With the ice-fishing season just beginning, anglers can get a jump on things during the Break the Ice Weekend on Saturday and Sunday at the Bass Pro Shops.
The event features free seminars on ice fishing for trout, walleyes and mackinaw, and advanced strategies, presented by six experts with extensive experience in hard-water guiding and equipment knowledge.
Saturday’s session will begin with a presentation at 10 a.m. by Donnie Cox on jigging techniques and strategies. Steve Gerber will follow at 11 a.m. with a program titled, “Keep it Simple, Keep it Fun and Take the Kids.” Afternoon programs will begin with Joe McCaffrey speaking about proper equipment at noon, Nathan Zelinsky on hard-water walleyes at 1 p.m., Bernie Keefe on basic ice fishing for lake trout at 2 p.m., Jack Winters on strategies for walleyes and perch in Wyoming at 3 p.m. and Dave Bryant discussing slip-bobber rigging for panfish and trout at 4 p.m.
For complete information call 720-385-3600 or log on to and select the Denver link.
DOW looking for worthy causes.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife has a bit of money in its pocket and is shopping for some ways to spend it.
The agency has about $1.5 million, mostly from federal excise taxes on hunting, fishing and boating equipment through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs, and is seeking grant applications to help distribute it on projects that benefit fishing, shooting ranges and motorized boating.
“In the past five years, these programs have leveraged millions of dollars in matching funds to help in dozens of projects for sportsmen and sportswomen around the state,” DOW director Tom Remington said in a news release. “We can only help with the projects that we hear about, so we hope lots of great projects will be submitted.”
DOW programs eligible to receive the grant money are its Fishing is Fun, Motorboat Colorado! and Shooting Range Development efforts.
Fishing is Fun during the past three years has provided financial support for more than 270 projects statewide, including opening new ponds and lakes, improving stream fish habitat and providing various amenities for anglers. Municipalities, counties, fishing groups and park departments are among entities eligible to apply for community-based projects to benefit anglers.
Motorboat Colorado! seeks to open new waters to gasoline-powered boats or improve facilities on waters where boating access already exists. Potential projects include new boat ramps, docks, access roads and cleaning facilities to combat the spread of aquatic nuisance species.
The comparatively new Shooting Range Development program aids in developing shooting ranges or improving existing facilities.
Frostbite Fish Off.
The Southern Colorado Greenback chapter of Trout Unlimited will host the inaugural Frostbite Fish Off on Jan. 15 along the Arkansas River below Pueblo Dam.
The event will feature a catch-and-release fly-fishing competition among two-person teams. Entry costs $125 per competitor.
For complete information and registration, contact chapter president Ben Wurster, 719-778-3059, godwithflyrod@gmail.com or Lou McCullough, 719-650-3301, loumccullough@comcast.net.
Karl Licis, Special to The Denver Post
