4-inch ice cap reported on Lakes John, Delaneys

I'm seeing reports on http://fishexplorer.com of a 4-inch ice cap on the Delaneys, Lake John and Cowdrey. Intriguing, yet, but I'd prefer one of you tell me venture out and tell the rest of us whether the ice is thick enough to fish yet. I'm thinking, no way. Also, I see Antero has about a 2-inch cap, so I know it's cold, but wait awhile. 

I'll send an e-mail to club members in a few days and maybe put a list together of folks wanting to get out on the ice this winter. If you're a novice, I'd recommend just talking to some of the rest of us before spending your retirement money on equipment. We should have enough spare gear for you to borrow and see if you like the sport before investing. And you won't need an auger and such if you go with a group. 

December's meeting will be a holiday party

 

We'll have no planned agenda for the last general meeting of the year, Tuesday, December 20. In its place will be the annual holiday party! And gift exchange.

President Karol Stroschein will ensure we have coffee and cookies, but as we discussed on Tuesday, feel free to bring something to share with the rest of the club. Someone's already talking about their homemade fudge, for example, and you can never go wrong with chips and dip, or of course, chocolate chip cookies. No problem if you forget or choose not to participate in the gift exchange; just don't pick up a gift., so we don't run low on presents. 

Remember, if you want to participate, get something (new) for about 10 bucks. Wrap it up but don't put your name on it.  We have a kind of raffle to decide who gets to pick first.

Please nominate Patriot Anglers for a Scheels Johnstown grant

Scheels of Johnston is going to donate a total of $100K to nonprofit organizations in northern Colorado. They will pick 20 and gift in $5K increments, based on the number of votes or Facebook Likes" each individual organization gets. Please go to their website, https://www.scheels.com/stores/colorado/johnstown/event/jo-giving-day.html?fbclid=IwAR1POcMAUs-Y3evWsHu0QnB5DwdjbB0y-w1opuNi4wMPYcZI8caBRK2Z_hk and nominate Patriot Anglers. Dave Boyle and several other members of the Loveland Fishing Club have been active with the organization, and have acquired a pontoon boat used for the first time this summer to take veterans fishing on Boyd Lake. The money can be used for upcoming fishing trips and boating activities in northern Colorado for veterans. And please ask your friends to help us.

Secret new trout fishing hole revealed!

 Ok, it’s not a new fishing hole. It’s the Boyd lake inlet. But it has some new trout. 

Tom Miller and I watched Tuesday as the Colorado Parks and Wildlife hatchery truck dropped a load of stocker trout at the boat ramp. We left without attacking them with a fresh Gulp minnow, but suggest you might want to give them a try.

Darrell says this is his biggest brown trout ever. Of course, he just moved here from Florida ...

 By any measure, though, this is one husky trout, which Darrell Knight wrestled from the gin-clear water of South Delaney Lake Tuesday. One of a stalwart group of clubbers taking to the water, Darrell caught the 21-inch plus fish from his newly acquired float tube, endured a smack in the face, and released it to swim another day. There was a pretty good ice skim along the shoreline Tuesday, a pretty good indication that the fall season in North Park is winding down.