Restoration underway at Pella Crossing open space

Work has begun to rehabilitate Pella Crossing, a popular Boulder County open space property west of Longmont extensively damaged in the September 2013 flood. 

Prior to the flood, Pella Crossing's ponds offered some of northern Colorado's best bass and bluegill fishing.  Crews from Fischer Construction Inc., the Weld County-based company that is Boulder County's general contractor for much of the project, have started the reconstruction that's scheduled to continue through the fall and winter and be completed next spring, according to Boulder County's Parks and Open Space Department.

Pella Crossing, which lies on either side of North 75th Street south of Hygiene Road, has been one of the few county parks to remain closed since floodwaters surged in the St. Vrain River corridor three years ago.
To see the entire Boulder Daily Camera article on the restoration, click here.

Leland takes top honors at annual club tourney

Leland Carpenter put together a four-fish string of rainbows totaling 45 1/4 inches at Flatiron Reservoir Wednesday, to earn the grand prize at the annual Loveland Fishing Club tournament.

Richard Radies, left, Pat Mikulak and Leland 

Pat Kikulak finished second with a 44.5 inch string of four.  Leland also caught the biggest fish of the day, while Richard Radies took the prize for smallest.

Rick and friend

A trip this week to Wheatland Reservoir brought together Rick Haskell (in the red) and a 23 1/2-inch rainbow that weighed in at 6 /12 pounds.

Club tourney Is Wednesday

Mark this on your calendar:  8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, September 21, the date for the annual club fishing tournament, the one time a year when we toss aside our traditional spirit of non-competition and travel to Flatiron Reservoir to decide the club's top angler.

It's free, and includes a free lunch and the possibility of a cash prize, so expect a good turnout.  OUr cook will be last year's winner, Dennis Kelsey.

Here are directions and other information about the lake, a part of Larimer County Parks and Open Space.  The county charges a daily entrance fee, so if you don't have a sticker, be at the southeast corner of the K-Mart parking lot to carpool with someone who does.

Prizes for this fourth-annual event will be awarded for biggest fish, biggest stringer, and second-and third-biggest stringer.  The limit on trout is four. There's no wading and no boating, and we can only fish with one pole at a time.  And you can only use one lure or hook at a time - so if you must try worms, corn and Gulp! simultaneously, bring a big hook.

Today's Fishing Lesson

As something of a local legend, I am often asked, “Bill, why are you arguably known as the Loveland Fishing Club’s finest bluegill angler?”

Great day of fishing at the club's 2016 Senior Derby at Flatiron

An early chill briefly threatened the sixth annual Loveland Fishing Club Senior Derby at Flatiron Reservoir, but the sun emerged and so did nearly a hundred anglers, most from Loveland and Fort Collins assisted living and independent living centers.

Fishing was a bit slow, but no one seemed disappointed by the day of fishing, picnicking and gathering around a warm campfire. Here are a few memories of the day - and for complete photo coverage, visit Bill's Google Photo site, https://goo.gl/photos/Wi9sb9iDhdp4WWMs8

Club volunteers at the 2016 senior derby!

Bob Ray, seated, one of the club's founding organizers, was a guest angler this year, and here's one of the three trout he caught for the day.

Karol Stroschein presents the blue ribbon and medal for oldest female angler to Ruth, 102, of Brookdale Mariana Butte.

Boat launch hours cut at Horsetooth

It's become a sure sign of fall - Larimer County has reduced the hours of operation at the Satanka boat ramp after Labor Day.

Beginning Tuesday, the ramp will only be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Sunday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.  (and Friday and Saturday hours will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. after Sept. 22.

Hours at Horsetooth's South Bay and Inlet Bay ramps - and the north ramp and south shore ramps at Carter Lake, will continuu to be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until winter sets in.  The North Pines ramp hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.