Loveland Fishing Club Blog

 Okay, several club members have been clamoring for Sherry Cadle's delicious Cheesy Sweet Corn Spoonbread recipe, and she's just passed it along for the rest of us.  You start with Krusteaz Honey Cornbreak and Muffin Mix, one 14 3/4-oz can of cream-style corn, 1/2 cup of melted butter, a cup of sour cream and 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. It makes enough 12 servings. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and in a large bowl stir together all ingredients until well blended. Pour into lightly greased 9x9-inch baking pan and bake for 38-52 minutes. Top with additional cheddar cheese, if desired. Let sit for about five minutes before serving. That's it! 

  By Bill Prater    Following is pretty much all I can think to tell you about how to become a thriving member of the Loveland Fishing Club. It also describes some specific fishing preferences of a few long-time (and reasonably successful) members that you should get to know.    I’m often asked, in front of witnesses, about specifically where to go fishing around northern Colorado, and how to catch fish when you get there. I hesitate to respond with the absolute truth. That truth is, our public waters tend to run on the small side, while our population gets steadily bigger. So I'm reluctant to share too many specifics about too many specific spots with too many people. Some annoying social media - places like FishBrain and YouTube - have also cropped up in recent years. They allow – even encourage – overly intimate information about favorite fishing holes. Trouble is, you’re not just sharing what you know with a quiet and loveably discreet guy like me. If you’r...

 I believe he was out with Dan Barker on Boyd this week when Dennis Kelsey hauled in this 22-inch channel cat. Pretty good day’s work. 

 Okay, everyone else was a bit perplexed Tuesday when Bob Ray, who grew up in Louisiana, took his turn to describe the first fish he remembers catching:  a bunch of "gaspergou." Club President Karol Stroschein should have known what that was, ferchristsakes, being a Bayou girl herself, but didn't utter a word. Neither did Club Treasurer Barbra Ding, but she looked the thing up on the Internet when she got home. Turns out the fish can be found just about everywhere in the continental United States including Colorado, and I recall Norm Engelbrecht talking about catching one a few seasons ago. But he and the rest of the club should recognize that fat white fish as the "freshwater drum." I've landed a few over the years, but never tried to eat one. Apparently Young Bob's family and most Louisianans considered them a delicacy.  Let's add this to a list of must-have species for Darrel Knight's new "Fishing Bingo" club challenge, coming next y...

  So, I'm wondering: should we get back to North Park before snow flies? You really needed a float tube this week to do South Delaney justice, but the club caught a fair number of fat browns, rainbows and cutbows. Weather permitting, want to try again next week?  If interested, contact Bill at billjohnp@gmail.com  Here's a fat brown hen that fell victim to Rick Palmieri's flawless presentation, before being released to spawn again. Damned thing dropped a bunch of eggs on my float tube. 

 Here's Dave Boyle with a 17-inch white bass he hauled out of Boyd during the club's Boat Day outing Thursday, Oct. 12. And here's everyone else enjoying a celebratory meal afterward at the group picnic area just north of the Marina boat launch.

 While Danny was off chasing after grandkids in North Carolina, Kathy was on a nearby dock chasing fish. Here's the result:  a 12-pound channel cat. You can always chase kids. 

 The club is again getting together in our boats and terrorizing the fish in Boyd Lake, followed by lunch. Questions? Check with Dan Barker at 970-302-8965. Fishing will begin about 8 a.m., varying some from boat to boat, followed by lunch at the group picnic area north of the marina. 

  In lieu of flowers, Norm Engelbrecht's wife Gail requests that donations be made to the Loveland Fishing Club. Club Treasurer Barb Ding says donations should be made to "The Loveland Fishing Club;" funds will go directly to the Kids Fund maintained for the club as part of the nonprofit Chilsen Parks and Recreation Fund, to be used for the annual Kids Derby and other child-related activities by the club. Barb can be reached at barbra@agroomroom.com , 970-587-4898. Her mailing address is 20059 Northmoor Drive, Johnstown, CO 80534.    # # # 

  By Bill Prater   You really can learn useful stuff watching those televised bass fishing tournaments. What I have learned is, those Southern boys and girls mostly throw baits five times larger than needed here in Colorado, and try to convince us we need that stuff too.    These days anyone with time on their hands can walk the aisles of big sporting goods stores and learn what has taken me a lifetime to comprehend: at least some fish, or at least some fishermen, must be kinda dumb. How else to explain the success of hundreds of giant baits lining the shelves of Colorado stores, or the corporate decisions that anything smaller than 1/8-ounce must be used for crappie and bluegill?  Truth to tell, you can throw just about anything but a brick at most freshwater species, and eventually one or more will at least take a swipe or a bite. You may not catch many, if you’re using barbed or trebled hooks the size of ice tongs. But if you stay with just about...