Loveland Fishing Club Blog

April newsletter:  In the news

By Bill Prater

• Fishing Calendar updated for April (click here)
• Carter, Horsetooth open for boating April 1 (no fooling)
• City technology park appears to include new fishing access near Jayhawk Ponds 
• Patience, Spring is Coming  

Those of you who know fishing probably know a fair number of club members who are arguably better than me at actually catching anything. 
But they also know I read way more about the subject than folks who spend too much time near the water.  That's why a recent survey of area bookstores was so personally discouraging.  It seems they just don't make good fishing magazines the way they used to. 

At one of my favorite hangouts, Eads' Magazines and Smoke Shop in Boulder, I recently found a measly 4 magazines devoted to the subject of fishing - and 14 to the art of tattoos.  There were 7 about marijuana growing, marketing and smoking (this was Boulder after all.)  And more publications dedicated to Justin Bieber than to bluegills. 

It is, in short, a wretched state of affairs for the avid angler reader, one made bearable only by the realization that spring has finally arrived, and a few fish are actually starting to bite.

Front Range water temperatures are rising slowly, but rising.  Dixon Reservoir west of Fort Collins is always one of the first places to warm, since it's shallow and weed-filled.  The surface temperature at the north end of the lake was about 50 degrees this weekend, and a few bluegill and small crappie were starting to hit. 

There has been pretty heavy fishing traffic in the Boyd Marina inlet, but as of March 30 no water was coming in from Horseshoe; no water coming into Loveland Lake yet either.  Frank Zupanc, who knows the water better than most, reports very few bites, even around usually reliable Lon Hagler.  But he's optimistic, and he, John Grady and Jim Kucera have put together an optimistic angling schedule for the month.  You'll find the dates on the club calendar, by clicking here. http:www.lovelandfishingclub.org

In other news, late this month the club will be helping Division of Wildlife biologist Ben Swigle install fish feeders purchased by the club at the south Jayhawk Pond.  It's part of an ongoing cooperative effort to improve fishing in the pond.   

Meanwhile, attracting little attention in the proposed city purchase and development of the old Hewlett Packard property is the inclusion of 129 acres of open space - including some very interesting ponds now walled off from the public Loveland Recreation Trail by a 10-foot tall fence.  To see what I'm talking about, click here:  http://mapq.st/eNsdD

This could be a major acquisition in a town starved for good close fishing spots to take kids.

Meanwhile, Carter and Horsetooth lakes open for boating 7 days a week, from April 1 through Sept. 30. Here's the schedule: 

-Carter Lake North and South ramps and Horsetooth Reservoir Inlet Bay and South    Bay ramp, April 1 - September 30, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week  -Horsetooth Reservoir Satanka ramp won't open until May 26, with these hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.,   closed Mondays and Tuesdays except for holidays.  -Carter Lake North Pines ramp opens starting April 1, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., but will also be closed Mondays and Tuesdays except for holidays