Colorado's finally warming up; so is the fishing!

 After a wretchedly cold, rainy spring the lakes around here are finally filling up and warming, with some good results for anglers.

Don't ask Jim Barborak about that; he was in Florida earlier this month and caught this whopping big largemouth. 

Meanwhile, though, Dan Barker was rediscovering his fondness for Colorado largemouth. 

and Bob Dierkes was bringing in a healthy string of trout and this walleye:

Meanwhile, Jim Clune, Jim Roode and Bill Prater were getting reacquainted with Horsetooth smallmouth, including this healthy female:

Photo by Jim Clune

Colorado - Colorado Parks and Wildlife enacts emergency fishing closure on heavily fished portion of Yampa River below Stagecoach Reservoir

 OAK CREEK, Colo. - Due to critically low water flow caused by dry conditions and minimal snowpack levels, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will implement a mandatory fishing closure on a 0.6-mile stretch of the Yampa River between the dam at Stagecoach State Park downstream to the lowermost park boundary.

The closure begins May 25 and will continue until further notice.

"Should the flow rate increase substantially for a continuous period of time, CPW will re-evaluate the emergency fishing closure," said CPW Senior Aquatic Biologist Lori Martin. "But because of the current conditions, we need to take this course of action now."

CPW works closely with the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District (UYWCD), who owns and operates Stagecoach Reservoir, to stay informed on reservoir releases and monitor drought conditions. UYWCD is finalizing a contract with the Colorado Water Trust for environmental releases later in the year.

“Timing (environmental releases) is critical to the health of the river system,” said UYWCD General Manager Andy Rossi. “We manage the reservoir and collaborate with our partners to ensure that water is available and legal mechanisms are in place to release water when the river needs it most. Unfortunately, flows are already low, but hot and dry summer months are still to come," said Rossi.

Water releases are currently only at 20% of average, and will be dropping to less than 15% of average for this time period. When water flows are minimal, fish become concentrated in residual pool habitat and become stressed due to increased competition for food resources. The fish become much easier targets for anglers, an added stressor that can result in increased hooking mortality.

"We are trying to be as proactive as possible to protect the outstanding catch-and-release fishery we have downstream of Stagecoach Reservoir," said CPW Area Aquatic Biologist Bill Atkinson. “This stretch of the river receives a tremendous amount of fishing pressure, especially in the spring when other resources might not be as accessible. This emergency closure is an effort to protect the resource by giving the fish a bit of a reprieve as they can become quite stressed during these extreme low-flow conditions. This spring we have not witnessed a spike in flows, which can offer fish protection and allow them to recoup energy following the spring spawn season.”

CPW advises anglers to find alternative areas to fish until the order is rescinded. Many other local areas will become more fishable soon as runoff tapers down. Several area lakes are also opening and should be fishing well.

CPW asks for cooperation from anglers, who should be aware the mandatory fishing closure will be enforced by law with citations issued for anyone violating the order.

Wildlife officials warn when a fish population is significantly affected by low stream flows or other unfavorable environmental conditions, it could take several years for it to fully recover if not protected. Given the extreme drought conditions we are currently faced with, other stretches of river in this area may be subject to additional closures this season.

Like many rivers and streams in western Colorado, the Yampa River offers world-class fishing and attracts thousands of anglers each year, providing a source of income to local businesses that depend on outdoor recreation.

"We ask for the public’s patience and cooperation," said Stagecoach State Park Manager Craig Preston. “It is very important that we do what we can to protect this unique fishery, not only for anglers, but for the communities that depend on the tourism these resources support.”  

For more information, contact Stagecoach State Park at 970-736-2436, or CPW's Steamboat Springs office at 970-870-2197.

For more information about fishing in Colorado, including alternative places to fish, visit the CPW website.

Colorado - New fishing opportunities at Sweitzer Lake State Park will include largemouth bass and bluegill

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Travis Duncan Statewide Public Information Officer 720-595-8294 / travis.duncan@state.co.us New fishing opportunities at Sweitzer Lake State Park will include largemouth bass and bluegill

CPW District Wildlife Manager Natalie Renneker gets ready to stock a good-sized largemouth bass into Sweitzer Lake. DELTA, Colo. – The dream of a new quality warm-water fishery for anglers on Colorado’s western slope is starting to see fruition after years of planning. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Aquatic Biologists Eric Gardunio and Ben Felt have been busy over the past week transferring fish to Sweitzer Lake State Park from other bodies of water. Some of the transfers included largemouth bass from Confluence Lake in Delta and James M. Robb Colorado River State Park in Grand Junction, as well as bluegill from Hallenbeck Reservoir in Grand Junction. More than 330 largemouth bass between 6 and 18 inches long as well as 1,300 sunfish were moved into Sweitzer Lake. These fish will be supplemented later this summer by fish from CPW hatcheries.  “The goal in transferring from a few places was to get fish in different size ranges so we have multiple age classes building up the population,” Gardunio said. “We also tried to focus on moving fish in situations where it would benefit the ecology of the waters they were being moved from.” The work took years of planning that included getting multiple organizations to sign off on a new lake management plan. CPW, along with other state and federal agencies, belongs to the Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program that aims to recover endangered fish in the Colorado River basin. Historically, Sweitzer Lake contained green sunfish, black bullhead and common carp. Adding largemouth bass and bluegill was identified as a way to create a more desirable warm-water fishery that is compatible with native fish in the rivers. The recovery program creates some limitations as to what species CPW can actively manage for in western Colorado. “We can manage for largemouth bass and bluegill, but we need a lake management plan approved by other signatory agencies within the recovery program before we can go ahead and stock the lake,” said Gardunio. “So we’ve had to do a fair bit of background work on the plan as well as fundraising to install a fish screen below the lake that ensures no fish will escape and get into other surrounding waterways.” Sweitzer Lake is a productive lake that has the potential to grow large fish. To further enhance the fishery, CPW has placed dozens of artificial habitat structures in the lake to help give the new fish a place to shelter as well as for anglers to focus their efforts. Fishing at Sweitzer is catch-and-release only, and these regulations should encourage the development of a quality sport fishery for healthy largemouth bass.  “The primary goal of this effort is to manage the fishery for big bass, which is something we hear local anglers requesting,” Gardunio said. “The recent stocking has created a new fishery in Sweitzer Lake that should continue to improve over the next several years.” Click here for more information about Sweitzer Lake State Park. For updated fishing regulations, see CPW’s 2021 Colorado Fishing brochure. Click here for more information on the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program.  photo captions: CPW staff places artificial habitat structures into Sweitzer Lake. CPW measures a largemouth bass prior to release into the lake.

Loveland Fishing Club June meeting and Annual Barbecue/Picnic update

 The Loveland Fishing Club has a news update regarding our June General Meeting. It will be held at 2:00 pm, on June 15th, at Fairgrounds Park, 700 S. Railroad Ave., Loveland. It is suggested that you bring your own chair and water.

 

The Annual LFC Barbecue/Picnic will be held August 17, 2021 at Fairgrounds Park, 700 S. Railroad Ave. In order to estimate the amount of food needed, members are requested to RSVP at the upcoming General Meeting on June 15th

Colorado - Barr Lake State Park launches virtual reality experience through TimeLooper app

 https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=7796

BRIGHTON, Colo. - Barr Lake State Park partnered with the acclaimed virtual reality experience design house TimeLooper to produce a new augmented reality app.  This 360 degree virtual adventure includes points of interest around Barr Lake to educate and inspire visitors about nature, history, outdoor recreation, stewardship and Leave No Trace principles.  These points will be generated on a 3D topographic model of Barr Lake that will appear on your floor, table or other open area. You can access this experience at home, school or even at the park. Keep in mind you can adjust the size of the model according to your space. "This project was made possible with support from Friends of Barr Lake and a grant through Adams County government," said Park Manager Michelle Seubert. "During these unprecedented times, we continue to look for new and fun ways to engage our community in the great outdoors." Explore Barr Lake by downloading the app on your Apple or Android devices.

Utah - What anglers should know about fishing during a drought year

 https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/1183-what-anglers-should-know-fishing-during-a-drought-year.html

ALT LAKE CITY — After Gov. Spencer Cox issued an executive order earlier this year declaring a state of emergency due to drought conditions, low water levels are top of mind for many Utahns. Drought impacts many things, including fish and wildlife species. If you are planning some fishing trips this summer, here are a few things to consider before you head out.

How drought impacts fish species

Drought impacts fish by reducing the amount of water available in lakes, reservoirs and streams throughout the state. These are primary habitats for Utah's fish, and having less water affects fish in multiple ways.

"This smaller amount of water heats more quickly and warms to higher temperatures than when there isn't a drought," Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Sportfish Coordinator Randy Oplinger said. "Warm water also holds less oxygen than colder water. The combination of high temperatures and low oxygen can stress fish, causing poor growth and disease. Fish can also die when temperatures are too warm or the oxygen levels get too low."

Trout in low-elevation waterbodies have the greatest likelihood of being impacted by the drought this year, but low water levels and high water temperatures can affect all fish species.

How fishing could possibly be impacted this summer

If you enjoy fishing from a boat, you should try to visit your favorite lakes and reservoirs as soon — and as often — as you possibly can. Water levels at some reservoirs and lakes could be so low by July that boat ramps may not be functional. Before you plan a boating trip, be sure to check for updates on each waterbody to see if the ramps are open, especially later in the summer.

The drought may also change the number of fish stocked into certain waterbodies this year.

"There are a few waterbodies where we are expecting to see low water levels due to drought or maintenance work, and in an effort to decrease the number of fish that may die as a result of low water, we have decided to decrease the stocking in these waterbodies," Oplinger said. "We are not entirely cutting the stocking of any waterbody, and if we decrease the number of fish stocked into one lake, we will reallocate those fish to another waterbody where we don't anticipate low water levels. Also, these anticipated stocking changes only impact 1–2% of the lakes and reservoirs in Utah and don't include any of the major fisheries."

How to help fish during a hot, drought year

If you want to give the fish you catch and release a better chance of survival during the drought, you should consider fishing in the mornings or evenings when temperatures are cooler. Another way to help fish is to pick a fishing spot that has deeper, cooler water, so you can release any caught fish into an area where they are more likely to survive.

"Basically, try not to fish near little coves that have shallow, stagnant warm water," Oplinger said. "Instead, pick a spot where you can release your fish into better quality water to increase their survival rates during this hot, drought year."

Tips for handling fish to decrease stress

• Use single hooks on lures and bend down the barbs for easy release.
• Minimize the time you spend "fighting" the fish and any hands-on handling.
• Use rubber or coated nylon nets to protect a fish's slime layer and fins.
• Quickly remove the hook with forceps or needle-nosed pliers.
• Minimize the amount of time the fish is exposed to the air, especially when the weather is warm. And keep your hands wet when handling the fish.
• If the fish is deeply hooked, don't pull on the line. Instead, cut the line as close as possible to where it is hooked and leave the hook.
• Allow the fish to recover in the net before you release it.
• If the fish doesn't stay upright when you release it, gently move it back and forth.

"If you intend to release trout after catching them — and you expect them to survive — you need to consider the impacts of low and warm water conditions," Brett Prettyman, the Trout Unlimited communications director for science, Western water & habitat and headwater programs said. "Drought leads to reduced flows and increased temperatures. Each of these can individually create deadly conditions for trout — together they will almost assuredly end in the loss of fish. The additional stress of being caught could easily be the final blow during drought situations. Unless you plan to keep the fish, you should consider not fishing when conditions could be fatal to the fish, particularly where fisheries are sustained by natural recruitment."

Idaho - Lake trout work in Stanley Lake resumes in 2021

 Lake trout work in Stanley Lake resumes in 2021 | Idaho Fish and Game

By Greg Schoby, Regional Fisheries Manager

Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 4:28 PM MDT

Project will remove some lake trout and replace them with sterile fish to maintain fishing opportunity

Idaho Fish and Game has contracted with a company to net lake trout in Stanley Lake for 10 days in early May to reduce their population and reduce risk to endangered sockeye salmon populations. After the netting, sterile lake trout will be restocked in the summer and fall to continue to provide anglers a lake trout fishery at Stanley Lake. This is the second year of a three-year project and is the first netting event of 2021.

Lake trout are mostly predatory fish that feed on smaller fish, such as kokanee salmon and young sockeye. In other lake and river systems across the West, lake trout have also migrated long distances and colonized connected lakes. Lake trout in Stanley Lake are currently reproducing, and therefore pose a risk to establishing populations in nearby waters.

Fish and Game fishery managers will restock sterile lake trout to maintain fishing opportunity while also reducing the risk of lake trout reproducing and colonizing nearby waters. Stocking sterile young lake trout will occur in the fall with fish from Fish and Game's Grace Fish Hatchery. To provide opportunity for larger fish, sterile adult lake trout will be transplanted from Bear Lake in Southeast Idaho in mid-June.

In 2017, Fish and Game formed an advisory committee made up of local anglers, fishing guides, business owners, US Forest Service staff, and Fish and Game biologists. Over the course of several meetings, the committee developed the Stanley Lake Fisheries Management Plan, which outlines steps to balance lake trout fishing opportunity with risk reduction to sockeye in the Upper Salmon River and Sawtooth Valley lakes.

Funding for the project was provided by a grant from the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund.

For more information about the project and the Stanley Lake Management Plan, call Greg Schoby or Kayden Estep at Fish and Game’s Salmon Regional Office (208) 756-2271.

Colorado - State Wildlife Area passes are now available

 State Wildlife Areas (SWAs) are state or privately-owned lands that offer wildlife-related recreation to the public. While most activities focus on hunting and fishing, each SWA has different allowed activities.

Beginning May 1, 2021, a valid hunting or fishing license or SWA pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing any state wildlife area.

Frequently Asked Questions:Requirements-SWA-STL-Access-FAQ.pdf 

https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/LandWater/SWA/License-Requirements-SWA-STL-Access-FAQ.pdf 

Colorado - Lynx: Shadows of the Forest - a feature film released by Colorado Parks and Wildlife

 Here's one for adults and kids alike.

DENVER - A new film released Wednesday by Colorado Parks and Wildlife showcases the ‘Shadows of the Forest’ in Colorado’s high-elevation wilderness - the Canada lynx. The film was published on CPW’s YouTube, Facebook and Instagram channels. It tells the story of lynx in Colorado and how the big-footed felines are representatives of wild values and the natural world. The film was produced by Sean Ender of Peak to Creek films. Part of CPW’s mission is to take care of the native species in the state. Prior to Colorado’s reintroduction of lynx starting back in 1999, no other state or Canadian province had ever completed a successful lynx reintroduction. Colorado declared the lynx reintroduction efforts a success in 2010 and this film tells the story of that history and the research and collaborative efforts taking place with the U.S. Forest Service to protect their habitats and study the species.  "As a scientist, we're trained to spend our lives mired in details, trying to design the perfect sampling scheme or experiment, running some complicated analysis, and attempting to publish a paper in a prestigious scientific journal,” said Jake Ivan, Wildlife Research Scientist with CPW. “That is all well and good and serves an important purpose. What's lost in that cycle is the story our research has to tell.   “In this video, Sean does a great job of capturing that story, and conveying it in a way that is interesting, informative and captivating. I hope people will enjoy this story and along the way maybe learn a bit about lynx, hares, forest management and the research effort that goes into trying to understand it all." CPW is in charge of the management and monitoring of lynx in Colorado, but it is a species that lives in the national forest system. The U.S. Forest Service is really the ones providing the habitat for lynx and their primary food source, snowshoe hares. Ender, owner of Peak to Creek films, captured some of the collaborative work taking place between CPW and the USFS. The film also showcases some of the facilitating science behind the research. "I really enjoyed learning about the complexities and multiple layers of science at work to keep lynx on the landscape in Colorado,” Ender said. “When Jake first told me they can gather DNA from footprints in the snow I was shocked. Filming Doug tossing a giant snowball around to the point where he's left holding a lynx track was fascinating. It's really fun to capture moments like that in the field and share the cutting edge work CPW is doing to conserve a species they worked so hard to bring back." On Thursday, a second film on lynx will also be published across the same channels. That one showcases exploratory movements lynx make across Colorado and beyond, and Ivan talks about the biology of the big-footed felines. Want more on the Canada lynx, listen to our podcast episode featuring the species.

Wyoming - Wyoming Offers Interactive Fishing Guide

 CHEYENNE - Want to catch a kokanee? Or how about a golden trout? It’s easy and inspiring to plan all your fishing pursuits with a new interactive fishing guide from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Explore the guide on the Game and Fish website. 

“The interactive fishing guide is useful for all anglers,” said Mark Smith, Game and Fish assistant fisheries management supervisor. “For the vast majority of people who want to plan a fishing trip, this tool will answer your top questions.”

Most anglers planning a Wyoming fishing trip want to know four pieces of information: where to go, the species of catchable fish, how to get to the water and what the public access is like. The interactive fishing guide answers all those questions with a few simple clicks. 

Users can search by the game fish species they wish to pursue and find corresponding destination waters. Conversely, anglers can search by water and find out what fish they could catch there. 

“This is a great feature for finding where just about any water in Wyoming is located,” Smith said. “And, it’s quick for anyone to find the simple information they need to get fishing.”

The key to using the interactive fishing guide is zooming in. When anglers drill down closer to a water, even more information is available such as roads, boat ramps, camping and rest areas. Walk-in fishing and public access areas are also visible by zooming. 

Smith says there are layers of information, so anglers can easily overlook all the details available to them. More information is available by clicking on the access areas, waters or map symbols. A pop-up will appear with details. 

“Always check for the arrow in the top right corner of the pop-up. If there’s an arrow, that means there’s further useful information to help you get to a water or plan your trip,” Smith said. 

Looking forward to the summer, Smith said he hopes this new tool expands people’s fishing options and encourages anglers to head to locales maybe they’ve only heard about.

“There are easily hundreds of places to fish in Wyoming. With this interactive guide, top-notch fishing is at your fingertips, and we’re looking forward to people venturing out and trying a few different locations,” Smith said. 

The interactive fishing guide is available on the Game and Fish fishing webpage. Resident youth under 14 don’t need a license to fish in Wyoming; nonresident youth under 14 don't either as long as they are with a licensed adult. Remember to review the current fishing regulations before casting a line.

 

(Sara DiRienzo, Public Information Officer - (sara.dirienzo@wyo.gov))

- WGFD -

Kids Fishing Derby is page one news in Reporter Herald

Reporter and Fishing Club friend Pamela Johnson wrote a glowing report on the planned June 5 return of the derby:

"The Loveland Fishing Derby is returning after a one-year hiatus during the pandemic, giving youths the chance to learn about fishing and cast a line in the duck pond at North Lake Park.

The Loveland Police Department, Loveland Fishing Club, Colorado Youth Outdoors, Kiwanis Club and Colorado Parks and Wildlife will come together on June 5 — the day residents can fish without a license in Colorado — for the event that has been going on for decades. Following is a link to the complete article: https://www.reporterherald.com/2021/05/12/loveland-fishing-derby-returns-june-5-after-one-year-hiatus/ 

Wyoming - Changes to camping at Grayrocks Reservoir Public Access Area

 LARAMIE -

Due to extensive resource damage and overcrowding issues, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is changing camping rules at the popular Grayrocks Reservoir Public Access Area. Changes go into effect on May 15 and will enforced during the Memorial Day weekend.
 
Grayrocks Reservoir Public Access Area (PAA), located seven miles south of Guernsey and nine miles northeast of Wheatland along the Laramie River, is extremely popular with campers, especially around summer holidays. Its popularity has resulted in overcrowding and damages to vegetation from vehicles. To address these issues, the limit for overnight camping at Grayrocks Reservoir PAA will be reduced from seven days to five days.
 
“The change will help alleviate crowding while giving everyone a chance to camp in prime spots,” said Jerry Cowles, Game and Fish Laramie Region habitat and access supervisor. The areas where visitors can camp will also be redefined. Gate 9, which is the next gate east of the easternmost boat ramp, will be designated as a “No camping area.”  
 
“The area near Gate 9 has seen the most damage due to the vast amount of vehicle use,” Cowles said. “Also, the grounds provide crucial access to water for livestock, and we know they will not approach to drink when campers are present.” Signs will be installed on the Grayrocks property to alert campers of the changes and designated closed areas.
 
Grayrocks Reservoir supplies cooling water for the Laramie River Power Plant. Basin Electric Power Cooperative owns the reservoir and has a cooperative agreement with the Game and Fish to manage the property as a public access area. The department manages more than 200 public access areas across the state for fishing, hunting, camping and other recreational opportunities. These areas are maintained and funded through the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses.
 
“Game and Fish and the Basin Electric Power Cooperative and want to make Grayrocks PAA a safe place for all users, and these changes will improve the enjoyment for everyone,” Cowles said.
 
For more information, contact the Laramie Region Game and Fish Office at (307) 745-4046.

After a year’s hiatus, the Loveland Kids Fishing Derby Returns!

Pandemic caused cancellation of last year’s derby, but volunteers led by Loveland Police are picking up where they left off, prepping for the June 5 event.

Look around all you want for signs of return to normalcy - I look no further than the decision to go ahead with the 2021 Loveland Kids Fishing Derby, an annual event that has been introducing youngsters to fishing for generations.

Club members, mark the date on your calendars. Your help will be much needed, appreciated and fun. e-mail Rick Golz for details on what kind of volunteer help is needed.

The free fishing derby for kids 15 and under will be held at the North Lake Park Duck Pond, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. It’s always on the first Saturday in June, a traditional free day of fishing across Colorado. Kids normally don’t have to have a license but their parents do, and this is very much intended as a family affair. The annual fishing derby had to be cancelled in 2020 because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Loveland Police Officer Dave Sloat heads up planning for the derby, as he’s done for more than a decade. Rick Golz leads Loveland Fishing Club volunteers. The event is sponsored by Loveland Police, aided by the Loveland Fishing Club, Kiwanis International, Colorado Youth Outdoors and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which drops hundreds of trout into the Duck Pond just before the derby. (In years past CPW volunteers have provided education on Colorado fishing laws and ethics). The fishing club handles registration, provides bait, loans tackle to anyone needing it, and runs free raffles and provides prizes for largest and smallest trout caught. 

As they’ve done for years, Kiwanis club volunteers will provide family priced food and drink, and Colorado Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 52 volunteers will hand out free kettle corn. Also, because the pond gets warm in summer, organizers really want the kids to keep the trout they catch. One of the most popular aspects of the derby is having volunteers clean and cook your fish for you right on the spot. 

No cost, but kids need to register 

Do it the day of the derby, before starting to fish. That qualifies you for the raffles and prizes. Registration areas will be located at the parking lot of Loveland High School on the east side of the pond, and at Shelter #2 in North Lake Park just west of the pond.

Again, the derby is free and if you lack tackle, just borrow some from fishing club volunteers when you get to the pond. You don’t need to be from Loveland, just be 15 or under. Parents, grandparents and older brothers and sisters are encouraged to help make this a family outing.

I for one have missed many things in the past year-plus, but I guess what I miss most are children. As part of the Loveland Fishing Club for nearly two decades now, I have literally been fortunate enough to take hundreds of northern Colorado kids fishing - at the derby, Girl Scouts at their annual festivals at Colorado Youth Outdoors’s Swift Ponds and Colorado Parks and Wildlife clinics at Boyd Lake and Lon Hagler. All were abruptly cancelled in 2020 because of this damnable pandemic. 

The Kids Derby is special. We’re not 100 percent certain how long it’s been a Loveland tradition, but it dates back to at least the Great Depression, and it’s been a tradition for generations of anglers. I can’t recall a derby when someone doesn’t approach with a story of how THEY caught their first fish, at the Loveland Kids Fishing Derby.

Angler of the Year dispute settled!

 Angler of the Year dispute settled! 

Like King Solomon pondering the fate of a Biblical newborn, Jim Roode has abruptly resolved the dispute between Bill Prater and Wayne Baranczyk over who caught an oversize grass carp by declaring it a draw:  Each will be credited with 14 inches worth of fish - or roughly 46.6666667 percent of the Colorado Master Angler criteria for the grass carp species.  

So, less than a week into the Angler of the Year contest, we now have two entries, but they're in a dead heat for last. Let’s have more reports!

We suppose half a fish
 is better than none!

Ok, Jim, Bill and Wayne admit to a bit of B.S.

So it turns out Bill really did foul-hook a handsome 28-inch grass carp on April 29, and Wayne really did get the fish into his tiny trout net long enough to flop it onto his float tube for a measurement. But the guys are kind of pulling the club’s collective leg about splitting the fish down the middle for Angler of the Year competition.

“That fish pulled Bill all over Bass Pond and back; I just pulled the fish onto my lap,” Wayne concedes. “Jim’s ruling stands, though: we are stuck with two Angler of the Year entries that add up to less than one Master Angler Award.

“So everyone just get out there and go fishing.”

The contest runs through year-end. Here are the rules again.

• Eligible Fish - Any Fish caught in the state of Colorado that is listed on the Colorado Master Anglers List, in water available to all club members.

• Winner is the fish which is the largest percentage of a Colorado Master Anglers fish. (Dan Barker was the club’s most recent winner, in 2019, with a 19 ¾-inch white bass, 116.2 percent of the Colorado Master Angler criteria for that species.) 

• All Colorado Fishing regulations apply. Snagging not allowed except if the fish was accidentally snagged in the course of normal angling using commonly accepted angling procedures and equipment.

• Entries must be submitted to the record keeper (currently Jim Roode) in writing within 30 days of the catch.      

• Entries require picture or witness verification.

• Fish caught on a Professional Guided trip do not qualify.

• Entries will be allotted time at the Monthly Meeting to discuss their catch. Prizes will be awarded at the January general meeting.