Koon wins annual Club Derby

So the Loveland Fishing Club welcomed David Koon to the club this past April, and this past Wednesday, darned if he didn't land a 17 1/2-inch largemouth, earning him the title of club champion and giving him bragging rights for the next 12 months, 25 bucks and his name on the winner's trophy.

David, left, and Dan celebrate the win.

No question, fishing was slow for just about everyone else at the Colorado Youth Outdoors' Swift Ponds, with a starting temperature of 38 degrees under bluebird skies.  Dan Barker won $25 for biggest non-bass of the day, a pint-size but reportedly really scrappy 8-inch crappie.

David's name will be engraved on the winner's trophy alongside winners of the past.  Has anyone told him yet he'll have to return the trophy in one year - and cook up next year's derby lunch?

Boat ramp hours reduced at Horsetooth, Carter after Oct. 1

It's that time of year - boat ramp hours are cutting back. Satanka ramp at Horsetooth is shutting down for the season effective Oct. 1.  Here's the full schedule...

Hours of operation at boat ramps for Oct. 1-7, 2018:

Horsetooth Reservoir County Park

• South Bay ramp: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 days a week
• Inlet Bay ramp: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 days a week
• Satanka ramp: Closed for the season

Carter Lake County Park

• North ramp: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 days a week
• South Shore: Closed for the season
• North Pines ramp: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday - Sunday

Hours of operation at boat ramps for Oct. 8-31, 2018:

Horsetooth Reservoir County Park

• South Bay ramp: 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday - Friday and 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
• Inlet Bay ramp: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 7 days a week
• Satanka ramp: Closed for the season

Carter Lake County Park

• North ramp: 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday - Friday and 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
• South Shore: Closed for the season
• North Pines ramp: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday - Sunday and holidays

Boat ramps may close earlier than scheduled due to low water levels. For the up-to-date schedule of boat ramp hours, visit www.larimer.org/boating.

Bring a tape measure Wednesday. And something to write with

Reminder, the club's annual derby will be held Wednesday, Sept. 26 from 8 a.m. to noon at Colorado Youth Outdoors, followed by a cookout.

You can lug around as many poles as you want, but only use one at a time, artificial bait only. The grand prize winner is the man or woman who catches the biggest bass.  A second prize will be awarded to whomever catches the largest single fish of any other species, as measured by length. So Norm will be going after another big old carp.

We'll have index cards to record our catch, but bring along a tape measure and something to write with.

Lakes closing for the season

Hope this isn't an indication of things to come:  Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced that "due to the annual seasonal closure of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) inspection station, motorized boating at Jumbo Reservoir closed on Sunday, Sept. 16 for the remainder of the season." 

Boating, both from gas and electric motors, will cease until it reopens next spring. You can still fish from the bank or a kayak or float tube.  Exclusions include hand-launched rafts, kayaks, belly boats, float tubes, canoes, windsurfer boards, sail boards, stand-up paddleboards or inner tubes.

Meanwhile, Pinewood was closed this summer to all trailered watercraft because Larimer County Parks and Open Space didn't have inspectors onsite there.  You can still use a float tube there.  Boedecker Reservoir is also shut down to boating; the gate to the parking lot has been padlocked since mid August, but that appears to be because of drastically lowered water levels.

Meanwhile, boating access at the two big lakes under control of Parks and Open Space, Horsetooth and Carter, remains open under reduced hours.  Currently the South Bay and Inlet Bay ramps are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, and Satanka ramp from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  Carter's North ramp is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, but South Ramp is closed for the season and North Pines ramp is only open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and on holidays.

At Boyd Lake, inspections will continue and ramps will remain open through Oct. 31, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Boat access will continue through the end of November from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (dependent on ice conditions.) 

  

Starting next year, Colorado boaters will be required to buy a $25 ANS stamp for our boats. Non-residents must purchase a $50 stamp.  How this will impact the now-inconsistent policies on access to Colorado fishing waters remains to be seen.  

Newbies! Don't miss Wednesday's annual club derby!

It seems to me you young whippersnappers in the club have two options next Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the only formal competition between Loveland Fishing Club members:

• You can show up at the Colorado Youth Outdoors' Swift Ponds and gratefully learn about the subtleties of fishing from some of northern Colorado's most esteemed and veteran anglers.
• Or you just show us up and catch the biggest fish of the day.

This will be true no-holds-barred combat angling:  one pole at a time, artificial bait only, fish from 8 a.m. until noon (unless we all agree earlier that we're all too hungry to continue).  The grand prize winner is the man or woman who catches the biggest bass.  A second prize will be awarded to whomever catches the largest single fish of any other species, as measured by length alone.  

The grand prize winner gets his or her name engraved on the tournament trophy, and keeps the thing until this time next year.  You can probably even bring the trophy with you to Perkins for breakfast every Friday for 52 weeks, though even Norm didn't try that.  Regardless, bragging rights are at stake here, and a shore lunch.

Directions:  Take Highway 392 West to County Rd. 5. Turn right (north) onto County Rd. 5. Take County Rd. 5 north to County Rd. 36 (Ketchter Road). Turn Left onto County Rd. 36, the Swift Ponds gate will be on your left.  We'll meet by the first pavilion, and scatter from there.  Remember, this is catch and release only, and we're guests of our good friends and allies at Colorado Youth Outdoors, so be on best behavior.  And no chumming.

Great day of fishing at 2018 Senior Derby

Easily shattering early fishing records, more than 90 Loveland area seniors enjoyed a memorable outing Wednesday at Flatiron Reservoir.

The day was highlighted by near-perfect weather in the upper '70s, and trout eager to bite.  (Master fish cleaner Tom Miller reports cleaning more than 70 fish for guests), most of them from Loveland and Fort Collins' assisted living centers.

Biggest fish of the day was a 13 1/8-inch rainbow caught by Christina. Smallest was a solid 6-incher by JJ.  Prizes for funniest fishing hats went to Paul and Ruby.  The oldest lady angler was 95-year-old Vernetta, a resident of Mariana Butte Brookdale; and oldest male angler was 99-year-old Harry from Good Samaritan.

To view, download and print photos from this year's derby (without charge), visit the following Google Photo album:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/9wv5CqX3JoNLSB546  To download a copy of a photo for yourself, right click on the photo. 
(Also, watch for coverage of this year's Derby by the Loveland Reporter Herald.)

LFC's Karol Stroschein presents prize for biggest trout to Christina

JJ shows off his prize for smallest fish.

Arnie Stroschein presents $100 Walgreen's gift certificate
to grand prize raffle winner Virginia, a resident of Brookdale. 

Oldest male angler Harry, a resident of Good Samaritan.

95-year-old Vernetta of Mariana Butte Brookdale.

Looking over another successful derby is event chair Ray Park.

Annual Club tournament is Wednesday, Sept. 26 at Colorado Youth Outdoors

Bragging rights as best angler are up for grabs next week at the club's tournament at Swift Ponds north of Windsor.  Fishing begins at 8 a.m.

As a reward for success in last year's rainy, ice-cold competition, Don Knudsen, winner of last year's tourney, and runner-up John Gwinnup, get to serve the rest of us lunch.

Gwinnup, left, and Knudsen, holding the revolving trophy, were as cold as they looked, but hey, they won.  This year's event looks to be a little warmer.  

Everyone's help needed at Wednesday's Senior Fishing Derby

The Loveland Fishing Club's Senior Derby, a club tradition since 2011, will be held Wednesday, Sept. 19 in a return to Flatiron Reservoir.

More than 150 residents of the city’s assisted living centers and other seniors signed up through Chilson Senior Center are expected to attend.

The event is held with the support of Chilsen, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife helps by stocking Flatiron with trout in advance of the derby.

The derby will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a cookout.  Club members will serve as guides for participating anglers, provide a campfire and offer prizes for participants. Other seniors are welcome to attend the free event, but only pre-registered guests will be eligible to compete for prizes.  The fishing derby was held at River's Edge Natural Area last year because of dam repairs at Flatiron.

As in year's past, this is one of the club's premier volunteer activities, and all members are encouraged to show up and help.  

The club is covering all expenses associated with the event, including poles, bait and tackle.  There will be a prize drawing for all guests, and prizes for the biggest and smallest fish brought in, oldest female and oldest male anglers, and “craziest fishing hat.”  

Virtually all assisted living center facilities in Loveland are expected to participate.