03-12-2021, 02:02 PM
I can only assume that for a lot of you, the recent warmer weather has got you thinking about boat fishing when a lot of our local reservoirs are still hard deck covered. Ice fishing is still available, but most of you have given up on it thinking it is no longer safe or advisable to venture out on the hard deck. I can appreciate your caution. However, with respect, I don’t share your concerns.
A week ago Thursday, I was on Pineview. There wasn’t a single other person fishing it from 7:15 AM until 2:45 PM. The edges at the Port Ramp were as solid as concrete and the ice was 18” thick. I iced 15 perch that day. Yesterday, I was on Mantua. Again, not a single other person fishing it other than me and a friend fishing with me. And, again, the edges were solid as concrete, and the ice was 14” think. We iced trout, perch, and gills (16 total fish).
I will be ice fishing again next week Tuesday & Thursday (weather permitting). My only concern this time of year is how the edges are holding up on the local waters. Some of lower elevation waters (Willard, Utah Lake, Deer Creek) are already ice free. Some of the higher elevation waters are already being filled and the edges are open water too wide to safely cross without planks or waders making machine access (SnowDog) a no-go. A few lakes that don’t vary much in depth from draw done and re-filling (like Matua) will likely be good to ice fish until the end of March. Uinta lakes will be good to fish well into May if you have a snow machine to get you up to them.
I’ll put away the ice gear in a couple more weeks and then get the boat ready for the soft deck season. I’m planning some early trips to Jordanelle for kokanee this year. And Willard should be starting to turn on in late April/early May.
I do think that folks quit too early on ice fishing here in Utah, but that’s just me. Y’all have a great year fishing in 2021 and tight lines to ya wherever you walk on water or float your boat.
A week ago Thursday, I was on Pineview. There wasn’t a single other person fishing it from 7:15 AM until 2:45 PM. The edges at the Port Ramp were as solid as concrete and the ice was 18” thick. I iced 15 perch that day. Yesterday, I was on Mantua. Again, not a single other person fishing it other than me and a friend fishing with me. And, again, the edges were solid as concrete, and the ice was 14” think. We iced trout, perch, and gills (16 total fish).
I will be ice fishing again next week Tuesday & Thursday (weather permitting). My only concern this time of year is how the edges are holding up on the local waters. Some of lower elevation waters (Willard, Utah Lake, Deer Creek) are already ice free. Some of the higher elevation waters are already being filled and the edges are open water too wide to safely cross without planks or waders making machine access (SnowDog) a no-go. A few lakes that don’t vary much in depth from draw done and re-filling (like Matua) will likely be good to ice fish until the end of March. Uinta lakes will be good to fish well into May if you have a snow machine to get you up to them.
I’ll put away the ice gear in a couple more weeks and then get the boat ready for the soft deck season. I’m planning some early trips to Jordanelle for kokanee this year. And Willard should be starting to turn on in late April/early May.
I do think that folks quit too early on ice fishing here in Utah, but that’s just me. Y’all have a great year fishing in 2021 and tight lines to ya wherever you walk on water or float your boat.
Bob Hicks, from Utah
I'm 81 years young and going as hard as I can for as long as I can.
"Free men do not ask permission to bear arms."
I'm 81 years young and going as hard as I can for as long as I can.
"Free men do not ask permission to bear arms."