Loveland Fishing Club Blog

The Fort Collins Coloradoan article on potential loss of Parks and Wildlife leases was posted to their online website today.  I assume it'll be in tomorrow's hard copy editions.  I think she did a terrific job identifying the issues at stake here, and need for passage of the agency's fee increases.  Jim Roode and I are quoted extensively.   Here's the link .

Anyone fished this before?  This is the 33rd year for the event at College Lake in Fort Collins, a fund-raiser for the CSU chapter of the American Fisheries Society.  The fishing is in a small research lake on the west edge of Fort Collins maintained by the university; must be pretty good. Tickets are on sale beginning noon Saturday, April 21 outside the Wagar building on the south side of the CSU oval, $30 and they're limited to one per person. I understand they're high demand, and people start standing line early the morning of the 21st.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds anglers that it's time to get ready for another season of fishing. Coloradans and non-resident visitors can purchase a 2018 annual fishing license now either online, at your local CPW office or at any of our hundreds of authorized sales agents statewide. It's $1 with the habitat stamp for seniors; plus $5 if you get a second rod stamp.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions at CYO's annual Maverick fundraiser at Sylvan Dale Ranch west of Loveland, Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5. The greatest volunteer need is on Friday, helping with the sporting clay shooting or other things like parking assistance.  Traditionally, a number of Loveland Fishing Club members volunteer, some as a group to help with a shooting station.  Contact  Dave Boyle for more information.  You can register as an individual or group to volunteer by clicking on this link .

This is an annual fund-raising event for Chilson Senior Advisory Committee, and members of the club are encouraged to volunteer.  Help is needed in the kitchen and dining room.  Watch for signup information.   Also plan on taking in breakfast and looking over the plants.  There'll be pancakes, sausage, ham, juice and coffee. 

Norm has spoken with Lupe at the Sedgewick Inn and she'll be keeping the whole inn available for the fishing club on the 15th and 16th. Anyone wanting to stay there at other times should make your own arrangements; she can accommodate up to 30 individuals. The restaurant at the inn is no longer open, but she'll make the kitchen available if someone wants to use it.  

Let’s head to Rivers Edge after breakfast Friday.  I recommend a finesse rig with 1/16th oz. jig and small gulp minnow.  Then again I usually do. The ponds are all pretty clear and at least normal pool.  Rumor is some of us have done pretty well there of late.  You’ll never know unless you show...

Following fixes some links including reservation site for Ranger Lakes. Okay anglers, we have several trips planned for this spring and summer - and more if we can decide what we want to do.  Getting together to plan closer trips throughout the seasons is encouraged.  You just have to let the rest of us know what you're planning, and that we're welcome to tag along. Pat and Dee Mikulak are managing the overnight trip schedule, among other things looking to avoid date conflicts.  If you're like to set something up, try to avoid the third Tuesday of the month, other events on the club calendar, especially volunteer projects like to Kids Derby. Here's the list so far, with the name of the club member coordinating plans for that particular trip.  If you want to take part, or suggest or organize another trip, be sure to let Pat and Dee know .  Carpooling and such are encouraged, and in general you should settle on accommodation plans asap. Ice out at Delane...

Colorado Parks and Wildlife began boat inspections at Jumbo Reservoir today, March 16. The boat inspection station will be operating from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset daily. Inspections are mandatory prior to entering the reservoir. Boating is only permitted during inspection hours and all boats must be off the water prior to the inspection station closing.   The club has an outing planned at Jumbo May 16-18. In a news release,    Robert Walters, Invasive Species Specialist for Parks and Wildlife, said:   “With Jumbo’s proximity to out-of-state waters, it is considered a high risk for introduction of aquatic invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels. Through our mandatory inspection and decontamination program and with the continued support of the reservoirs users, we have successfully kept these invasive species out of Jumbo’s waters.” Based on 2017 fall sampling, anglers can expect a good walleye bite as soon as the boat ram...

The bill to provide additional funding for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife has cleared the Senate by unanimous vote and is on its way to the House.

Okay, some of you have been faithfully turning up at the northwest boat ramp after breakfast on Fridays, but I for one have been kinda remiss lately. Supposed to be nice.  Let's talk about it Friday and then go to Carter around 8:30 or so for some fishing. Just so you're aware, a photographer from the Fort Collins Coloradoan will be showing up to take a few pictures for an upcoming article the newspaper is doing. 

Okay, club members, we have a John Martin trip set for late May, set up by our rapidly recovering leader Norm Engelbrecht. Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists conducted a net and electrofishing survey of the big impoundment in 2017, and the report filed early this years notes that 2017 "was one of the better years on record for walleye/saugeye fishing at John Martin, with numerous catches of fish over 20 inches reported." Here's what the report says about walleye and crappie, followed by a link to the full report. Walleye/Saugeye : High water levels were sustained throughout 2017. This added habitat has helped the walleye/saugeye population to flourish. Stocking success of fryand fingerlings has increased numbers as the lake has expanded. 2017 was one of the better years on record for walleye/saugeye fishing at John Martin, with numerous catches of fish over 20” reported. With high water levels starting out the 2018 season, excellent fishing is expected to cont...

Norm Engelbrecht is in recovery at McKee Hpspital after suffering an apparent heart attack Wednesday.  His wife Gail reports Norm is doing well and should be discharged over the weekend.  Best wishes buddy.

Northern Colorado is home to legendary anglers – folks like Terry Wickstrom, Chad LaChance, Dan Barker, experts in just about every aspect of our sport.   But as far as someone willing to test just about every body of water in northern Colorado, and share what he'd learned, it’s pretty hard to find a match for Dave Coulson, recently retired and about to hit the road with his wife Sue as full-time RVer.   Dave was one of the earliest editors of http://fishexplorer.com , and on that website and in Fort Collins Coloradoan columns he's shared useful information about nearly every warm body of water in northern Colorado that might hold a fish.  The first I recall seeing his byline was in an amazingly candid 2008 report on Fish Explorer, Boyd Lake from a Fly Fisher’s Perspective.” Darned if he hadn’t flippered his way all around that jet ski-infested, 1,700- acre reservoir in a float tube.  After flailing away with that three-fly, fly rod rig of his, darned if ...

Looks like the dock has been pushed into the water and they're getting ready to go.  Haven't seen the hours yet, but there's got to be a fish in there someplace. 

The ice cap is gone from Bass Pond and we’ll be completing the Christmas tree fish habitat project at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8. Plan to join Ben Swigle of Colorado Parks and Recreation at the Rivers  Edge Natural Area pond.  Questions? Ask Tom Miller at breakfast.