Club hosts kids at Rivers Edge

About a hundred youngsters and parents turned out Saturday for an introduction to fishing at Rivers Edge.  The catching wasn't too great, but the fishing was terrific.

Tom Miller offers advice at Bass Pond.

Some kinda bugs. Club President Dave Johnson
helps with Big Thompson insect identification.

Club helping city with Neighborly Service fundraiser

The Loveland Fishing Club volunteers will staff a beer garden for a fundraiser for House of Neighborly Service on Sunday, Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Loveland Fairgrounds Park on Railroad Street.

The event is sponsored by the City of Loveland; in exchange for our volunteer help, the city will donate $1,200 to the Loveland Fishing Club's Parks and Recreation Foundation account, which we use for our kids' and senior derbies and other charitable projects.  Participation in the event has been approved by the LFC Board.  About 10 volunteers will be needed to help with the beer garden.  So mark off time on your calendar for Aug. 26.  Further details are forthcoming.

Thompson special needs fishing day now May 15

Here’s the original notice...

Brad Nelson, adaptive needs physical education teacher at Conrad Middle School, needs volunteers to help Big Thompson School District kids for a day of fishing 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 3.

The event will be held at two private Redi-Mix concrete ponds on the east side of Namaqua Road just north of 1st Street.

About 60 middle school kids from across the district are expected, and we'll be doing whatever's needed to see that they have a good time.  Questions?  Contact Fred Riehm by e-mail or at breakfast Friday.

Nifty new online info about Horsetooth

Larimer County has created a new website with current information on the lake, including things like current temperature (45 degrees), water level (21 feet below full) and wind speed 8 mph).  Here's the link:

Kayak fishing tournament is Saturday, April 28 at Boyd

Here's something new:  a "catch/photo/release" fishing tournament is planning for April 28 at Boyd by the Colorado Kayak Fishing Club.  For more information, click here

Just got the following note from Keith Gentry. My sentiments exactly ...

"Bill, Look at what was caught yesterday at Lake John on a fly rod!!!!!!!!Can you believe it? 9 lbs. 27.5 inches.!!!! Right where we all usually icefish by the boat ramp. Ahhhhhhhh! I am so envious. Keith

Boating may be banned at Pinewood

The Loveland Reporter Herald says motorized boats likely will no longer be allowed on Pinewood Reservoir this season because of required aquatic nuisance species inspections, "though kayaks, float tubes and canoes will still be welcome on the waters."

The Larimer County Department of Natural Resources expects to change its rules regarding small motorized boats launched from a trailer on Pinewood Reservoir, west of Loveland, after receiving a letter from the Bureau of Reclamation this week requiring live inspections before launching.

"It's all but inevitable," said Ken Brink Jr., visitor services manager for the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources.

The requirement of live inspections — or locked gates — is to protect the water from invasive mussels that destroy the ecosystem and can cause billions of dollars in damage to infrastructure as has been seen in other states.

Here's a link to the complete article:  http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_31798685/pinewood-reservoir-may-close-motorboats-because-mussel-inspections

Lodging options for John Martin

Anticipation’s running high for the May 1-3 outing to John Martin reservoir, the huge, sprawling lake on the eastern plains reputed to be full of gullible walleyes, crappie and catfish.

Club members are planning to stay at the Chek Inn in Lamar, $50 a night; 1-866-599-6674, but Dan reports reservations are limited.  You can also check out the following:
Blue Spruce, $55, Lamar, 1-866-599-1674
Bent Fort Inn, $65, Los Animas, 1-866-599-6674
Quality Inn, $72, 1-855-809-3506

If you plan to go, e-mail Norm Englebrecht, Norm.

"Chick Day" at the Dings is Wednesday, April 11

Wednesday, April 11 is “Chick Day” at the Dings, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Your help would be much appreciated in getting their famous chickens ready for spring. 

"We have started redoing the coop and have the chicken runs torn out ready to be redone," says Barb.  "The chicken runs need cleaning and cement made and poured.  Also the outside the fence runs need to be pulled, cleaned and chicken wire tied onto them so no more pests can get in."  (Update on the darned mink – "We caught him a couple of days ago so he won’t be bothering the chickens any more, hopefully his family has moved on.")

The chicken coops have been redone and are nearly ready for baby chicks, but help is needed with rewiring and cleaning the runs.  

We will be serving brats, potato salad and maybe grilled corn on the cob.  Tall tales of fishing are welcome.  Please bring your own drinks, we will provide the iced tea.

Here's the address:  20059 Northmoor Drive, Johntown 

Please let the Dings know if you're coming they'll have enough food for all. Send Barb an e-mail by clicking here. 

Winds howling along at 50 mph. Temperatures hovering at 10 degrees. Ice out at Delaney!

Okay, this was not a day on the water for the timid.  This spring's second venture to Delaney Buttes for ice-out fishing yielded some killer rainbow and cutbow trout, dozens measuring between 15 and 20 inches. 

The only drawback was a little near-hypothermia as gale-force winds pushed the ice back and forth across the lake -- and a forecast of temperatures in the 40s Wednesday proved to be overly optimistic by about 30 degrees.

The trick for success was to put on every stitch of clothing, curse your packing skills that omitted extra gloves and hand warmers, and just hurl your lure into the gale as far and as often as you could.

Proving their mettle if not their common sense were Charlie Higgs, Walt Graul, Pat Weller, Harvey Purman and Bill Prater.  Jim Roode planned to go, but reportedly got sidetracked by a cranky septic system and a spouse who apparently valued a good flush over great fishing. Photos by Walt Graul

Pat Weller, shown between fish untangling
frozen gear

Charlie Higgs and a fat rainbow

Bill demonstrating extraordinary commitment
and questionable survival skills.

Walt and friend

Finalizing plans for John Martin trip at breakfast Friday

A meeting will be held after breakfast April 6 for all who are interested in the John Martin trip in early May.  We'll discuss where we want to stay and also who we will be partnering up with.