Big Fish contest entries due by December 31!

 Each year we pause to recognize the club member who's landed the biggest fish of the year coming to a close.

The winning fish is the largest one of any sport species taken from public water in Colorado, as a percentage of the Colorado Master Angler criteria for that species. That can be an enormous carp or a relatively huge bluegill.

All entries must be submitted by December 31 to Club Vice President Darrell Knight, DarrellKnight99@gmail.com or 1-678-232-2040. The winner will be honored at the January meeting at the Chilson Center. 

Holiday group portrait!

 

Alert Loveland Fishing Club member Dave Boyle got us all together for a group photo at Tuesday's annual Holiday Party. All together, a very distinguished looking group of anglers. 

Reminder: Tuesday's meeting is a party with gift exchange

There's no formal agenda for the 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17th general meeting. Instead we're having a party and gift exchange. 

There'll be coffee and cookies, but feel free to bring something else to share with the rest of the club. If you forget or choose not to participate in the gift exchange; just don't pick up a gift. Pick out something new for about 10 bucks. Wrap it up but don't put your name on it.  See you Tuesday.

Looking back to December 2010: Another Loveland Fishing Club posting from years past

 Okay, as promised, here's another look back at life in the Loveland Fishing Club a few years ago. In this case, it's a reprint of the first of the club newsletter, The Forgetful Angler. A number of things have changed since then, to wit:

Um, we don't have a newsletter any more; just these e-mail postings that simultaneously appear on the club blog, http://lovelandfishingclub.blogspot.com. We do have a Facebook presence, but don/t use it much. There's also a fond reference below to breakfast at the Widow McCoy's. We don't do breakfast there anymore; if fact, there's no longer a Widow. We do spend about the same amount of time at Friday breakfast somewhere, talking about hip replacements and gall bladder surgeries. And Tom Miller can still stretch a half-hour trip to Fort Collins into an all-day adventure. Enjoy. Bill 

First topic:  Why Real Anglers Don't Tweet. 

 Below is the first of what could be a monthly report on essential club activities.  Your suggestions would be much appreciated.  Bill P

I am often asked why we do not have a Loveland Fishing Club Facebook account, and why members cluster together like a school of baby shad every Friday morning at the Widow McCoy's to talk about events of the week just past.  In the spirit of the season, I will share these and other closely held club secrets:  The answer, people, is that we've got time on our hands.

Looking back again: Ice out at Delaney Buttes!

That photo posted to the blog last week by Pat Mikulak of the late Norm Engelbrecht sparked Walt Graul to come up with one of his favorites, shown below: eight club members who ventured to Delaney on April 25, 2022 in search of open water and big gullible trout. That's Walt on the right and Jim Roode far left. Jim and Jim Clune started our ice out tradition well over a decade ago. That's likely our first group venture together after the Covid-19 outbreak pushed anglers and everyone else into isolation. Note the blue sky:  we should start preparing for the 2025 trip. 

Pat shares a memory of a good old friend

 This is a season where memories can come flooding back. In this case, Loveland Fishing Club's Pat Mikulak is sharing the photo below taken a few years ago at Boyd Lake of the late Norm Engelbrecht, easily the club's most obsessive ice fisherman. Looking at it makes me think of Norm flat on his stomach on the ice, looking down into his fishing hole. 

 "He was such a good friend and mentor," Pat recalls, adding that the much-customized sled on Norm's left is now one of Pat's favorite possessions. Have any other memories of past seasons that you'd like to share? Send them to me at billjohnp@gmail.com. Bill 

Second in our series looking back to years past: "First ice fishing trip of 2019!"

Following up on our Nov. 22 post, "What shall we talk about until Spring?" following is the second in a promised intermittent series of articles that appeared on the Loveland Fishing Club blog in years past. Remember, this is a reprint; do not show up at the K-Mart parking lot Tuesday expecting to find:

1. Well, for one thing, the K-Mart. It's now called Jax. 
2. And don't look for other eager club members anxious to go fishing. We did that five years ago.

I don't recall how this planned first ice fishing trip of 2019 turned out (hey, I'm almost as old as some of you guys). But I suspect we did really well. 

(And as for 2024 fishing, know that the Johnstown Scheels Ice Fest is this Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a free ice fishing bucket going to the first 200 attendees. I've not heard from any club members who've ventured out on the ice yet, but Wayne and I did pretty well about a week ago on some open wateer at the Recycle Pond. Bill 

First Ice Fishing Trip of 2019 (again, not 2024) 

Meet at the K-Mart parking lot at 8 a.m. Tuesday and carpool to Red Feather Lakes, where we'll fish Dowdy or West Lake.  We're pretty sure the ice is thick (enough) and the early-season bite should be astounding.

Newbies to ice fishing:  if you don't have the equipment or the know-how, no problem.  Give me a call and one of us will loan you bait and tackle.  Dress in layers; the only hassle with the Dowdy Lake area is an occasional frosty wind.  You might want to invest in Yak Trax or other ice grippers; you should have a pair if you live around here anyway.

We should have decent ice; Fish Explorer reported a 5-inch cap on Dec. 2.  To be sure, we'll have newest members test the footing, as a sort of good-hearted initiation.

Actually, fishing on frozen water is not nearly the dumbest thing club members do regularly.  I've been following Dave Harem and crew onto the ice for a decade now, and haven't fallen in once.  Just take your time and look around, don't approach rocks and stuff sticking out of the ice, and resist the temptation to bounce over to look down my ice hole after I catch the first cutbow.  Bill

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December meeting is Tue, Dec. 17. Gift exchange!

 ​Remember, there's no planned agenda for the last general meeting of the year, 2 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 17th.In its place: the annual holiday party! And gift exchange.

President Danny Barker and other club party lovers will ensure we have coffee and cookies, but if you're so inclined and handy around the kitchen, feel free to bring something to share with the rest of the club. 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 when we get to my name. 

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. Happy holidays, everyone. Bill 

Let's give Thanks to this great place we call home

 

We'd normally urge you to get out there and fish before the winter ice cap settles over northern Colorado lakes and ponds, but hey, Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. Enjoy the holiday, and maybe think about where to head with the ice fishing season opening soon in the high country. We're blessed to live in a special place. Bill

What shall we talk about until Spring? If we just reminisce, we've got two decades to work with

 Well, there's always ice fishing, too. But a distressing number of Loveland Fishing Club's finest tend to spend our winters huddled around the television set watching Harold Ensley or Homer Circle reruns. If you have a subject you'd like us to cover this winter, let me know, lovelandfishing@gmail.com Otherwise, consider this the first of a series of  past columns published on this blog over the past two decades. Some names may be unfamiliar, or bring back recollections of members past. If you need a briefing, ask an old timer. 

At this Friday's club breakfast, while reminiscing about great old trips of the past, a member with a good memory pointed out that most of our most unforgettable club events don't seem to involve the catching of a lot of fish. I simply note that no one likes a smart ass. 

To start this conversation going, following is an article originally posted on March 1, 2011: the first of our ongoing speculations on "Who's Loveland's Toughest Angler?" If you have a new candidate to suggest, drop me line. Bill 

The legendary Loveland Fishing Club is comprised of fisher men and women with a median age well into the '70s, maxing out at just over 90, with a tendency to test ourselves against the elements. With March winds howling, it's time once again to ponder, "Who's Loveland's toughest angler?"

My own claim to the title of toughest came during a February journey to the Sandhills of northwest Nebraska, where I'd forgotten my heaviest coat but bravely kept whimpering to a minimum on a day where the temperature never rose above zero. Others arguably have a more legitimate claim. 

There's Shirley Smillie, for example, who just celebrated 80, who kind of stunned everyone a few seasons ago when she turned out for a legendary minus-23 degree ice fishing trip to Lake Grandby, followed by an equally memorable midsummer catfishing trip to Kansas a few weeks after a lengthy hospital stay for heart problems.  Followed in turn by her hauling in a 45- or so pound spoonbill catfish on an early spring outing to eastern Oklahoma.

Water Symposium set for Oct. 30 at Embassy Suites in Loveland

 

Register Now for Fall Water Symposium on Oct. 30 at Embassy Suites in Loveland

The Northern Water’s Board of Directors and staff would like to invite you to attend our Fall Water Symposium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, at the Embassy Suites in Loveland. Doors will open at 8 a.m. for check-in and to allow attendees to network.   

Northeastern Colorado water users will hear from multiple speakers regarding regional water topics. The Symposium will include a focus on the value water provides to our region and the importance of preserving the region’s base water supplies going forward. Related will be a forum discussing the ongoing challenges of growth. Additional presentations will include regional fire impacts to nearby water supplies, the management of aquatic weeds, an update on Colorado River happenings and the recently completed Colorado River Connectivity Channel project.  

The event will also include remarks from the new State Engineer Jason Ullmann and Colorado Water Conservation Board Executive Director Lauren Ris. Also, don’t miss the latest updates on construction of the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project and environmental projects associated with the Northern Integrated Supply Project. 

Registration is now open to the public. Spaces are filling quickly, so we encourage you to register no later than Oct. 16 on our website to save your place for the day, which also includes lunch. If you are unable to register online, please feel free to call our registration line at 970-622-2234.   

When

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Where

Embassy Suites, 4705 Clydesdale Parkway, Loveland

Register for Fall Water Symposium

Agenda

Save to Your Calendar

Club events for the week of October 13

 The Loveland Fishing Club has a busy calendar this week, so be ready:

• Monday, Oct. 14: 9 a.m. Board meeting at Chilson Senior Center
• Tuesday, Oct. 15: 2 p.m. General meeting at Chilson. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Senior Aquatic Biologist, Kyle Battige will be the featured speaker. Kyle's  He leads the biologists responsible for fisheries across northern Colorado. 
• Thursday, Oct. 17: 7:30 a.m. Boat Day at Boyd Lake.  If you'd like to participate, contact Club President Danny Barker asap at danbarker2337@gmail  or 970-302-8965. He'll match up boat captains with anglers needing a ride. 

Fishing is followed by a potluck at the state park beach house. The club provides some protein, Danny says, and "everyone is asked to bring a dish to pass, and whatever you want to drink." Danny will also bring cold water.

Fish salvage at Poudre ponds in greeley

Emergency public fish salvage at Poudre Ponds begins immediately Oct. 3, 2024 Emergency public fish salvage at Poudre Ponds begins immediately  GREELEY, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is announcing an emergency public fish salvage at Poudre Ponds in Greeley effective immediately until October 10. Impending repair work and subsequent draining of the ponds by the City of Greeley may result in a loss of fish, and the public salvage will optimize the fishery resource. The following regulations will apply to Poudre Ponds during the salvage: Fishing is only permitted in daylight hours, which is from sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. All anglers must have a valid Colorado fishing license. Size, bag and possession limits at Poudre Ponds will be suspended until the conclusion of the salvage. All legal fishing methods are allowed except for the use of dip nets, seines and snagging. Access is controlled by the City of Greeley. CPW has stocked Poudre Ponds with catchable trout as well as warm water species. Fish species in the pond include largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie and rainbow trout along with common carp and gizzard shad. ### Share Tweet Share

Arnie declared 2024 Loveland Fishing Club Derby Champion!

 Rick Golz enjoyed a very good day of fishing at Flatiron Reservoir Wednesday. But Arnie Stroschein's day went even better, hauling in a fat 17-inch rainbow trout to seal his claim to the title of 2024 Derby Champion. Rick was runner up in the event for a second time. 

The contest was determined by measuring the biggest daily limit of trout, a stringer of four. Arnie's limit measured 52 1/2 inches, followed by Rick's 49 1/2. Like the club names on the Stanley Cup, 

Arnie's moniker will be permanently enshrined on the club's handsome traveling trophy, which he'll keep until next year's derby. He also earns $50; Rick gets $25. (While your Loveland Fishing Club editor, who finished a scant quarter-inch behind Rick, got a hot dog and chips like the rest of the dozen and a half other club members who competed for the title.) 

Arnie and Rick also earned the honor of cooking next year's celebratory derby picnic. This year's cooks were 2023 first- and second-place finishers Bob McHale and Wayne Baranczyk. 

Arnie holds up the traveling trophy flanked by 2023 Champion Bob McHale, left; and Rick.

So what happened to Walt's fingers?

 Alert readers may guess what happened to Walt Graul during Cindy and Walt's late summer trip to Navajo Reservoir last week. No, it probably wasn't Cindy. It was more likely a great northern pike, also shown below. 

They didn't get a measurement on the beast before returning her to the lake. But I'd say it went at least 40 inches, besting the giant bluegill I caught this week (I can show you that one at next Tuesday's club meeting)

Anyway, way to go Walt. He reports making his catch while trying for considerably smaller smallmouth, using light spinning gear and a  6-pound fluorocarbon leader.

Sharpen your hooks! Annual Club Derby is Wednesday, Sept. 18

 It's tradition: a few days after the club holds its annual Senior Derby at Flatiron Reservoir, there will be no-holds barred day of fishing Wednesday to determine the 2024 Loveland Fishing Club Derby Champion. The winner: whomever catches the biggest string of four trout. Second place: uh, whomever catches the second biggest string.

Last year's winner was Bob McHale, with a string of four trout measuring 49 inches. Wayne Baranczyk was second, with 46 3/4".

 The Derby Champion will receive a $50 cash prize, have their name inscribed on the derby trophy,, keep the trophy for a year and earn the honor of doing the cooking at this year's celebratory picnic. Second is $25 and the chance to help with the hotdogs.

Fishing runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocked the lake recently with more than 3,000 fish, so surely you can catch one.

Here are the rules: 

Here are the rules: 

• No wading or boating (not allowed on Flatiron anyway)
• One pole
• One hook or lure or fly
• The winner will have the biggest stringer of trout, up to the legal limit of four. You can keep what you catch or catch and release. Crawdads and suckers may be caught, even bragged about, but they won't count toward your total.
• All kept or released fish meant to enter the derby must be officially measured and witnessed by another club member - who needs to legibly write the length of each fish on a card along with their initials. This is why you should bring along a tape measure. Note the time of your first catch: it may be needed in the unlikely event of a tie. 

Bob McHale, left, with Wayne Baranczyk

We had what's believed to be a record 88 assisted living center guests at Wednesday's derby at Flatiron Reservoir, all of them leaving with a smile.

Thanks go to all volunteers who helped make the day memorable, says Derby Chair Bob Dierkes.

Covering the event was Loveland Reporter-Herald reporter Austin Flaskes and photographer Jenny Sparks, who's been photographing the derby since its inception in 2011 under the guidance of the 2011 Club President, the late Ray Park.

Another special guest, who turned out to be one of our most enthusiastic volunteers for the day, was Bureau of Reclamation Public Affairs Specialist Anna Perea.

Bob Varick, shown below and with new Fishing Club member Bill Rottmann, marked his fifth Fishing Derby Wednesday. He won last year's contest for biggest fish. For more photos from the day, click here.

Time to volunteer: Senior Derby will be Wednesday, Sept. 11

The Loveland Fishing Club's annual Senior Fishing Derby, that special thing we've been doing since 2011 with Loveland area assisted living centers, will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11th at Flatiron Reservoir. Bob Dierkes, chair of this year's event, has things in good shape but he's hoping for more confirmed volunteers.

So if you plan to participate, and haven't signed up yet, please contact Bob at 970-819-2349 or rdierkes51@gmail.com. "We can always use more help as fishing guides and servers or general helpers," Bob says.

At this point about a dozen facilities plan to attend, which means we'll likely have about 50 guests along with staff assistants. The club covers the cost of fishing licenses and admission to the Larimer County Parks facility, provides the equipment and bait and finishes the day with a picnic. 

This is always a joyful event, but this will be the first year the club has held the derby without the presence of the late Ray Park, who led the creation of the derby as club President in 2011. 

To help make the event another success, Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to make its fall trout stocking in the lake a few days before the 11th. New this year, the Bureau of Reclamation, which controls water flow into and out of Flatiron, has committed to stabilize the water level the day of the event. It promises to solve a vexing issue, a muddy shoreline as the water comes up or down during the generation of electricity from the Bureau's power plant. 

Bob and a few helpers will be at Flatiron about 6:30 a.m. to get the coffee brewing and start setting up. Others please plan on getting to the lake by 7 or 7:30 a.m. 

This is easily one of the finest things we do as a club, and always a fun, memorable experience. Join us!

Harvest Bazaar is Saturday, Sept. 14

 

Emma Hobbs, who has succeeded Gina as organizer of the Chilson annual Harvest Bazaar, is short on volunteers and hoping Loveland Fishing Club members can help as in years past.

If you'd like to help, contact her at Emma.Hobbs@cityofloveland.org or 970.962.2336. There's also a signup sheet in her office at Chilson. 

Help is needed on Saturday the 14th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the event is from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. "If anyone is interested in a specific job then I can put them down for one," Emma says. "They can also let me know what time they are coming, and I can assign jobs as needed based on when they will be able to help."

Here's a flyer on the Harvest Bazaar, always a popular early fall event.  

​

Okay, so the cats didn't come out to play

 Caught a few fish on Thursday night's catfish venture on Boyd Lake, but none of them had whiskers. Still,. eight club members turned out for a night of fishing on a beautiful late August evening. We'll figure them out next time. Below are Darrell Knight with a nice white bass and Wayne Baranzyk not long after turning one loose. 

Excitement builds for Wednesday's night fishing trip to Boyd!

 

Okay, several in the club plan to confront Boyd Lake's catfish population Wednesday night, and you can still be one of us. Just meet us near the jet ski boat ramp around 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 28. Some will fish by float tube, others will be finding a good spot along the shore.

Catfishing is not something the club is overly famous for, so suggestions for success are welcome. You can also stop by and poke fun, if you bring treats.

Not sure if Vicki Tesar will be joining us, but as you can see in the photo below, taken in her youth with brother Rene,Vicki had a knack for harvesting bullheads from the rivers and creeks of Nebraska. "Our catfish bait was generally chicken livers or guts," she reports. I personally plan to stick with liver- or blood-flavored Gulp! Catfish Chunks. Not as messy or stinky, tucked in next to the snacks in my belly boat. 

Join us! 

Night fishing returns to the Loveland Fishing Club! Bring your flashlight

 

An invitation to fish! (With long explanation to follow) 

Where: Boyd Lake. Meet near the jet ski ramp

When: around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28th

The following has been posted to the blog, http://lovelandfishingclub.blogspot.com

By Bill Prater

Loveland Fishing Clubbers tend to be a tradition-loving folk. But as we advance into our Golden Years, we also tend to forget what  some of those traditions were. 

So it’s with considerable satisfaction that Jim Roode remembered that it is past time to resurrect a club tradition informally known as the “Great Boyd Lake Annual Night Catfishing Expedition.” We haven’t been out there bobbing around in the dark since well before Covid, but remember it sure was fun.  I dimly recall we didn’t catch many fish, but hey, we caught fish. And I clearly remember the absence of the more annoying aspects of that lake right down the road:  

• The jet ski and paddle board crowds are home tweeting one another from their Mom’s basement.  
• August heat is a distant memory.  
• A delightful, rare silence settles upon the cool, clear water. Surely there’s got to be a gullible fish out there somewhere. 

So some of the club’s most distinguished anglers – right now that’s me, Jim Roode, and surely Darrell Knight and Wayne Baranczyk– will meet around dusk at the Jet Ski Ramp at the state park to decide the most likely spot to drop our lines. You are welcome to join us. 

We four will be fishing from our float tubes – including Jim’s new watercraft and Wayne’s new waders and new life preserver (ask that tight wad why he sprang for new gear). But a more productive way to cat fish is probably from the shore. Also, if you launch your motorboat before the stop ANS inspections, I believe you can fish in dry comfort all night long. We in the belly boats will listen to our spouses and/or bladders, and wrap up around 11 p.m.  

As a locally famous philosopher/angler (okay, me)  wrote: “It may be a dumb idea, but it’s an idea.”  

And who knows what might be lurking out there in the cool, deceptively clear water of our local fishing hole? If there is an expert night catfisherperson in the club, he or she stays pretty damned quiet. But if you have suggestions for a successful trip, send them to Lovelandfishing@gmailcom. And then get out your night gear.and come along.

I myself plan to bring a few worms, maybe some leftover shrimp, possibly some kind of stink bait, like the stuff we used on that ghastly night fishing trip to Lake Glen Elder in Kansas a decade or so ago. (Come to think of it, that was another brainchild of the late Norm Englebrecht, the club’s legendary planner of questionable field trips)  

Looking back at some of the more questionable things the club has done over the years, this one’s pretty mild,  and could even result in tasty catfish fillets or a memorable photograph. An even dumber idea – a night belly boat expedition next month to the wind- and rain-swept Delaney Lakes - is still in the planning stages. 

If you’re planning to get in the water with us, remember to bring a life preserver, whistle and light. Bank anglers just need mosquito repellant and a comfortable chair. Best way to catch a catfish? I dunno. As I kid I did pretty well with night crawlers or catalpa worms under a cork. But you kids these days don’t even know what a cork is. We’ll figure something out. 

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