Here's a link to a photo album for the 2025 Loveland Kids Fishing Derby

 You can view, copy and share photos from this Google Photo Album; we plan to add additional photos over the next few days. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9BxYzf3pB8U63NEG8

Great Day of Fishing at the 2025 Kids Derby

 Great day of Fishing at the 2025 Kids Derby

The first-time anglers ruled the day Saturday at the North Lake Duck Pond, with a 4-year-old and 3-year old capturing prizes for biggest and smallest trout. But everyone seemed to be hauling in fish on a perfect sunny day.

Herons and cormorants gathered on the Duck Pond island and flew overhead as hundreds of youngsters crowded the banks and kept volunteers from Colorado Youth Outdoors and Outdoor Buddies busy cleaning and cooking trout donated to the event by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Loveland Fishing Club kept busy registering anglers, handing out fishing gear and bait and later measuring their catches and presenting fishing gear prizes at the free raffle on the half hour. 

Winner of the fishing pole and tackle box for largest catch of the day was 3-year-old Weston Pharris of Loveland with a whopping 14-inch rainbow. Winner of the prize for smallest trout of the day was 4-year-old Lilah of Loveland.

Weston Pharris, 3

Lilah, 4

Captains and riders needed for May 22nd Boat Day at Boyd!

 

 This month's Boat Day outing, the first of the season, will be from about 7:30 to noon on Thursday, May 22 at Boyd Lake. If you'd like to participate, contact Boat Day organizer Danny Barker asap at danbarker2337@gmail  or 970-302-8965. He'll match up boat captains with anglers needing a ride. 

All club members are welcome, but space is limited to the number of boats. Fishing is followed by a potluck at the state park beach house. The club provides some protein, Dan says, and "everyone is asked to bring a dish to pass, and whatever you want to drink." Dan will also bring cold water. Here's a look at one of last year's outings:

Let's see some fish pictures.

 

Barring a little late spring rain or snow, we should be out fishing! And the rest of the club needs to see some fish pictures. So let's have them! Got any favorites from the distant past? Let's see those too. You can reply to this note or e-mail to billjohnp@gmail.com.

A Big Fish Story about Tiny Little Fishing Gear

 

By Bill Prater

I’m not one to either endorse or talk ugly about anyone's fishing equipment. But I’ve got to tell someone about the remarkable experience I had this week with the lightest  gear I can lay hands on, especially my new 7’ ultralight Fenwick HMG Trout & Panfish rod. And I want to tell everyone I know to forget that old cliche’ about it taking a big lure to catch a big fish.

So there I was, peacefully fishing a small Northern Colorado pond from a belly boat with that 4.8-ounce Fenwick rod, a 1000 series Daiwa reel spooled with 4-pound Nanofil braid and a fluorocarbon leader, tied to a barbless 1/32-ounce Mule Fishing mushroom head jig. Just hoping for a nice bass or bluegill, with no warning I found myself confronted by the biggest carp I’d ever seen: 34-inches long, just a tad under the Colorado state record.

That bruiser and I battled it out for well over half an hour, likely longer. At least I thought of it as a battle; the fish seemed indifferent as it tugged me around and around that pond in a Colorado equivalent of a “Nantucket Sleigh Ride.” Nonstop, the rod was bent like a pretzel and yanked from side to side. From the outset, I was pretty sure I was about to test the replacement warranty on that Fenwick.

Anyway, though it was terrifying to see that $160 rod being put to such an ultimate test, the sweet little thing just wouldn’t break. When part of the fish was finally crammed into my net, I was exhausted, my right wrist was bruised and sprained, but the carp and the Fenwick were unharmed.

Over seven-plus decades of fishing, I’ve managed to torture and snap my share of rods: tried to pull a jig free from an overhead tree, mishandled more than one rod while landing a fish, dropped a couple over the side of my belly boat, even had the wife slam a trunk lid on three rod tips all at once. Also had a kinda costly, heavier rod snapped by a much smaller carp a decade or so back.

Anyway, I’m sold on that ultralight rod and ultra finesse fishing, and thinking I really should add that little Fenwick one-piece 5-footer to my arsenal. Father's Day is coming.

Help us at 9 a.m. Thursday get our loaner fishing poles ready for the Kids Derby

 

Please join Pat Mikulak at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Fairgrounds Park Pavilion to help get our loaner poles ready for the May 17th Kids Derby. Pat will have all we need to get the stuff ready for the Derby at North Lake Duck Park.

The Delaneys are open!

 Okay gang, we've messed around and flat missed first ice out of 2025, but hungry fish still await. North Park Anglers in Walden today reported the following:

"The Delaney lakes and Lake John are fully open. The wind over the last few days has taken care of the last of the ice on the valley lakes. The smaller lakes like Cowdrey, Seymour, and many of the other lakes around the valley are fully open as well. Nymphing with leeches and chironomids is the main game during the day, and stripping buggers, leeches, crayfish, and boatmen in the early and late hours of the day is always a good bet." (I still prefer a good old Gulp Minnow, 2.5 or 3 inch smelt.)

Trouble is, your editor is dealing with the aftermath of a suspect unprecedented fifth visit by Covid-19, and not yet ready to go back to living, much less fishing on a cold, windy but trout filled lake. So if you want to take part in this annual Loveland Fishing Club tradition, someone needs to step up and get things going. Jim Roode last week indicated he was about ready, and willing to carpool. Let me know how you do. Bill

Club members on a previous ice out adventure.​

Final thoughts on the club's Zombie Walleye ...

 Okay, here are the last two Loveland Fishing Club comments on Thursday's report from Doug Money on he, Ken Kesterke and Bill Rottman lip-hooking and landing that long dead walleye:

• Understandably, skeptic Fred Riehm asks: "Was this trip on Tuesday, April Fools?"
• But after hearing about or reading all analysis of the controversy, Bill Rottman, legendary truthteller, offers the final, definitive conclusion: 
• "I know that Ken and Doug are liars, but I was there to witness the whole thing, and on this rare occasion, they were telling the truth." 

Well said, BillR. We now await more member news of early spring fishing. Remember, we love hearing about and seeing evidence of each other's fishing trips, so drop me a note when appropriate. Also remember to send your candidates for Big Fish of the Year to Wayne Baranczyk. Um, include a photo and include a tape measure. BillP

Here's what we reported Thursday:

As news of the club's unprecedented Zombie catch roils through the Northern Colorado Fishing Community, other club members have weighed in on the news:

• Don Schott:  "Sounds fishy and there is no ruler next to it."
• Dave Boyle: "Sounds like someone in the club is into Catch and Release." (Tom Miller denies all involvement) 
• And from Club Vice President Dave Johnson: "I hate to say it but I don't think these three are trustworthy. An inquiry is in order"

3 Fishing Club veterans claim shared title for club's biggest Zombie Fish

Former Club President Doug Money swears this is what happened recently out in the middle of Boyd Lake– and why would he lie about something like this?

It seems Doug, Club Treasurer Ken Kesterke (past winner of the club’s annual championship) and Jim Rottman were blissfully trolling along when … SUDDENLY … their bait was attacked by a sizable – but long dead – walleye.

“Here she is hooked right in the mouth,” Doug notes while sharing the photographic evidence below. There’s no obvious category of Colorado Master Angler award that qualifies the fish for the club’s annual Big Fish contest. And Doug concedes “it was Ken who gets the credit for reeling in this trophy fish. I netted it.”

Doug adds that the phantom strike occurred on a purple diver running 15 feet down in 30 feet of water. How the hook got in its mouth we will never know.”

If you have an opinion and choose to speculate, drop me a note. Bill 

3 Loveland Fishing Club anglers land largest known Walleye Zombie

 

Former Loveland Fishing Club President Doug Money swears this is what happened recently out in the middle of Boyd Lake– and why would he lie about something like this?

It seems Doug, Club Treasurer Ken Kesterke (past winner of the club’s annual championship, by the way) and Jim Rottman were blissfully trolling along when … SUDDENLY … their bait was attacked by a sizable – but apparently long dead – walleye.

“Here she is hooked right in the mouth,” Doug notes while sharing the photographic evidence below. There’s no obvious category of Colorado Master Angler award that qualifies the fish for the club’s annual Big Fish contest. And Doug concedes “it was Ken who gets the credit for reeling in this trophy fish. I netted it.” We assume Jim just watched in admiration.

Doug adds that the phantom strike occurred on a purple diver running 15 feet down in 30 feet of water. How the hook got in its mouth we will never know.”

If you have an opinion and choose to speculate, drop me a note. Bill 

Water's warming; Rick's catching bass

 This chunky largemouth was one of several nice fish falling to Rick Golz and his annoying nightcrawler technique recently at Colorado Youth Outdoors. 

A fine but chilly outing at Rivers Edge

 Sixteen determined anglers turned out Thursday for a chilly day at the ponds of Rivers Edge Natural Area, bolstered by hot coffee, pastries and good company. It should be a good bit warmer for next month's Rivers Edge gathering, on Thursday April  17th, two days after the general meeting.

Tom Canchola landed this fat 15-inch largemouth on a Gulp minnow under a small float.

Others tried the new dock on Bass Pond and other points around Bass, Sandpiper and Dragonfly.

Photos by Darrell Knight

Getting ready for the May 17th Loveland Kids Fishing Derby

 Here's the flyer that will be used to inform families about this year's derby. Please share the information with friends and family - anyone who might want to participate in this popular annual event.

2025 Loveland Kids Fishing Derby

Saturday, May 17th 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

North Lake Park Duck Pond. Open to kids up to age 15

• A free Loveland tradition for decades!

• The Loveland Fishing CLub offers prizes for largest and smallest trout, and raffles giving all kids a chance to win fishing gear. 

• Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks the pond with catchable trout.

• Colorado Youth Outdoors teaches kids to clean and cook their catch

• Loveland Kiwanis clubs provide family-priced food and drink.

• Registration is free; to qualify for raffle prizes, kids should register before starting to fish at the Fishing Club’s booth in the high school parking lot east of Duck Pond or at the shelter on the west side of the pond.  

Who is the best angler in Northern Colorado? Here's the generic answer

 By Bill Prater

Newcomers to the Loveland Fishing Club often ask, “Who is the best angler in these parts?” Even when my name doesn’t come up, there is considerable debate over what even constitutes “best.” This is a subject more divisive than the best way to skin a catfish. Nonetheless, we are prepared to answer.  

The problem is, this sport is infested with narrow-minded anglers dedicated to one darned species or another: bass, trout, walleye, bluegill, carp. But the truth is, there is neither a single best sportfish nor a single best way to catch them. Dave, Barb, George, Kathleen, John may tell you something different, based on their angling skills of choice. But the Honest to Abe truth is:

You can catch a hell of a lot more fish if you drastically downsize your gear and stop worrying about which species or size of fish should be encouraged to take a bite of your worm. There is a related truth you may not be prepared for: You really oughta just appreciate whatever kind of fish is nice enough to cooperate on any given day.

The best angler, then, or at least the one I admire, is the guy or gal who regularly sizes up the water they’re given, chooses miniscule baits with big appeal, and then proceeds to catch whatever swims by that day. I am impressed by anyone who wins a bass tournament, or harvests a limit of tasty walleye; I truly am. These require skills and single-minded dedication I admittedly lack. But I do try to emulate the guy or gals who regularly win the Loveland Fishing Club’s monthly Fish Bingo contest for catching the most species of fish in the previous 30 days, regardless of size of fish, weather conditions or chosen body of water.

These days I fish totally from the shore or an aging but seaworthy Fat Cat belly boat. This mostly confines fishing to smaller lakes and ponds, but it turns out, that’s okay. Buddies and I do sneak onto bigger water when the weather turns blustery enough to discourage paddleboarders and wake boats. We also, by necessity, fish with the speed of a predatory turtle. We do it for fun, and because it catches fish.

One revelation I’ve had in the past decade is that some - not all - small public fishing holes are home to healthy populations of small, medium and big fish. They’re just typically hard to find because they feel vulnerable and live in a scary place, like introverts in New York City.

Admission time here: I admit, I stopped eating what I catch a long time ago; fish to me are more like friends than snacks. At some point in a life spent seriously fishing, harvesting starts to seem like dating the neighbor girl you’ve known since first grade. You can do it, even enjoy it. But for some reason it just doesn’t seem right. Some people question the ethics of bothering the fish at all with no intention of having them for lunch. But I enjoy their company, not their taste. Also, I selfishly want a lot of them around when I return. Which is why I also crimp the barbs of my hooks, don’t tell Tom Miller where I’m going, or post too many details on the Loveland Fishing Club blog or Fish Explorer.

Open water! First open water fish of 2025!

 Those who moan about frozen lakes and ponds can rest easy: the high winds and higher temps of the past week have blown away the ice caps of most water.

The ponds of Rivers Edge Natural Area, the Recycle Pond, Westerdoll, Heinrici and others are virtually clear, except for thin ice mostly along the south edges. The Marina Inlet at Boyd was still locked up Wednesday afternoon, but much of the lake appears open, and nearby Horseshoe was open as well. There was still ice across some of Lake Loveland, but it's mostly ice free as well.

Fishing's going to be slow yet for awhile, but this is a great time to get out and see what's biting. Fished Recycle for an hour or so Thursday, and found a couple of gullible trout. 

Why I gave away my boat

 By Bill Prater

Usually when a fisherman starts a conversation with, “Truth be told…” everyone nearby knows to groan and grow wary. He or she is either about to lie about fish or fishing spot, or feeling guilty over what they lied about. In my case, though, truth be told, I gave away my perfectly usable boat because I really didn’t care to fish from it anymore. And I really didn’t want to sell it. 

Let me explain.

My brother Paulie (the Reverend Paul to everyone else) found that boat for me at a bargain price 25 years ago, beginning to rust away in the back of a sales lot in Central Illinois. For the next quarter century that 18 ½-foot bass boat took over an entire bay of the Prater garage. But it also started up with a roar nearly every time she was on the water, and reliably took us where we wanted to go. During all those years, a healthy chunk of my favorite fishing time was spent with that annoying older brother of mine. My elder by just 10 ½ months (Dad called me his “six-week checkup baby”), Paulie pestered  me relentlessly as older brothers will. But he also taught me all sorts of useful things -- including how and when it’s okay for even a Methodist minister’s kid brother to lie about fishing. And after he passed away two years ago, I gradually realized I hadn’t sat in that boat ever again.

Aw, truthfully, the situation wasn’t that melodramatic. Stuff like crowded docks, Covid, paddleboarders, wake boats and evolving fishing preferences all figured into the equation. But whatever the motivation, I learned this about myself: I really didn’t want to sell that old boat. Didn’t seem right. So rather than glance her way with regret every time I got in and out of the truck, last fall I just donated that old Bass Tracker to the “Make A Wish” Foundation. Hopefully it’s funded a kid’s trip to Disney World, or fishing trip with Kevin VanDam.

Also, truth be told, these days I get more satisfaction and fish with my aging but still seaworthy float tube and increasingly tiny baits and gear. And now, over the next few months, I plan to share what I and a few enlightened Loveland Fishing Club fishing buddies are learning about the still-evolving sport of multi-species, micro finesse fishing. Between now and open water season, I plan to share a few of those tactics with a truthiness astonishing from an old, old northern Colorado angler.

Paulie in the back of the boat. Below, mine's bigger.

John the Bass Man

The air was a good bit colder and the ice a good bit thicker than expected Tuesday, when John Grady and friends stepped out for a day of fishing on a Loveland pond. Rumor has it he was using minnows to land and release three chubby largemouth, including the one below. Let us know when you've been out there and what you've found.

Photo by Wayne Baranczyk

Barbaryk and friend on the ice

 

With last week's Loveland Fishing Club's St.Vrain State Park outing fresh in his mind, Jim Barbaryk took a young neighbor and his Dad to the park this week. Jim and the kid did great. 

Largemouth and Bluegills and 5 inches of Front Range Ice. Oh My.

Three of the Loveland Fishing Club's finest took to the ice on a pond near Loveland Tuesday. It was a beautiful, balmy day though fishing was lousy for small stuff. But some very nice largemouth and bluegill just couldn't resist our deadly ... waxworms. 

Bill Prater got the day going with a pot-bellied 21-inch largemouth, and Wayne Baranczyk followed up with some nice fish of his own. New Club President Darrell Knight? Well, someone had to take pictures.

The largemouth easily earns Colorado Master Angler status, at 117 percent of qualifying standard, and at least one bluegill measured close to a Master Angler qualifying 10 inches. But neither is eligible for the Club's Big Fish Contest for 2025, since they came from private waters not open to all club members. So start tallying up some fish of your own.

 

 

A dozen of the Loveland Fishing Club's most stalwart anglers took to the ice at St. Vrain State Park Thursday, girding their loins for a rugged display of fishing toughness. That proved to be the only aspect of the outing that was a disappointment for the masochists among us, on a flawless winter day.

"It was really a great day on the ice," says the club's newly crowned President, Darrell Knight, who set up a warming room with coffee and muffins in the park's main building a few yards from Mallard Lake. 

He also provided a nice Berkley ice fishing rod and reel for the angler with the biggest fish of the day. Um, but most of us didn't bring a ruler, so Wayne Baranczyk won the price for the most fish pulled out of a hole, nine including the prize catch at left, below.

Photos by Darrell Knight

The ice fishing trip is a new wintry version of the club's monthly Boat Day held throughout warmer weather, a way to get club members together for friendship and hopefully finding new fishing buddies.

For more photos of the event, here's a link to the Google photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/RjXqBwLQAEkj4HXY8

Newbies and Old Timers! Time for a club ice fishing outing!

 Yeah, it's a bit chilly this weekend. But that'll make things seem downright balmy by next Thursday, Jan. 23rd, at 9 a.m. down at St. Vrain State Park east of Longmont. Whether you're a grizzled ice fishing veteran with more gear than common sense, or never set foot on frozen water, this is a day for you.

Our newly inaugurated President, Darrell Knight, is encouraging as many club members as possible to show up for the club's first ice fishing social event of 2025. Highlights include:

• Cold-blooded? For those lacking ice water in their veins (not mentioning any names here, except maybe outgoing President, Danny Barker) Darrell has even reserved the conference room at the state park for the club's use. So if you just want to sit and b.s. in the warm, you won't find a better time to do it.
• Hungry? Thirsty for something besides sushi? The club will have coffee and donuts in the conference room for as long as they last.
• Don't have ice fishing gear? Well, that's not really a problem in this club; a fair number of us have more spares than our spouses even know about. So bring what you have and, if need be, someone will drill you a hole in the ice and hand you a freshly baited rod and reel. 
• Think seriously about joining us, especially if you're new to the club. It'll be a great way to socialize and maybe line up a few fishing buddies.
• And think about carpooling; we can talk about it at Tuesday's general meeting, 2 p.m. at Chilson Center.
• St. Vrain is located just west and north of the highway 119 exit off I-25. The conference room is in the park's main building with windows facing Mallard Pond, which is stocked with trout.

Sportsmen's Expo is Jan. 9-12

 (From Colorado Parks and Wildlife) DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is sponsoring and hosting educational booths at this year’s annual International Sportsmen’s Exposition at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver on Jan. 9-12, 2025. A digital coupon for a $3 discount off one adult ticket is available on the CPW website. 

The International Sportsmen’s Expo is an event where more than 200 companies pack two giant halls with outdoor camping, off-roading, fishing, and hunting gear and expert presentations are offered to attendees each day. 

This premier expo allows hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts to preview new outdoor products, learn new techniques at the seminars, see what premier lodges offer, test shooting skills, look at live raptors up close, explore the latest RV, camping and off- road vehicles, and find new places to go off the beaten path.

Event ticket and parking information is available at www.sportsexpos.com/attend. Youth 15 and under and active military with ID can enter for free. 

Some of CPW's featured exhibits will include:

• Stocked Fishing Tank – Kids can experience the thrill of catching and releasing a fish. Equipment, bait and helpers are provided. 
• Boating Safety Booth - Learn about the importance of always wearing a life jacket, the classes offered, and testing your boating skills in the new boating simulator. 
• Invasive Species Displays - Check out the Invasive Species section's new boat cleaner and learn how to prevent the spread of invasive species in Colorado.
• Fish Hatchery Trailer – Learn how our hatchery technicians produce over 90 million fish annually and stock them into Colorado waters. See if you can identify the aquariums' cold-water and warm-water fish species.
• CPW Info Booth – Got a question? We’ll have officers and staff who can answer the question(s). Pick up a brochure or passport to plan a state park visit, and learn about new hunting changes in Colorado.
• Colorado Clays Shooting Park – Did you know a premier shooting range located 30 miles from Denver is open to the public six days a week? Visit with the staff at this booth and learn more about the trap, skeet, sporting clays, and shooting opportunities available.

This event aligns with CPW’s mission to educate outdoor enthusiasts on how to balance outdoor recreation with mindful conservation, and how to keep our outdoor spaces thriving and available to anyone who wants to experience them. 

For more information about the expo and a complete list of exhibits, visit CPW's website or the International Sportsmen's Exposition website.