Who Will Emerge as the Club's 2026 Derby Champion? Don't forget, the Derby Will Be Tuesday, Oct. 13!

Surely, someone will raise their rod in triumph this year.  

In a 2025 day that will live in infamy, Colorado's legendary Loveland Fishing Club's finest anglers were completely skunked at last year's Club Derby. The embarrassing outcome, or lack of outcome I guess, was the first in club history, held annually to determine who would crowned club champion and have their names forever embedded on the rotating Derby Champion Trophy.

Last year's contest was held on the scenic shores of Flatiron Reservoir, with the winner supposed to be the angler catching the largest stringer of four trout. Instead, the entire contingent of competitors were completely and memorably Fishless. In this year of record heat and record drought, how do we avoid a repeat of 2025? Ha! Instead, this year the Derby will be held on the ponds of River's Edge Natural Area. 

So join us at the Pavilion just west of Bass Pond sometime before 9 a.m. to plot your winning strategy. We'll fish from 9 a.m. to noon, then toast the winner and runner up at the annual hot dog or bratwurst roast. Honored in 2025 as chefs after being proclaimed winner and runnerup of the 2024 Derby, Arnie Stroschein and Rick Golz are being given a similar honor in 2026. 

The one bright spot after the 2025 contest was, the rest of the club didn't have to listen to last year's winners brag about their catches. Still, everyone should gird their loins, fish hard and hope to avoid a repeat. 

With trout not being the dominant species at River's Edge, some modification of rules are in order. Rather than biggest stringer of four trout, we'll likely declare a winner based on total number of fish of all sizes and species. In addition to bragging rights, there'll be modest cash prizes awarded. All fishing will be with a single pole, single hook or lure, with all forms of legal bait allowed. Float tubes are permitted (they weren't allowed at Flatiron)

Just a reminder, here's what ran on this blog after the 2025 Derby. Don't make your editor run it again on October 14th, 2026.