Loveland Fishing Club Blog

 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. 

 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 “s...

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

  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. 

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 hope...

 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? Wel...