Colorado is an alluring name for anglers as its Grand County has some fascinating lakes which offer some of the largest lake trout in the Rocky Mountain West. What’s more, the fish don’t hibernate! Though chilling winter is not an ideal vacation season, if you are wondering about which exotic place to visit to have some good time and excitement, head to Colorado and participate in some of the most enthralling ice fishing competitions, of 2014.
You can enjoy two ice fishing contests in this February and March that take place on the frozen waters of the Colorado’s magnificent Grand County lakes.
Kremmling, Colorado
Name: Wolford Mountain Reservoir Annual Ice Fishing Contest
When: 15th February 2014
Contact: (877) 573-6654
This one-day contest has abundant prizes for you. $10,000 for winning the tagged-fish competition; $5,000 each for the top 10 biggest fish (length and girth); and hourly “big-fish” prizes for youth and adults. Adults and children under 15 who want to compete for prizes can register for $35, while those children under 15 who don’t want to compete for prizes can register for free. The contest even features a free youth division having prizes for the top 10 biggest fish.
Grand Lake, Colorado
Name: 3rd Annual Grand Lake Catch and Release Ice Fishing Contest
When: 1st & 2nd March, 2014
Contact: 970.627.3402 (Grand Lake Chamber) or 970.798.8021 (Rocky Mountain Outfitter)
This two-day event features prizes in three categories (Brown, Rainbow and Lake Trout). 1st prize is $1,000.00. Giveaways and door prizes will be offered all through the event.
Getting There
Car
From Denver through eastern Grand County – US Highway 40 from I-70 west, cross Continental Divide over the Berthoud Pass to access through Winter Park and Fraser Valley.
From Denver through western Grand County – I-70 west to Silverthorne, go 38 miles north on Highway 9 to access through Kremmling.
From western Colorado – I-70 east to Wolcott, north on 131 to State Bridge, take right. Take the Trough Road, 25 miles to Kremmling.
Bus
Greyhound Bus has daily service between Denver and Salt Lake City with halts at Granby and Winter Park. Tickets are available online here.
Amtrak
The California Zephyr operates daily from Chicago to San Francisco, passing through the Nebraska plains to Denver, across the Rockies towards Salt Lake City, and further through Reno and Sacramento in Emeryville/San Francisco. The Zephyr stops in the Grand County twice – at Granby and Fraser/Winter Park stations.
Air
If you choose to come by air, the Granby (Grand County) and Kremmling (McElroy Field) airports are available for commercial flights. These public airports are perfect for private plane access too to Grand County.
