While the winter months may be long, and they may be cold, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any amazing ways to relax out there this winter. Many will take advantage of the winter months by finding a frozen lake to set up a cozy shelter, and spend their day doing some ice fishing.
There are hundreds of lakes and reservoirs to fish in Colorado for you to explore and find the spot to land you that perfect catch. If you are a serious fisherman, maybe you participate in fishing tournaments. There are plenty of great fishing competitions that take place right off the boat during the summer but that doesn’t mean the fun needs to end when the water freezes. Over recent years, the number of these contests have shut down due to many participants only attending the larger ones. So, if you want to maintain the variety in these competitions, make sure to attend even the small ones! We’ll break down two of the top ice fishing tournaments taking place in Colorado in 2019.
1.) 31st Annual 3 Lakes Ice Fishing Contest
From January 25th-27th there will be three 1-day contests going down in the beautiful Granby, CO. Before the event, there will be a Thursday night kickoff party at the Indian Peaks Marina with food, drinks, and cowboy karaoke! The contests begin at 6:40 AM each day with the weigh station and check in at the Indian Peaks Marina. In order to be eligible for cash prizes you must be in the line by 4:30PM on Friday and Saturday, and 2:00 PM on Sunday. In order to get your prize for the biggest fish, you must be present at 5:40. In order to participate you must purchase Forest Service passes. These passes are available at the ANNRA office at 9 Ten Mile Drive in Granby. The pricing for the tournament is $35 for 1 day, $45 for two days, and $50 dollars for three. You won’t want to miss out on this tournament!
2.) 22nd Annual Wolford Ice Fishing Contest
On February 16th, 2019 the Kremmling Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 22nd annual ice fishing contest on the Wolford Mountain reservoir. You will be able to pre-register for this event any time until the day before the tournament. To register, go to the Wolford Reservoir Ice Fishing Tournament Facebook page, or the Kremmling Chamber of Commerce located at 203 Park Avenue. Registration ends the night before the event at 9:00PM. The event will last from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. the event will last from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM and the cost is $35 per person. You are welcome to bring your Snowmobile or ATV to the rervoir to help you get to your favorite spot!
It is essential to bring the correct gear for these events as well. Make sure to have a lot of layers and warm clothes. You may also want to invest in a shelter and a buddy heater especially if you are participating in multi-day tournaments. You don’t want to miss out on these tournaments in Colorado this year. They are both located in beautiful locations and will have many participants.