Loveland Fishing Club Blog

  Like that age when boys start to notice girls, fishing this time of year can be as awkward as asking for a first date. It can be a hit or miss operation, with success determined  by persistence and luck more than the size or shape of your bait. It’s also not a time to overlook a cute bluegill, just because the walleye stopped biting.   Yes, today’s column is dedicated to the pursuit of whatever species is willing to bite, and pondering where, when and how. If you had success pounding the shoreline of a big lakei n May and June, it may be time to look for water with more weed lines and fewer paddleboards. Or, for that matter, your Whopper Plopper may be what’s needed for fish that aren’t hungry in this heat, but are crabby enough to snap at something coming at them too loudly. You just keep trying different things until something or some things start to work.   I’m getting a bit older myself, wary enough about the passing of time ...

The Grauls just completed their annual tour of big waters in Idaho and Wyoming, with results that have become annoyingly predictable. Below are samples of fat trout taken on a float trip along the Green River through the wildlife refuge below Fontenelle Reservoir in southwestern Wyoming. Kinda hard to tell from the photos, but I'd say Cindy's is biggest. You can ask her or Walt about it at the August 15 club picnic at Railroad Park.  If you have evidence of a successful trip of your own this wretchedly hot summer, you can tell us about it at breakfast Friday, with possibly hurtful skepticism from other anglers, or send us your photos: billjohnp@gmail.com

Whomever catches the most types of fish between Loveland Fishing Club meetings wins our monthly Bingo. And July belonged to Mark Orswell, with six different species from four local waters: smallmouth bass, white bass, walleye, rainbow trout, black bullhead catfish and bluegill. Below, reminding us of cooler times, Mark shows us the location and type of fish he was seeking this past month, a fat rainbow from Dowdy. And below that, here's one of the fat bluegill he yanked from Boyd Lake this past month. Way to go, Mark. To compete in the monthly Fish Bingo, just keep track of the fish you catch and turn in the completed form below to Darrell Knight.   Mark Orswell with a fish he could have entered in our monthly species contest last winter.  Boyd Lake bluegill aren't plentiful, but can grow to a hefty size. Member’s Name ______________________   Month___ ___________________________________   Fish species   Quantity   Pond, lake or stream   Lure or bait...