Spring is in the air. Let's go Fishing!

Signs of Spring are everywhere, if you just overlook those reports of "biggest blizzard on record," and maybe that lingering ice cap on most ponds. Water levels are supposed to be rising at Carter and Horsetooth, the weather forecast for the nextweek looks almost balmy, and most of us have a serious case of Spring Fever.

So, let's go fishing. In fact, let's go help Bill launch his new pontoon boat! Here's the plan: Larimer County is not going to open its boat ramps until at least April 1, which means that between now and then, anything you don't have to trailer to the lake will have Carter all to itself. Doesn't get much better than that.

10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Carter

So let's hit the north end of Carter about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, allowing the ice cap to melt a little more. I'll bring my new pontoon, and craftily row out to just about a half a cast length beyond the reach of Ray Park and Tom Boesch's Power Bait from shore. And we'll see who gets bit first. Dan reports the lake has been quietly rising, to nearly 90 percent of normal pool.

I'm game for heading for a local pond after Friday breakfast sometime soon, but it's still a bit chilly by 8:30 or 9. Anyone tried River's Edge or Flatiron lately?

I'm thinking 2 1/2 inch Gulp minnows, maybe a small Kastmaster.

Questions or alternatives? We can always try Boyd, but I'm thinking it needs to warm a bit more before Dan and Kathy risk getting that boat of their's all muddy. Send me an e-mail and we can argue about it.