Want to spice things up this winter and try something new? Head to the Colorado mountains and break out the ice auger.
It's time for ice fishing. Grand County, Colo. - located just 70 miles west of Denver - is home to wide-open spaces, the frontier spirit and world-class and year-round fishing. This winter, it will play host to two major ice fishing contests.
Three Lakes Ice Fishing Contest
(Jan. 29-31, Granby, Colo.)
The contest takes place over three days on three popular fishing lakes in the Granby area: Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Grand Lake. Participants can fish one, two or all three days, and are eligible for daily cash prizes of more than $5000 daily as well as raffle prizes that include two snowmobiles.
For Three Lakes' Grand Slam prize, fisherman work to catch one fish from each of the following species: Kokanee, rainbow, brown, and Mackinaw. After weighing all four fish, the prize is awarded to the heaviest creel, or basket.
The Three Lakes Ice Fishing Contest is open to all fishermen, not only the serious. Fees for adults range from $25 for one-day participation to $45 for all three days. Anglers 17 and under are free.
Granby Chamber of Commerce
970-887-2311
www.granbychamber.com
13th Annual Wolford Mountain Reservoir Ice Fishing Contest
(Feb. 20, Kremmling, Colo.)
Prizes abound at this one-day contest: $13,000 for the winning tagged-fish competition; $5,000 cash purse for the top 10 largest fish (length plus girth); and hourly "big-fish" prizes for adults and youth. Registration cost is $35 for adults and $30 for youth 15 and under who want to compete for the cash prizes. Otherwise, there is no charge for anyone 15 and under; the contest also features a free youth division with prizes for the top 10 largest fish.
Kremmling Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center
877-573-6654, 970-724-3472
www.kremmlingchamber.com.
Grand County Tourism Board
800-729-5821
www.grand-county.com
