Um, change in plans for Boyd

One problem with being retired. Is, you kind of lose track of time, even holidays. Linda just asked me, “ Fishing Wednesday? We have to be at the neighbor’s party...” sorry gang, go as planned. If you can, but I’m having to wait till Thursday. Same time and place, 8:30 a.m. in northwest corner of Marina Inlet. Join me if you can.

Let's pound Boyd Wednesday!

The ice is solid, and the Marina Inlet is a zoo today with anglers who must have gotten ice fishing gear for Christmas. Fish are biting. Let's meet at the northwest corner of the inlet about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

If you don't have an annual pass and want to save $9, drop me a note and we can drive in from my house. Click here. I just have a hand auger, which ought to work fine, but gas or electric welcome.

Club funding CPR training

The Loveland Fishing Club Board has approved funding of CPR training for club members whose dues are paid for 2020. Non-members may also attend at a cost of $10.

Following is a list of attendees for the two classes. Others wishing to attend should contact Ray Park, rapark63@comcast.net

Thursday January 16, 2020        9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

John Gwinnup  Charlie Higgs Dick Hunsake 

Wayne Baranczyk  Dave Johnson  Steve Cadler 

Ray Park  Tom Boesch  Don Knudsen 

Terry Gibbons Rick Golz Vicki Tesar 

Kathleen Barker Karol Stroschein  Arnie Stroschein 

Dan Barker  George Mayes         Harlyn Ripley 

Thursday February 12, 2020         9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

George Kral Skip Kral Ken Kesterke 

Terry Kinyon Bill Prater Doug Money 

Gene Speidel Norm Engelbrecht Dennis Carder 

Bob Ray Dan Chrouser Dave Boyle 

Allan Jones James Baxter Jim Roode 

Barbra Ding

Slow, but some nice trout Wednesday on Lake John

For the second trip in a row, the wind stayed calm and the ice stayed solid on Lake John for Loveland Fishing Club stalwarts. Pat Weller notched this fat female.

I think this tactic only works with clear ice...

Looking for a warm place to fish?

Well, good luck with that around here. On the other hand, there are a few spots with open water around here and at least a few trout to merit your attention.

The dock on the marina inlet of Boyd Lake is still standing in open water, and the lake was heavily stocked a month or so ago in anticipation of a January ice fishing derby. You might also want to look at the Recycle Pond in Loveland, where aerators keep the water open longer than other local waters.

Also, Charles Piche reports having good luck with good-size trout on the south end of Carter Lake, which seldom freezes over. He's thinking the water on that end is a bit warmer than elsewhere.

Good luck and good fishing.

Reminder: December meeting/gift exchange is 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17

We'll have coffee and cookies, and a limited agenda. Plan on bringing a new, wrapped gift valued at around $10 for the gift exchange.

Our January meeting will be a week earlier than normal, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14.

A seasonal reminder on what keeps us all friends

We don’t talk politics in the Loveland Fishing Club.

You won’t find this rule in our bylaws, but it is a guideline that has allowed our randomly chosen, wildly opinionated seniors to harmonize for nearly two decades.

With an average age approaching 80, it’s not that we lack strong opinions. It’s just that we collectively choose not to air them in situations where discussion should be on trout, bass, or scheduled hip replacements.

Tom, Dennis, Jim and I have known each other well enough, long enough, to realize we don’t agree a damned bit about most things political. But in nearly 20 years of really close acquaintance, I don’t recall a single cross word between us. Like a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary, we know exactly which buttons to push to annoy one another; we just choose not to push them. Similarly, I just returned from a harrowing one-day ice fishing expedition to Colorado’s North Park, involving a snowy, six-hour round trip through the mountains.  On that memorable expedition, Norm, Rick and I talked about every damned thing except anything remotely to do with topics that dominate the national news. The radio was never tuned to CNN or Fox; when it was on at all, the dial pointed straight to Willie Nelson.

Has your spouse taken away your access to the TV remote? After your most recent, disastrous Thanksgiving Day discussion with in-laws, did you vow to enter the priesthood, or take up mindfulness meditation? Well, you don’t have to devote the rest of your life to contemplating your navel; just shut up and fish. You cannot ponder elections or impeachments or likely public hangings while paying close enough attention to the tip of your ice fishing rod. Or looking online for sales on Z-man plastic grubs.

So. Don’t talk politics in the Loveland Fishing Club. Or your mahjong group, or almost any social gathering where members are drawn together by something other than mutually agreed to, shared political obsessions. If, over time, you somehow learn you share political beliefs with someone else, great. Go to the corner of the room, away from the rest of us. Or create a distribution list for like-minded fanatics. Just don’t use a shared love of fishing or recommended hemorrhoidal ointments as an opportunity to convert other anglers to your political passions. You won’t change their opinion on any topic except whom to invite on the next fishing trip.

Don’t do it. This is arguably the single most powerful suggestion for remaining friends in unfriendly times. It’s an impressive insight, if I say so myself. The late Mr. Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, one of the gentler humans to ever grace this planet, could only narrow his list of rules to three:
1. “The first way is to be kind.
2. The second way is to be kind.
3. The third way is to be kind.” 

Scheels Ice Fishing classes/seminars Dec 9 and Dec 14

Monday, December 9, 2019 at 6 PM – 8 PM MST

Johnstown SCHEELS Ice Fishing 101 Seminar

New to ice fishing? Just because the water freezes over doesn’t mean your fishing season is over. Some would say it just gets better. Join Colorado Parks and Wildlife at the Scheels store in Johnstown to learn how to get started ice fishing. We will cover gear, safety, tips, and some place to go. This is a free seminar.

Sign up for this Ice Fishing 101 seminar led by Colorado Parks and Wildlife at SCHEELS to to get started ice fishing! We will cover gear, safety, tips, and some place to go.

SCHEELS Training Center

Cost: FREE

Please register at: https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/135717

All ages welcome.

 Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 10 AM – 4 PM MST
Johnstown Scheels Ice Fest

Come join us for an Ice Fishing Fest! Learn new techniques from local ice fishing experts, build your fishing network, and enter for a chance to win great prizes!

***SEMINAR SCHEDULE***

10:00AM - 12:00PM

“Icing Lake Trout, Basics to Advanced Tactics”Led by Fishing With Bernie Pro Fisherman, Bernie Keefe

12:15PM - 1:00PM

"The Advantages of Bio Bait vs Standard Plastisol"

Led by Bio Bait

1:30PM - 2:30PM"

”Ice Fishing The Front Range"

Led by local Pro Fisherman, Brad Petersen

2:45PM - 3:45PM

"Striking Walleye Tips & Tricks"

Led by local Pro Fisherman, Barry Cundiff

*Seminars will be in our Training Center located on the second floor near the fishing shop/second floor bathrooms (go in the west doors, turn right past the registers, go up the stairs and to the right).

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS

We will be offering exclusive discounts on Ice Fishing gear during the event!

REGISTER TO WIN

Gift cards, fishing trips, and more!

COST: Free

REGISTRATION: None required.

AGES: All ages welcome.

First ice on Lake John

Things got a bit dramatic Thursday on Lake John, when Rick Palmieri and Bill Prater's blissful pursuit of a few fat trout was interrupted for a good 10 minutes by Norm Englebrecht's battle with an obese 21-inch cutbow.

Everyone ended the day on a high note, with a few fat, healthy fish to talk about at breakfast or to eat at dinner.

Norm's cutbow

For a  Youtube video on Norm's cutbow, click here.

Rick and friends

Nebraska Ice Fishing Trip for Northern Pike Jan 10, 11, 12

Howdy,

This trip is only a month away so if you're wanting to go call Norm (970-685-0566) or see him at Friday breakfast.  There's room for ten people and we have five for sure and maybe eight already signed up to go. Club members get preference. We'll leave Friday, Jan 10 and return on Sunday, Jan 12. Once we know who's going for sure we can all meet and figure out the logistics and go from there.

If the ice is not good or if weather does not permit safe travel the trip will be canceled or rescheduled. 

From Loveland (287 and I-25) it's about 250 mile away. (See map below) More than a few club members have been at this place before and caught some large Northern Pike. It's a fun trip. Photos are not club members but you get the idea.

You have to bring all of your own food, the closest place to eat is about 30-35 miles away. That's a long round trip. Everything you need to cook is available where we stay.

Cost is $50, which includes both nights lodging, whatever food you bring and sharing the cost of fuel with whoever you ride with.