Loveland Fishing Club Blog

Got a cryptic note from our Fishing Club bud, with reports of a "Grand Slam in Sanabell. Snook,Red Fish, Trout. Plus Lady Fish." Unless he found this snook in the King Sooper's seafood aisle, here's proof he's putting his vacation to good use:

Half a dozen of the Loveland Fishing Club's finest braved a little cold and wind this week west of Walden, and enjoyed a good day at Delaney Buttes. Things got slower on Wednesday at Lake John, but hey, it's almost February. Club newbie Larry Haagenson landed this chunky rainbow.

Slight change in hours for the monthly Loveland Fishing Club Board meeting:  9:30 a.m. on the Monday before the club's monthly general meeting. The change is reflected on the club calendar.

With a 19 3/4-inch white bass, Dan Barker was declared Loveland Fishing Club Angler of the Year for 2019, in a year of submissions that included 11 Colorado Master Angler class fish. He just eased past second-place winter Dennis Kelsey with his enormous 22 1/2-inch largemouth  from Dragonfly Pond. Bill Prater finished third with a 34 1/2-inch channel cat out of Pella Crossing near Hygiene. All three were caught and released to bite another day. The fish looked like Dan had force fed it a high carb diet in an aquarium, but as you can see below, it was tricked by one of Dan's slow death rigs while trolling Boyd Lake.  The beast measured 116.2 percent of the Colorado Master Angler criteria for white bass. Kelsey scored his big largemouth on Oct. 25, an entry that measured 114 percent of Master Angler criteria, large enough to win most years.  Too bad Dan didn't have a scale to weigh this fatty. 

By unanimous membership endorsement, Jim Baxter will be Club President for 2020 and Doug Money will serve as Vice President. Outgoing President Jim Visger will serve as Parliamentarian. Barb Ding continues in her role as Treasurer, and Christine Weiss as Secretary. Jim Roode will continue as Government Affairs liaison, and Norm Englebrecht as Member at Large. Vice President Doug Money, left, and President Jim Baxter From left, Jim Roode, Doug Money, Jim Visger, Barb Ding, Jim Baxter and Christine Weiss. Here is the updated list of Loveland Fishing Club and other leadership positions for 2020 President, Jim Baxter Vice President Doug Money Past President Jim Visger Treasurer Barb Ding Secretary Christine Weiss Government Affairs Jim Roode Member at Large Norm Englebrecht Raffle Chair John Gwinnup Friends of the Big Thompson  Walt Graul Membership Open Activities Chair Open Program Chair Tom Miller Kids Derby Rick Golz SR Derby Kathleen Barker Advertising/pr Tom Mill...

Here’s Wayne Baranczyk with a northern pike taken during the club’s north central Nebraska fishing trip this past weekend. Unfortunately it was the ONLY fish taken. Not sure what happened, but at least no one got bitten.

Tom, Don, Dennis and yours truly are planning to pester the Carter Lake trout population starting about 10 a.m. Thursday, not Wednesday as originally scheduled. Wind and other weather permitting (and we’re pretty tough), we’ll meet near the north boat ramp. This is open water fishing at its finest, so leave your augers at home.

Jim is up and around, even going on a short walk Tuesday, according to Merry Rue. He's cut back on pain meds, always a good sign, and getting his appetite back.

Okay, fishing was a bit slow in the morning at River's Edge, but as the morning wore on the bite got better, culminating in Jim Clune's 20-inch rainbow. Photo by Bill Prater

Norm has been talking with the ranch manager and everything looks green for this weekend’s ice fishing trip for Nebraska northern pike. The ranch will provide a stove, refrigerator, microwave and other gear, along with bedding and an outdoor grill. Club members are meeting at the McDonalds in Wellington at 6:30 a.m. Friday.

Rich Radies is home and feeling pretty spunky.

A few of us have talked about going to the  International Sportsman's Expos in Denver on Thursday January 9th.  If you want to ride share, we plan on meeting at Sams parking lot in Loveland and leaving around 11 since the exposition opens at noon. A few may want to leave earlier and have lunch in Denver or somewhere on the way since that's around lunch time. Discounts for tickets may be available at a few businesses. The Denver Post had some recently that Bill Prater grabbed. They must be getting wise to seniors since the only age discounts are for youths 15 and under! https://www.sportsexpos.com/attend/denver/ Colorado Convention Center 700 14th St. Denver, CO 80202 Hours: Thu..  Noon - 8pm Fri...   Noon - 8pm Sat..    10am - 7pm Sun..  10am - 5pm Tickets Adult Admission - $16.00 Active Military - Free with Mil ID Youth 15 & under - Free! No Pets No Weapons, Firearms or Ammunition