Loveland Fishing Club Blog

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.

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!”  

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

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 ...

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.

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!)

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...

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

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 ...

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 . ...

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.

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: ...

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...

Click here  LINK

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.

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

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 ...

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 isl...

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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 s...

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 t...

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  temporaril...