to join us.  We'll meet by the boat ramp, a few blocks north of downtown.

Per our earlier discussion, about a dozen of us fished Carter Lake after Friday's breakfast. We didn't demolish the local fish population but everyone caught at least a few, no one fell in, and a chilly morning turned into a beautiful day. So a throw a pole in the truck again next Friday and, weather and spouse permitting, let's do it again. Open to suggestions on where, but Carter seems like a good option. Or perhaps Rivers Edge? Follow the discussion on the Facebook page .

It’s supposed to be downright balmy Friday, so let’s go fishing. I’m thinking Carter Lake, recently stocked with trout, but we can finalize that at breakfast.  There’s a Larimer County Parks entry fee, but some of us have permits, and we can carpool. So bring a pole and your favorite bait to breakfast. If we do settle on Carter, we can gather around the boat ramp on the northeast end of the lake.  Questions? Drop me an email by clicking  Here.

Richard asked at our October meeting whether anyone was planning a Carter Lake bank fishing trip anytime soon.  I don't think there was, but it raises a reasonable follow-up question:  While we wait on the lakes to freeze over, should we try our luck from the bank after breakfast, weather permitting? We could try: Rivers Edge or the Recycle Pond, right down the road from Perkins The north end of Carter Lake, off the boat ramp Boyd Lake marina bay Horsetooth, South Bay or maybe the outlet. We could plan a regular Friday outing and then decide yes or no at breakfast.  If it's to Carter or Horsetooth we could carpool for those lacking a Larimer County parks pass.  Just bring your pole and some worms (and maybe a folding chair for you old-timers) to breakfast and maybe put it to good use. Any interest?  You can't respond on this blog, but I'll move the conversation to the Loveland Fishing Club Facebook page,  https://www.facebook.com/groups/Lovelan...

Fishing in a steady, icy rainfall, Don Knudsen caught only a single fish during the Loveland Fishing Club's annual tournament Wednesday, but the 17 1/4-inch largemouth earned him bragging rights, $25 and his name on the club's rotating trophy as top angler. John Gwinnup also earned $25with the largest non-bass of the day, an 8-inch crappie. Temperatures hovered around 50 degrees throughout the morning, but we had a strong turnout and a great time at Swift Ponds, as guests of Colorado Youth Outdoors. 2017 tourney winners - John, left, and Don.  That's Leland Carpenter, last year's winner, in the background.

Don't worry about Leland kicking your butt again Wednesday; as winner of last year's club tournament, it's is turn to cook us a celebratory meal.  Just show up at the Swift Ponds pavilion before 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 with a fishing pole.  To get there, turn right off I-25 at the highway 392 exit west of Windsor; then take a left at the light on County Road 5.  Go north about 3 miles then left on Kechter Road and look for the Colorado Youth Outdoors entrance.  The pavilion will be on your left. Remember, no live bait, and catch and release only.   We'll be measuring each other's catch, and there will be two prizes - one for biggest bass, one for biggest fish that's not a bass.

Flatiron Reservoir is still low and pretty fishless because of construction, and the club will hold its annual tournament at Swift Ponds, north of Windsor, on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Details will be announced at the general meeting Tuesday, Sept. 20.  But here are a few highlights: Catch and release only.  Our friends at Colorado Youth Outdoors would be really annoyed if we tried to hold a fish fry. One pole at a time, using one set of hooks. There are no trout in Swift Ponds, so we're dropping the "Biggest four-fish string" criteria.  We'll have only two prizes, one for biggest bass and another for biggest fish that's not a bass, so Norm can try to submit another 36-inch " walleye ." There'll be two cash prizes, but only the angler with the biggest bass will have his or her name engraved on the traveling trophy as this year's grand prize winner. Leland Carpenter, last year's champ, will be this year's cook for the post-tourn...

Click on this link to access photos taken during the Senior Derby. The Loveland Fishing Club's annual Senior Derby creeps a bit bigger each year, drawing nearly a hundred elderly anglers to the Loveland River's Edge Natural Area.  Together with 98 preregistered guest, accompanying staff from area assisted living centers, and about 40 club members / fishing guides, we packed that park and terrorized the fish population. "From just about any perspective, this was another great event for us," says Ray Park, event chair and a principal organizer since the event was launched in 2011.  It was a bit warm for mid September, but not uncomfortable for our guests, though John Grady didn't draw the usual crowd to his river's edge campfire. Ramona and her 13 1/2 inch largemouth 95-year-old Gerald Ravenscroft Big fish of the day winner Lloyd Mobley, with Karol Stroschein Best fishing hat of the derby, great on a sunny day. We're not sure who w...

One of the club's responsibilities is to help with the annual Harvest Bazaar, planned for 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions; please sign up at the Chilson Center or at the club breakfast Friday.  See Karol Stroschein for more information. Meals will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; cost of $5 in advance, $6 at the door.

Emmet Jones, Dave Boyle and Dan Barker helped mentor youngsters fishing at Swift Ponds this weekend, and Emmet decided to try the fishing himself afterwards, and landed the fat largemouth at left.  CYO holds events like this for youngsters throughout the year.  For more information contact Dave or visit their website,  http://www.coloradoyo.org/

Your help is needed to make this annual event a success.  Just show up before 9 a.m. Wednesday and we'll find you something fun and rewarding to do.   For the first time, The Loveland Fishing Club’s annual Senior Derby will be held at Loveland’s River’s Edge Natural Area.  More than 160 residents of the city’s assisted living centers and other seniors signed up through Chilson Senior Center are expected to attend, an all-time high for an event held annually since 2011.  The derby will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13 on ponds at River’s Edge, at  960 West 1 st  St, with fishing followed by a cookout.  Club members will serve as guides for participating anglers, provide a campfire and offer prizes for participants. Other seniors are welcome to attend the free event, but only pre-registered guests will be eligible to compete.  The fishing derby has previously been held at Flatiron Reservoir.  “Flatiron is not available...

Jim Roode and Bill Prater, for two.  We're plotting a possible fly fishing adventure in the 49th state in summer 2017, and looking for comrades.  One strong possibility is a week-long float trip in August or early September.  We'd float down a river near Dillingham, near Bristol Bay west of Anchorage, traveling aboard 14-foot rubber rafts and camping along the way.  Two well-recommended guides would take up to four people in search of coho, silver and pink salmon, along with rainbows, grayling and Dolly Varden.  Here's a link to their website:   http:// adventuresontheflyalaska.com For more information, contact me or Jim .

Because of the Labor Day holiday, the September board meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at the Chilson Center. All club members are welcome.  Some more than others, of course.  😜

One of the club's responsibilities is to help with the annual Harvest Bazaar, planned for 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions; please sign up at the Chilson Center. Meals will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; cost of $5 in advance, $6 at the door.

Club Members, there is a quiet but growing movement toward a legendary fishing trip to Alaska, by plane or by truck.  To date the discussion has been limited to a pair of the club's most renowned, seasoned fishermen - okay, me and Jim Roode - stout-hearted anglers with many, many rods and reels but absolutely zero experience in the Alaskan backwoods.   So we're not exactly sure when, where or how we should do this, or whether grizzlies are as gnarly as their reputations.  But before we tell our wives about this great planned addition to our Bucket Lists, it seems prudent to plan this out with a sizeable pack of eager cohorts, at least some of whom we can outrun. So, who's with us, gang ?  If you've ever thought about this kind of venture, or done it and have wisdom or remorse to share, let us hear from you .   Ever taken the Alaskan Highway?   Rented a vehicle from someone who'll let you take it into the Alaskan back country?   Figure...

Another year, another successful club picnic.  This year's event at Loveland's Railroad Park draw nearly a hundred picnickers, lured by steaks, chicken and each other's cooking.  To see other photos from the annual confab, click here:   2017 LFC Picnic Comparing aches and pains.  Past President Norm Engelbrecht, recovering from recent surgeries, compares notes with Club Treasurer Barb Ding, whose back went out on her during last week's Ranger Lakes campout.

Fred and Keith tend the steaks under the umbrella  One annual tradition of the annual Ranger Lake campout is a serious downpour or two, and we pretty much followed that tradition every day of this year's trip, and added a little hail just before the Wednesday steak cookout.  Still, the crew got out every morning, and a great time was had by all. Can't wait until next year. Good thing we brought grills. Photos by Jean Clune Right after the hailstorm, back to the business of dinner.

DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife will host the Northeast Region Sportsmen’s Roundtable Regional Caucus Wednesday, Aug. 2 at the Council Tree Library (2733 Council Tree Ave., Fort Collins), 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The meeting will provide an opportunity for northeast region hunters and anglers to meet with Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff, as well as the region’s delegates to the statewide Roundtable, Steve Hilde, Kent Ingram and Ryan Urie. In addition, the following topics will be discussed: --Next steps for the financial sustainability of the agency --Lonetree Reservoir lease --Status of recreational shooting ​on ​National Forest lands --Hot topics from the Commission meetings --Issues of concern brought by the attending sportsmen and women “We are facing some challenges with regard to funding the agency into the future,” said Mark Leslie, northeast region manager for CPW. “The Front Range is growing and we would like our sportsmen and sportswomen to work with us to ensure the future ...

In honor of deceased club members, the Loveland Fishing Club has entered into a partnership with Colorado Youth Outdoors to help fund outdoor recreational activities that strengthen the relationship between youngsters and their families. Unless earmarked for other projects by family members,   In Memoriam   funds donated to the club will now go into a special CYO Loveland Fishing Club Members fund that will be used to help with the nonprofit's work at Swift Ponds outdoor education and recreational facility northwest of Windsor. The first donation of $300 was made in memory of Dave O. Harem, 81, the club's first treasurer and one of the club's most active volunteers with the annual Loveland Police Kids Derby, the Fishing Club Senior Derby and other projects.  The money was given to the club by family and friends in lieu of flowers after his death in February 2017. "This is a very appropriate way to help us honor the memory of Dave and other club members ...

Dave Boyle, right, enjoys day of fishing San Diego Bay with Sheila Miller's brother.

How's this for unexpected good news:  Pamela Johnson of the Reporter Herald reports Lonetree will remain open for public fishing after the state's lease expires.  Here's a link to the article: http://www.reporterherald.com/news/ci_31132305/new-manager-says-public-boating-fishing-continue-at Tuesday, Berthoud Heritage Metropolitan District, which won the new lease, announced that they will not only continue to allow fishing and boating but have plans to improve the reservoir. Details of that access and any planned improvements have not yet been released, the district reported in a press release.

The city is creatiing a master plan for a 9-mile section of the river as it runs through the city.  If you want to add your thoughts to the discussion, you can take an online survey between now and midnight July 16.  Here's the link . Our government liaison is Jim Roode, who can be reached by clicking here . As Walt Graal noted in a posting on the club Facebook page;  "Wonder if anyone thinks it might be useful to suggest that they put some focus on improving the fish quality in the river via flow considerations, habitat improvement, and perhaps some more restrictive regulations on trout? Ketchup, Idaho and Pueblo are two quick examples of what can be done - both attract anglers to the cities and have a positive impact upon city coffers."

This year's annual Girl Scout fishing days at Swift Ponds are off to a great start.  About 120 young anglers enjoyed a great day of fishing Tuesday, with plenty of volunteers and plenty of fish to hold their attention.  A second day is set for Tuesday, June 20, beginning at 9 a.m.  Please join us. This kid ought to be in our club. Most of the girls had good luck; this one had good skills.  With Tom Miller and a Girl Scout leader, showing off the three nice-sized largemouths she landed at Swift Ponds.  

Okay, so 15 seconds after Walt release this big girl I remembered to ask, "So, you want to measure her?"  Great day on the lake anyway.  Forget your darned walleyes.  Smallmouth fishing is hot.   Photo by Bill Prater

This from Chad LaChance, Fishful Thinker: Hi Bill...thanks for reaching out! Please do let the Loveland Fishing Club know of FishFest and we hope a bunch of you show up! It is a charity event so we're hoping to sell all 200 lunches and a bunch of raffle tix with all proceeds going to Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County. There will be angler education in sonar/gps, knot tying, casting (fly and conv), and more. We ask folks to preregister if possible so we can keep a head count for event sponsors. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fishful-thinkers-fishfest-2017-registration-34986001071?aff=eac2Thanks again! CL

T his sounds like fun.  Anyone interested?  Chad LaChance and the rest of the Fishful Thinker crew are  planning a "FishFest '17" on Sunday, June 25 from 8 a.m. to noon at the South Bay Pavilion at Horsetooth.  It's planned as a good event for kids, so bring along your grandkids if you've got them (or great-grandkids for you really old coots).  You need to register, and there's a maximum of 200 attendees.  More information can be found here . 

From Ray Park:  The time is upon us to discuss the upcoming Senior Fishing Derby. Because we have had to change our location this year to River's Edge Natural Area, we have made many changes in our program. These changes need to be discussed as to how they might affect your group. By now you most likely have known the Derby will be September 13, starting at 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM . We will have a meeting at the Chilson Center on June 27, starting at 1:30 in the Party Room which is by the pool. We will have time to discuss all questions that might be out there concerning these changes. This will be open to all members that might wish to voice ideas 

A memorial open house in Ron's honor will be held at the Berthoud Community Center at 248 Welch Ave in Berthoud, CO on  Saturday, June 10, 2017 from 11:00am-4:00pm . Please go to  www.viegutfuneralhome.com  for on-line condolences.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Colorado Sheet Metal Worker's Family Assistance Fund at P.O. Box 27910 Denver, CO 80227, Fisher House at 111 Rockville Pike #420 Rockville, MD 20850 or  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital  at 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105

The following news release was published Sunday in the Loveland Reporter Herald.  Tom Miller, Dennis Kelsey and Bill Prater will again be leading the clinic.  If you'd like to help, just be at the Heinricy outlet parking lot area about 8:30 a.m. Join a park naturalist and the Loveland Fishing Club for a Family Fishing Clinic at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 10 at Boyd Lake State Park, in the south Heinricy parking lot. Learn about Colorado fish and how to make a catch.  Loaner poles and gear will be available with reservation.  Live bait, hoos and bobbers will be provided. Ages 16-plus are required to have a fishing license.  Register early as the free clinic is limited to 20 people. For details, call 669-1739

More than 400 young anglers and their families lined the banks of the North Lake Duck Pond Saturday, and put a pretty heavy dent in the trout population. Prizes of fishing tackle boxes and spin cast rod and reels were awarded throughout the day for raffle winners, made possible through donations from Cabelas, Jax and Sportsmen's Warehouse. The big winners for the day included the largest trout, a 14-inch rainbow caught by Keira Byl; the smallest was an 8 1/2 rainbow hauled in by Nika Green.  About 900 trout were stocked in the pond on Friday by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the unlucky trout who fell to kids' fishing were cleaned and cooked for those kids by volunteers from Colorado Youth Outdoors. The Loveland Fishing Club continued its heavy support of the annual event, managing the prize program, loaning poles and providing the anglers with bait. To view and choose from photos taken during the event, click  here.   To download, right click on a photo. LFC...

Water from Horseshoe Reservoir finally began flowing into the Boyd Marina inlet Sunday - and blasted a gaping hole in the new gizmo carrying water under the road into Boyd. Water is now pouring into Boyd from the newly dug channel and the old one.  Anglers were already lined up on both sides of the inlet waiting for action Monday, but foul weather limited success. Combat fishermen started lining the irrigation canal leading into Horseshoe at the junction of Monroe and 40th Street earlier last week. Okay, seemed like a good idea... At the first sign of water from Horseshoe, the new inlet pond into Boyd parted like a remake of Moses and the Red Sea.  Photo by Bill Prater

The Loveland Police Fishing Derby is right around the corner, June 3, and Jim Visger's needing help with the poles we loan out to tiny anglers. We need about eight volunteers to help get loaner poles ready.  Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the club's storage shed in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife facility at Lon Hagler (fenced in building on the left as you drive toward the reservoir). Contact Jim at visgermnj@aol.com; 970-800-3399.

The Loveland Police Fishing Derby is set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 3 at the North Lake Park Duck Pond, and we'll need every available club member to volunteer.  The club handles registration, fish measuring, tackle as needed, and hourly raffles for the kids, along with prizes for biggest and smallest trout.

Okay, while the rest of us stayed home Wednesday watching " Dancing with the Stars"  reruns, Dan Barker was at Boyd Lake, subduing in this 20.5 inch, 5.4 pound largemouth.  That's well above the minimum  18 inches for a Colorado Master Angler award, and I'm assuming puts him in a solid early lead for Loveland Fishing Club Angler of the Year!  Not a bad day's work. Photo by Kathleen Barker

Reporter Pamela Johnson of the Loveland Reporter Herald says the lease agreement on recreational water rights is in limbo, but there may be a one-year extension to allow for further talks. Here's a link to her article in today's Reporter Herald:

The forecast for Thursday is lousy, so we're reluctantly scrubbing the planned Boyd Lake Boat Day.  Dave Boyle will reschedule as weather permits.

Horsetooth  South Bay: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 days a week Inlet Bay: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 days a week Satanka: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 days a week Carter North Ramp: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 days a week South Shore: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 days a week North Pines: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday For information about annual and daily entrance permits, boat inspections and reservoir conditions for fishing, visit www.larimer.org/naturalresources.

Meet near the boat launch.   Here's the pairing for the day.  Organizer Dave Boyle says i f you're not on the list but would like to join in, we should be able to work something out.           Boat                                            Passengers Tom Miller                              Charlie Higgs, John Lewis Dan Barker                              Kathleen Barker, Jim Roode John Gwinnup                    Jim Visger, Leland Carpenter Pat Mikolak                             John Grady Fred Riehm                    ...

Copied this from our friends at FishExplorer.com, an e-mail from the state park ranger at Chatfield State Park.  This is all tied in somehow with the license increase legislation; still looks to be in limbo on exactly what lakes may be closed and when.  bill I know this thread is a powder keg but I'm hoping to I can be of some help... First off I want to clarify that I am a Parks Officer at Chatfield State Park and I am the one who oversees the ANS (aquatic nuisance species) program here at the park. I work with the people who head up the program statewide.  Secondly yes there are some waters that are going to be closed to boating other than exempt (handlaunched/kayaks/etc.). Thankfully this number is as low as it is because back in January during our supervisors meeting there was only funding for 1) the Denver office with a near 70% budget cut meaning only enough to fund the lab and the program coordinators and a few seasonal employees. 2) Lake Pueblo State Park 3) Cha...

There we stood, six of the Loveland Fishing Club’s finest, angling for big trout in a legendary North Park lake under superb late March conditions:  a brutally cold 25 mph wind from the west, half the lake still capped by rotten ice, and giant snowbanks blocking 90 percent of the shoreline.  The fishing would pick up dramatically on day two, but by late Thursday I hadn’t landed a single fish.  Desperate measures seemed reasonable. So when I climbed to the top of a steep, 35’ bluff and cast out beyond an inaccessible, snow-packed shoreline far below, I hadn’t really considered what would happen if something actually bit.  I quickly found that out when two seriously obese cutthroats headed straight for my little Gulp minnow, and the closest one took a bite!  In the clear, icy water we watched that fat fish fight for its freedom, going aerial, darting east and then west – the one direction that would eventually take her safely past the bluffs into muddy but ...

Okay, the cool gang is headed for Delaney Buttes in search of legendary ice-out trout. Several of us are heading up Thursday and it looks like Walt is heading up Wednesday and coming back Thursday. If you're interested, we're lining up transportation and motel arrangements.  e-Mail  Jim Roode .  We'll be staying at the North Park Inn. The latest reports are the ice is receding at all three lakes, making the trout susceptible to shoreline fishing.  Wear your woolies. North Delaney Buttes is Gold Medal water and fishing's pretty darned good at all three.  Special regulations apply.  Click here for more information.

Sean  Dunlavy, park manager at St. Vrain State Park and a ranger at Boyd for seven years prior to that, is looking for potential volunteers to provide information to the public on the importance of catch and release and flies and artificial lures only. "I would like to try for a weekend or two in April and/or early May when a few volunteers could sit at a table near Bald Eagle Pond (with, or without, a ranger) and explain to the public why some ponds, and the public, benefit from Catch and Release and Flies and Lures Only," he says. (Bald Eagle is the state park's catch and release only pond managed for largemouth bass.)   He's also looking to build more "partnerships" with organizations like ours, and is willing to help promote the club when circumstances permit.  He's also looking for help with cleanup days, fishing clinics and other future events. Interested?  Call Sean at 303-522-4602.