It's shortly after 9 a.m. Friday on Lon Hagler Reservoir. Temperature hovers around 39 degrees, no wind. Four anglers from the Loveland Fishing Club are afloat, one tossing his deadly chartreuse and white Gulp Minnow, the others pounding sand. A few tense moments and ... that 12-inch rainbow strikes! And makes club history as the first official catch of the New Year. (Modesty prevents me from telling you who caught the beast. But as of now the chubby stocker holds the lead for 2026 Big Fish of the Year . If you think you can beat it, report to Bob McHale. In the foreseeable future Northern Colorado weather is supposed to be in the high 50s, low 60s for the foreseeable future; water's about 34 degrees. So get fishing. Photo by Bill Prater