This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Fish don't stop eating when the snow starts flying. Anglers not afraid of walking on water or iced rod guides know better than to put their fishing equipment away at the end of October.
State wildlife officials did away with the traditional fishing season in the mid-1980s, opening up a whole new world to Utah anglers.
Through the years, anglers of all sorts have learned that fishing in the winter can be productive — and even fun.
"It's a unique time to get on the water," said Steve Schmidt, owner of the Western Rivers Flyfisher shop in Salt Lake City. "Many of our rivers are consistent throughout the winter and we get some pretty moderate weather stretches each winter."
In other words, there is no reason to sit at home dreaming about fishing just because there is snow on the ground.
Schmidt said many people are surprised at how good dry fly fishing can during the winter.
"There plenty of days with [fish] noses sticking up. Some of the midge hatches are so prolific they float on the surface in huge balls," he said. "Blue wing olive hatches happen sporadically throughout the winter and can be awesome on the Green River in February."
Schmidt has another piece of advice for winter fly fishers: Avoid felt-bottom wading boots. Snow has a tendency to build up on the felt, making walking an adventure and hard on the ligaments in your ankles.
Utah's lakes and reservoirs can provide great fishing right up until the first skim of ice stops the waves from rolling in. And the fishing can pick up again just as soon as the ice is thick enough to hold your weight.
Most people wait until the ice is at least four inches thick before walking on it, but the strength of the ice varies depending on if it is cloudy or clear and the time of the year.
"Even 12 inches of ice could be unsafe," said Bryan Losee, with the fishing department at the Cabela's store in Lehi. "Heavy snow pack on the surface can cause rotting. Try to find out from a reliable source if the ice is safe before making the drive."
Once on the ice, anglers should carry ice picks with them at all times. The picks are designed help anglers get out of the water should they fall though. Wearing cleats on boots is also a good idea to keep from slipping on exposed ice.
Try to avoid fishing on the ice next to open water. Several times in the past decade large sheets of ice have broken off from connections to the land and left anglers floating.
Anglers without boats enjoy ice fishing because it grants them access to places they only get to dream about while fishing from shore.
But ice fishing can be a chore. Snowshoes, skis, snowmobiles and off-highway vehicles are all used to get anglers and their equipment to those honey ice holes.
Ice fishing, however, can be cheap. At the minimum anglers will want the proper clothing to stay warm and dry. Many an ice angler has spent too long standing in water and slush on top of the ice. Waterproof boots are a vital part of ice fishing.
"You are standing on a block of ice. If your feet get cold and wet it can lead to other problems, like how you are going to get off of the ice," Losee said.
Other than the appropriate clothing, all anglers truly need to ice fish is an auger, fishing line and some lures.
If you do decide to use a fishing rod, the length should be dictated by the species you want to pursue. If you are fishing for warmwater panfish in relatively shallow water, a shorter rod with greater sensitivity is key. If you are going after larger fish, like lake trout, in deep water, you will want a longer rod that allows you to set the hook.
Ice anglers also like to take advantage of Utah's two-rod permit, which allows the use of two rods while fishing. Of course, it can get crazy if both rods get action at the same time.
When the fishing is fast and the weather is moderate, ice fishing can be an excellent time to share the joy of angling with new and young anglers. Jigging is much easier than casting.
So don't sit around waiting for the snow to build up enough to get out the shovel. Head for your favorite fishery for a cool experience this winter.
Learn to Walk on Water and Catch Fish While Doing It
Ice fishing videos
Two ice fishing videos filmed on Utah waters, both with segments about what you need to get into ice fishing.
Panguitch Lake
Fish Lake
Ice Fishing Clinic
The Cabela's store in Lehi, 2502 W. Grand Terrace Parkway, is holding a free ice-fishing basics clinic Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. Learn about the gear, techniques and popular spots to ice fish. —
Popular ice fishing waters across Utah
Panguitch Lake • Usually freezes mid to late December. Should be good fishing.
Mill Meadow and Forsyth reservoirs • Could be frozen by Thanksgiving if cold continues — good fishing for perch (both waters) and trout (Forsyth)
Fish Lake • Freezes around the New Year, always a good choice.
Otter Creek Reservoir • Usually frozen by Christmas. A lot of water this year means it could be good. Big fish, but might be tough to catch with so much food available.
Flaming Gorge Reservoir • The upper end of the reservoir in Wyoming freezes over the first weeks of December. Make sure you purchase a WY reciprocal stamp. Early ice action can be fast for rainbow trout, lake trout, and burbot. Six poles or tip-ups can be used while ice fishing either side of Flaming Gorge.
Pelican Lake -• The ice is usually safe by early December and fishing for bluegill can be exceptional.
Steinaker Reservoir • Safe ice usually happens around the New Year. Healthy rainbows are worth the trip.
Huntington (Mammoth) Reservoir • This is one of the first major fisheries to freeze and early winter ice fishing is always good for tiger trout.
Scofield Reservoir • Scofield, some years, is frozen by Thanksgiving weekend. Good numbers of stocked cutthroat up to 19" will be common. Gill netting indicates large tiger trout will be abundant this winter for anglers interested in targeting big fish.
Joe's Valley Reservoir • Usually iced over by Christmas. Catch rates of splake are always high and the opportunity to catch large fish is as good as it gets. With consistently high splake catch rates this is also a great place to take young anglers.
Strawberry Reservoir • Fast fishing for cutthroat is common through the ice at Strawberry. Fish over 5 pounds are not uncommon.
Deer Creek • Fishing should be good, if recent gillnetting surveys are an indication.
Pineview Reservoir • Fishing for perch should be good this winter. The size and number of fish are up. Crappie in the 8- to 11-inch size are also abundant.
Causey Reservoir • One of the first to ice over in the northern region, kokanee salmon fishing should be good.
Rockport and Echo reservoirs • Anglers can expect stocked rainbows in the 16- to 18-inch range, but perch fishing will likely be spotty again this year.
Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources