Ice out Tuesday at Delaney Buttes!

Normally, I'd be questioning your man or womanhood about now, trying to goad you into coming with us for the notorious club ice out visit to the Delaneys, west of Walden. This year, of course, the big worry is not freezing your butt off so much as staying safe and not posing a risk to our Jackson County friends.

So you're welcome to come with us, but attendance is not mandatory.

Not every Delaney trip ends in victory. Last spring we found lakes
still kinda frozen over... Photo by Walt Graul

The plan is not to carpool but to caravan, and to make a long day trip of it. Bring your own lunch. Jim Roode and I will meet at the K-Mart parking lot at 6 a.m. and drive up separately. Jim says another angler would be welcome to ride with him "providing you've been using reasonable precautions." I'll just wave at you both from my truck. The plan is to fan out on best available open water in pursuit of big trout. Questions? Click here to drop me a note.

LFC Board to meet Monday

Christine’s backyard in Loveland will be the site of the 10 a.m. Monday, April 27 meeting of the Loveland Fishing Club Board.

Christine will have chairs set up to ensure social distancing. If you are a club member planning to attend, call Christine at 970-402-8588 or email her at christinaweiss6@aol.com. Please wear a face mask and bring your own hand sanitizer. ”If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out,” Christina says. “Stay safe!”

 

Updates on coronavirus-related fishing

Matt Snider of Fish Explorer has put together an excellent summary of fishing news related to the coronavirus - lake closings, restrictions, etc. Before you go anywhere, you might want to check for updates, as things keep changing. For example, the Forest Service has apparently closed the Red Feather lakes until May 1, citing the virus. Here's the link

Rick Palmieri drove up to the Delaneys Wednesday; fishing was slow but open in spots for bank fishing, and there were a few anglers out. Full ice out may be a week or so away. Here's a view of South Delaney from the north:

Limited camping to reopen at Horsetooth and Carter

Limited camping with hard-sided campers will resume Friday for Larimer County residents. For details, click here.

Basket Full of Fish from Doug Money

Flyover over lake loveland

A brief, brutal history of the Loveland Fishing Club...

By Bill Prater

While many of the club's founding fathers and mothers are still around, frankly they can be a forgetful bunch, and known to stretch the absolute truth in the interests of a a good fishing story. With a little time on our hands these days, let's review the unvarnished history of the first 18 years of the Legendary Loveland Fishing Club.

Like one darned project he’s gotten us into after another, the idea for the Loveland Fishing Club hatched in the fertile mind of Tom Miller. The idea for an organized cadre of senior anglers came with Tom from Southern California, where he had been a senior manager of the California parks system until retirement.

Rounding up about two dozen like-minded members of the Loveland Chilson Center, Tom and other charter members brought a broad range of life experiences to the club, including enough legal background to write up by-laws and affiliate with Chilson as a charitable nonprofit. Then they started teaching each other how to fish, and how to lie about fishing. They've been doing it every since.

When I showed up for a meeting of the club back around 2004, immediate past president Miller insisted that the usual minimum requirement for membership was at least one bypass surgery - but since I appeared to be such a fine fellow, they’d waive that prerequisite. I thought he was joking.

Well, he was. But truth to tell, the club really is aimed at seniors, as you can tell by our affiliation with the Senior Center. And over the years, some of us have gotten even more senior, if you catch my drift. Membership is open to all, but virtually all our outings are limited to weekdays, besides volunteer projects like taking youngsters and older timers fishing.

The first club meeting was held at Chilsen Sept. 16, 2003, followed by a first “official” fishing trip on Dowdy Lake ice on Jan. 16, 2004. The club was officially chartered on Jan. 26, 2004 as a nonprofit affiliated with Loveland Parks and Recreation Foundation, a 501 (C)(3).

The intent was simple: get together at least once or twice a week and fish, with little or no regard for a particular species or fishing style. Along the way, we’d share angling knowledge, expenses and medical advice. The club had grown to about 50 members by the time I joined up a year or so later, and has hovered at the century mark ever since.

That first fishing trip was followed on Feb. 1 at Boyd Lake, and the club has been all over the Rocky Mountain West ever since.

The coronavirus has kept us all close to home in spring 2020, but we typically fill the club social calendar for all four seasons with a variety of shared fishing trips, throughout Colorado and occasionally further down the road like Wyoming, Kansas and Nebraska.

A big part of club tradition is also volunteerism, particularly when it comes to kids and fishing. Most often that translates to working with Loveland Police on the annual Kids Fishing Derby at North Lake Park, and regular outings with the Girl Scouts, most often at Swift Ponds, with our close compatriots with Colorado Youth Outdoors.

A huge boost to our volunteer efforts began in September 2011, with the Loveland Fishing Club Senior Fishing Derby in partnership with Chilsen Senior Center and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which stocked Flatiron Reservoir with trout. It’s been wildly successful, limited only by the number of increasing age of club membership, and a determination to give every participant a lot of warm, personal attention. Here’s a link to the Loveland Reporter Herald’s first writeup on the event:

The derby remains, we think, this nation’s only free fishing derby focused on  community's assisted living center residents, run by and for seniors. Other Loveland seniors are welcome, but the primary invited guests are residents of about 10 assisted living centers.

(For a more complete writeup on history of Derby, click here:)

You do the math: the club was founded nearly two decades ago by stout-hearted anglers mostly in their late 60s and early 70s. Some of us are now getting a little gray hair in our ears. And so we rely on a stream of what we affectionately term “temporarily young” members to keep the club thriving. Which is one reason we’re always encouraging newbies to serve on the board and in other volunteer positions. (To see the list of some current volunteers, and think about where you might fit, look here on the website)

Barb Ding

Over the years dozens of volunteers have served in a variety of positions that keep the club going, including Barb Ding,
who’s served as treasurer since 2013 while also being a darned good angler.




Seventeen individuals, starting with 2023 President Tom Miller, have served as Club President. Here’s the complete list.
1. Tom Miller, 2004
2. George Kral, 2005

Tom Miller

George Kral

3. Jim Clune, 2006
4. Norm Englebrecht, 2007
5. Jim Giles, 2008
6. Bob Scott, 2009
7. John Gwinnup, 2010
8. Ray Park, 2011
9. Dave Boyle, 2012
10. Jerry Miles, 2013
11. Bill Prater 2014
12. Lou Colton 2015
13. Merle Gordon 2016
14. Fred Riehm 2017
15. Dave Johnson 2018
16. Jim Visger 2019
17. Jim Baxter 2020

18. Doug Money 2021

18. Karol Stroschein, 2022

19. Tom Miller 2023

This year’s Kids Fishing Derby cancelled

Loveland Police have cancelled the 2020 Police Kids Derby, citing ongoing concerns over the Coronavirus outbreak.

The club is traditionally heavily involved in the derby, a free event welcoming hundreds of kids to age 15. This year’s event was scheduled for Saturday, June 6, a free day of fishing for parents and other adults.

Thunderbirds here Saturday

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be doing a flyover across Colorado following their support of the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation ceremony on Saturday. The graduation begins at 11AM MT and is expected to last about 30 minutes or so. 

The Thunderbirds are doing this as a thank you salute to the frontline COVID-19 responders and healthcare professionals in Colorado. 

A formation of eight F-16 Fighting Falcons will fly over the following cities:

-Greeley

-Windsor

-Fort Collins

-Loveland

-Longmont

-Boulder

-Denver metropolitan areas

-Denver International Airport

-Buckley Air Force Base

-Colorado Springs

-Fort Carson

-Pueblo

Hope you can catch a glimpse of them (you’ll certainly HEAR them!)

Something you might not know about our President, Jim Baxter

With a little time on our hands, we've been encouraging all club members to tell the rest of us something about ourselves. Here's a reprint of a report by Jim Baxter a year ago, as he assumed the role of Vice President ... 

I was born in Los Angeles sometime during the last century. I grew up in Compton, CA, digging worms out of the Los Angeles River bed to be used for fishing in local parks for crappie and bluegill, and I haven’t eaten one since. I advanced to fishing for trout with my Boy Scout troop in the local mountains.

 LFC President Jim Baxter

     After high school I expanded my fishing adventures as a member of the U.S. Army in Alaska during the Cold War. My fishing repertoire now included salmon from the Kenair River. Upon my return to civilization, I joined the Los Angeles Police Department where I excelled in riot control, professional handcuffing and advanced donut eating for the next 25 years.  During this time I landed more criminals than fish. 

     After retirement I became a motor officer working with various film studios in and around the Los Angeles area. I have a long list of movie stars that I met over the next 11 years, with my favorites being Hailie Berrie, Sean Connery, James Garmer and Woody Harrelson.  I could even be considered an actor as I got a non-speaking role in the movie Cellular. Even after becoming an actor I still found time to go fishing. Every summer we camped in the Mammoth Mountains and caught trout, and for several years returned to Alaska to fish for true cod, halibut and salmon.

     After my wife retired we moved to Fort Collins in October 2011, to be closer to our daughter and three granddaughters, and have never regretted the relocation. Fishing has a whole new prospective now as it is practically in my backyard and I have been introduced to ice fishing, not an activity in Southern California. I joined the Loveland Fishing Club in 2015, I think, (Being born in the last century has taken a toll on my memory.) I have made some great friends and thoroughly enjoy volunteering with the various fishing activities.

Parks and Wildlife making impressive effort to enhance fishing this season

CPW has been stepping up stocking of fish across the state and making other efforts to provide good fishing opportunities. They still suggest "fishing close to home and practicing social distancing while enjoying our exceptional aquatic resources."
For a complete report of efforts beyond normal spring stocking, click on the following:
https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=7334

Wyoming: G&F Halts Nonresident Daily Fishing License Sales

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is suspending the sale of nonresident daily and five-day fishing licenses, effective immediately.

Cheyenne - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is suspending the sale of nonresident daily and five-day fishing licenses, effective immediately. This suspension is due to the need to ensure individuals coming into Wyoming for a non-work related purpose comply with Governor Gordon’s April 3, 2020 Directive requiring a fourteen day quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals are responsible for complying with all state and local orders.

The suspension of nonresident fishing licenses is a temporary measure to give the department the ability to align with state and local social distancing guidelines, directives, and orders which were put in place for public health and safety. Authority was granted through an emergency rule signed by Governor Gordon.

Emergency regulations remain in place for 120 days. The Department may reverse this license sale suspension if guidelines, orders, or directives are changed.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife-Boaters urged to visit only local lakes and to restrict passengers to housemates

DENVER – All boat ramps, marinas and shorelines remain open at state parks, but Colorado Parks and Wildlife is urging residents to continue to follow health and social distancing guidelines when it comes to boating. Park rangers are seeing a rise in multiple, non-family units getting out on boats in close proximity at the state parks that have lakes. While boating is still open, CPW urges the public to only go boating in your local area. Boaters need to comply with all CDPHE requirements to stop the spread of COVID-19 and CPW’s Aquatic Nuisance Species regulations to stop the spread of zebra or quagga mussels and other invasive species. The Sea Tow Foundation for Boating Safety and Education recently issued a list of dos and don’ts for boating safety and social distancing during COVID-19; that full list can be found by clicking here. It urges people to only go boating with the people who are currently living with you. Do not invite your friends or extended family to join in during this time of social distancing. At Chatfield State Park, where overall visitation is up roughly 30 percent from this time last year, park rangers are working with boaters to educate them on continuing to follow social distancing guidelines even while boating. Park ranger Mike Haskins explains what that means. “It is OK for people in the same household to be closer, but people should not be mixing households,” Haskins said. “We are reminding our visitors that low-risk recreation is still allowed under the stay-at-home order so long as social distancing requirements are met, six foot spacing minimum. Our marina sent out a letter to its slip renters to ask them not to have visitors on their boats.” Boyd Lake State Park saw a 43 percent increase in boating in March, compared to last year. And it was up 26 percent in the first 11 days of April, year-over-year. Jackson Lake State Park recently had 1,100 visitors in just one week compared to 1,500 visitors in all of March 2019. On April 5 at Lake Pueblo, 243 boats used the ramps and virtually every parking lot was at capacity. ANS boat inspections and COVID-19 Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, many local and federal waters are postponing opening to boating and ANS inspections at this time. Waters operated by CPW are continuing to open and provide recreation opportunities as weather permits. Boaters are reminded not to travel long distances to go boating or fishing while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect Colorado. Recreate at local reservoirs in compliance with the Stay-At-Home order from Gov. Jared Polis.   Boaters are reminded to stay at least six feet away from inspection station staff at all times.  Do not congregate in groups larger than 10 individuals and practice good social distancing in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease and Prevention and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Local health orders may further limit group size; please be aware of local requirements. Boaters should wait until the inspector calls them up to the station.  Boaters should stay in their vehicles, set the parking brake, turn their vehicles off, and remain in the vehicles unless instructed by an inspector to get out and assist with the inspection.  If you have a green seal receipt, please keep your window closed and show it to the inspector through the window glass. CPW reminds everyone to get a green seal and receipt after boating to speed up the next inspection.

Getting the hook out

You may have other theories, but here’s what the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish recommends:

Removing a hook embedded in the angler

Many anglers, both seasoned and beginners, have accidentally caught themselves instead of their intended targets... Today, we will go over a method for removing a barbed hook embedded in an angler’s skin.

1. Don’t cut the hook. You will need the eye and the shank of the hook to aide in the removal process.

2. Cut about a 1.5-foot long piece of heavy pound test line.

3. Wrap the piece of line around the curved shank part of the hook.

4. Pull the line taut in the opposite direction that the hook enters the skin.

5. Press down on the eye of the hook to disengage the barb of the hook as much as possible.

6. With pressure on the eye of the hook, quickly jerk on the line to pull the hook out of the skin.

Here is a video that demonstrates how to execute this method of hook removal.

Here’s what they’re thinking in North Park

During a normal early spring, Colorado’s most fanatic anglers follow every rumor about “ice out” in the high country, that brief period when big trout crowd the shorelines. The fish may not notice, but this spring coronavirus is changing everything else about our sport.

Around Walden, near the Wyoming border, rivers and streams are starting to open, and shoreline fishing is reportedly beginning in some area lakes. But camping is banned until at least April 26 at all the area’s State Wildlife Areas, and similar bans are in place in all National Forests and Bureau of Land Management properties.

Even privately owned Lake John Resort, offering year-round cabins and camping and other fishing services, is closed until at least the 26^th.

North Park Anglers in Walden, the area’s only fly shop, hopes to open by May 1^st. As of this writing, there was no restriction on fishing itself in Jackson County. But here’s the advice we have from Scott Graham at North Park Anglers:

“I am recommending that any anglers wanting to travel and fish to do so with caution. Be prepared to be self-sufficient and plan day trips only. The more visiting anglers can limit their impact on small communities, the better. 

“Walden is a small town and doesn’t have the support to deal with this virus.  We  don’t have the human resources to support individuals coming here to fish that get stuck, get hurt, have issues, etc.  I understand how much we’re all getting cabin fever, but the more of us that stick home and wait this out, the better off we will be in the coming months.”

North Park’s online store IS operational, https://shop.northparkanglers.com/, and Scott can handle curbside service for things like tippets and flies. Walden’s reliably friendly restaurants are closed except for carryout.

Meanwhile, fishing is still possible in nearby Wyoming and you can buy an out-of-state license – but out-of-state residents are expected to quarantine themselves for 14 days after entering the state. It’s just as restrictive elsewhere – in New Mexico, the Department of Game and Fish is telling all anglers “stay home, mend equipment and prepare for the upcoming fishing season.”

If ever there was a time to be like Ghandi, and view the world through someone else’s eyes, this is it. Let’s realize that folks in the High Country depend on and welcome visitors’ business, but maybe not right now.

Barb's chickens have eggs!

While most of us are lounging around the house these days, not getting out for Friday morning breakfast, Barb and Dennis' chickens have still been laying eggs.
So if you want some, you can pick them up outside their Johnstown home, 20059 Northmore; if you can't get out, Dennis may be willing to drop them off; 970-587-4898. The price has gone up with the price of feed, now $3 a dozen for eggs fresh out of the chicken...

Update on Wyoming restrictions on out of staters

Click here LINK

Bass pro closed, others still open

FYI, Apparently the city of Denver has just ordered Bass Pro closed, but from what I can tell Cabelas, Scheels, Jax are open. I tried calling Bennett’s and Elkhorn Fly Shop; they’re closed until further notice and so other other mom and pop shops. Let’s do our best to support them when things get better.

Dave Boyle wants us to guess the masked angler

I dunno, but that sure is Horsetooth, and it looks like some guy wearing Dave’s underwear on his head. Gorgeous fish.

Colorado: Beware False COVID-19 Posts and Robocalls

We are receiving an influx of calls and reports of false social media posts and even robocalls claiming that hunting and fishing seasons are canceled, that valid licenses are no longer required to hunt and fish, or that park fees have been rescinded due to the COVID-19 outbreak. These reports are false. Do not share your personal information with anyone calling claiming to provide CPW product refunds. All effects on our operations, including any changes to hunting, fishing or recreation in any of Colorado’s state parks can be found on the agency’s COVID-19 page, prominently featured on the home page of cpw.state.co.us. “In a time where so many things are uncertain and changeable, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff is working hard to ensure Coloradans maintain the ability to find comfort in the outdoors, and continue their outdoor activities to the fullest extent possible,” said CPW director Dan Prenzlow. “It’s disappointing that people are taking advantage of the already heightened sense of disruption in our communities to spread false information.” Though our offices and visitor centers remain closed to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19, staff remain available at all CPW offices and parks to answer questions. Both the CPW website and our licensing, pass and registration purchasing site at CPWshop.com remain available and will provide the most consistent and accurate information about the outdoor recreation opportunities managed by CPW. If you have any questions about how to safely and appropriately live life outside during this outbreak, visit cpw.state.co.us.

Read our COVID-19 Updates

I have a theory about all this...

Just saw the attached article about likely improvements to Kansas crappie fishing because of the 2019 floods. No fishermen, resulting in bigger, more naive fish...

Okay, the ponds around here are getting pounded pretty good, but this near travel ban has to make for some great fishing, if and when we can get out there. Meantime, we can read and think about it. Bill

Boom Times for Kansas Crappie (from the CrappieNow website)

High water kept Kansas fishermen off reservoirs in 2019, but that flooding was a blessing in disguise.

by Brent Frazee

Short-term pain, long-term gain.

That goes a long way toward describing the aftermath of the record flooding that kept Kansas fishermen on the sidelines for much of spring and summer, 2019.

At this time last year, a nightmare was already developing in the Sunflower State. Nonstop rain caused water levels in many reservoirs to shoot up to record levels. Boat ramps were inaccessible, fish scattered in the new cover, and marinas became islands in the high water.

But those dark rain clouds that hovered over Kansas had a silver lining.

The crappies got a relaxing vacation, with few lures tossed their way. And they got fat and sassy when the shad spawn boomed. Crappie numbers also took off, with the jungle of new cover aiding in spawning and nursery habitat.

For complete article, click here: 
https://crappienow.com/magazine/2020/03/25/boom-times-for-kansas-crappie/?fbclid=IwAR3HzQNIUnxewSe8kkxhgJMR5vrl6IAxhUxVgMuDSEVfn-O_1IXhGLirTBg

Here’s an activity for you: save egg cartons for Barb Ding’s chickens

Who knew? Barb Ding says there are only two manufacturers of egg cartons in the world, and two have shut down. So save your cartons. Feed prices have also jumped, Barb says, so she Also needs to increase prices for her eggs from $2 to $3. 

I’m not saying it’s time for bass just yet

Are you prepared? I just checked my inventory and seem to be in decent shape...

They float! 

This is just part of my Ned Rig stash. . Linda’s not sure, but I probably have more hidden away. And a few wacky rigs.

What to do about a mask when you can’t sew...

Tom Miller’s boy Jon sent him and Sheila the following reassurance that he was prepared.

Since our Governor wants us to wear face masks when we are out in public, AND there are no face masks available (don’t tell the governor that). I am doing my part to innovate.  I managed to style some of my underwear into a suitable mask.  Why use underwear you ask? Well, if I am ever out and in a place where masks are required, I can always drop my drawers and make one of these.  I know I am making you proud parents. 

How to be sexy in your surgical mask

First, get your quilter wife to make you a cool fish fabric mask. 

Second, put the damn thing on.

Otherwise fish naked. Your fellow anglers will thank you.

You're welcome. 

Here's a story from Jim Roode

Near the Edge #1

I've had several "Near the Edge" experiences in my life. Here is one of a several from my days in the Army. This one with the 82nd Airborne.

Some of you remember who Mae West was. In the Airborne there is a parachute malfunction named after the well endowed actress. I was in position to observe one close  up and personal.

10:00 AM  takeoff in the workhorse C130, 60 troopers divided evenly on each side of plane. About half getting their midmorning nap, the rest sitting quietly between the roar of 4 Allison T56 Turbo props. I sit in the middle of the lefthand Stick.

About 30 minutes into the flight comes the order.

Stand up:         Get off your butt.

Hook Up:        Hook your static line to the overhead cable. This is what opens your chute.

Check Equipment: Each trooper checks the parachute pack of the person in front of him.

Stand in the Door: Troopers on each side nearest the door get in position to disembark.

GO!:                Exit the aircraft.

I move with the crowd and make a normal exit.

Oh, Oh. I did not feel the normal jolt that happens when you instantly go from a couple hundred mph to 0. Looking up There's Mae in all her glory. Two small connected umbrellas instead of the big glorious chute you expect to see.

We'd been trained for this possibility. Find the wind direction and pull the reserve cord. Catch the reserve as it emerges and throw it downwind so that it deploys away from you.

This I did but to my chagrin there was not enough wind and the reserve deployed into the shroud lines of Miss West, completely covering my face rendering me sightless.

This is a pickle and a short pickle at that. I am  approaching the ground much faster than the human body can endure such a collision.

I remembering an instructor explaining how this malfunction occurs and that  it is possible to fix in air. The shroud lines are over the top of the canopy creating the Bra like structure that the failure is named after.

I also remember what it looked like when I observed it. I grabbed the right hand riser (the strap that connect the harness to the shroud lines) and begin to jerk with everything I've got. It feels like it is moving. 15 maybe 20 of those and poof, bump I touch the ground in what was the softest landing I had ever experienced.

I rolled over, looked up and watched the last man exit the aircraft I had just left. "Thanks God"

I latter learned from observers on the ground that I had a cheering section. Most thought they were witnessing a terrible accident. They could see that I was making progress in jerking the lines of the chute but didn't think I would be successful. The chute opened just feet off the ground giving me a little push up thus explaining the super soft landing.

2 seconds latter and I would be dead.

Jim Roode

Barb is flat keeping busy during this shutdown

Here’s what our Club secretary has been up to. How about you? Send us a note at billjohnp@gmail.com

This can be posted to all club members (I don/t know how)

I am making and doing things on my lists instead of going crazy.

Got the steam cleaner out and cleaned all the carpeting in the house.

Got the planting soil out and planted several of 9 kinds of squash - Butternut, Zuchinni, Acorn, Buttercup, Uchiki Kuri, Lakota, Pumpkin - sweet sugar pie, Jack-B-Little pumpkins and Zapallo Hubbard (Squash party this fall!)

Lots of Tomatoes - Brandywine, Roma, Ace 55 and a bunch of unknowns that fell out of several packets over the winter.

20 feet of peas.

Lots of carrots - different kinds - my favorite is Scarlott Nantes.

Lots of Radishes

Kale and spinach outside - also kale and spinach in the green house - it is up about 2 inches today.

Also raked the front and back yards and cleaned up the flower gardens.

Still need to trim trees and clean the chicken coop and runs - they are busy fertilizing the back yard right now.

How was your week?

Colorado Parks and Wildlife passes

There's been a 30-day extension on Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing license expirations and annual passes. (Jerks have been posting all kinds of fake information about this kind of stuff, and park closings. We got the following information right off the verified state website: https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/FishingSeasonDatesFees.aspx Here's what they're saying. Be aware this kind of thing can change. 

As of Monday March 23, our Licensing vendor is experiencing significant delays in fulfillment of CPW products due to “shelter in place” orders related to COVID-19. This means they are currently backlogged in printing and mailing licenses, passes or other CPW products. 

• In response to these delays, we will be allowing customers to use a TAN (Temporary Authorization Number) for proof of privilege for most of our products at this time. This includes annual passes and more. We have also temporarily extended the timeframe for which a TAN is valid from 14 days to 45 days.

30-Day Extensions: CPW will extend the expiration date for State Park annual passes, annual family passes, Aspen Leaf annual passes and Columbine annual passes with an original printed expiration date of the end of March, 2020 or the end of April, 2020. The extension makes these passes valid through the last day of the subsequent month.

This includes fishing and combination small game and fishing licenses. We have also temporarily extended the timeframe for which a TAN is valid from 14 days to 45 days. 

For MORE information on Parks and the most up to date information on how CPW is responding to COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Response page.