Don't miss this one: Kids Fishing Derby Sat., June 7

Moms, Dads, Grandparents, mark this on your calendar:  this year’s version of Loveland’s perennial kids fishing derby will be held on Saturday, June 1 at the North Lake Park Duck Pond.  Three or four generations of Loveland area anglers have gotten their introduction to our sport at this free annual event, sponsored by Loveland Police and run by an informal coalition of anglers and other fans of kids and the outdoors.

If you've not had the chance to help with the derby before, this is one event you don't want to miss:  our fingerprints are everywhere on this one - gathering donations, arranging for the fish drop, handling registrations and the raffle, and walking around helping out wherever needed.

Larry Carlson and Keith Gentry are again co-chairing the club's work on the derby, with help coming from many hands. 

The derby has a new name, Loveland Police Fishing Derby, and slightly shorter hours, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but otherwise it’s pretty much the same great outing that began many years ago as Loveland’s Huck Finn Days and annually attracts close to a thousand kids under age 15, welcomed from throughout northern Colorado.


This is the free fishing weekend in Colorado, so parents can help the kids without the need of a license.  And despite flood-related problems at the Bellvue Watson fish hatchery, Colorado Parks & Wildlife has committed to once again stocking the pond with hundreds of catchable trout.  None are expected to survive the arrival of summer heat, so kids are encouraged to keep what they catch – and volunteers from Colorado Youth Outdoors will clean kids’ trout and cook it for them, while they watch.  And you might want to come back to the pond in days following the event.

Everything is free during the event except a lunch of hot dog, chips and soft drink, provided at little cost by Loveland Kiwanis.



The Loveland Fishing Club secures support from area businesses including Jax and Sportsmen’s Warehouse, as well as nationally known outfits like Panther-Martin, to ensure quality prizes for biggest and smallest trout caught – and for raffle prizes awarded throughout the day.  The club also handles registration and fish measurement, loans out fishing poles when needed, and dispenses bait and fishing wisdom.

You have to be registered to qualify for the raffle and big and little fish prizes, so before hitting the pond stop by the Fish Club tables on the east and west sides of the pond.

Also plan on stopping by the booth set up by Colorado Fraternal Order of Police Lodges 27 and 52, who will provide FREE child identification cards.

For more information, visit the City of Loveland website or call Loveland Police at 970-962-2229.