High Mountain Fishing
Great Ice Fishing: It's Waiting for You at Utah's High Mountain Lakes
If you're looking for a fun late-winter ice fishing trip, consider heading into Utah's "high country."
Right now is the perfect time to fish for brook trout, cutthroat trout and even some grayling at Utah's high mountain lakes.
"We have literally hundreds of small lakes and reservoirs in the Uinta Mountains - and other mountains across the state - that have great trout fisheries," says Ed Johnson, a fisheries biologist for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. "These lakes have a variety of fish, including brook trout, Colorado River and Bonneville cutthroat trout, and even grayling. Many of these lakes are accessible by snowmobiles or skis, and they can make an excellent ice fishing outing during the winter."
Johnson not only talks about fishing the high lakes: he gets out and does it himself.
"A group of us fished one of the high lakes on the northeastern corner of the Uintas in late January," Johnson says.
"First, we had great fun just getting there by snowmobile. The last few miles, we broke our own trail.
"Once on the lake, we rigged up and were catching fish within a few minutes. On this trip, our group caught three species of fish: a few rainbows, a Colorado River cutthroat and a bunch of brook trout. Some of these fish were up to two pounds."
"We mostly used small, light-colored jigs tipped with a meal worm or a piece of night crawler," Johnson says. "I think the bait was probably more important than the size or the color of the jig. The placement of the hole made a difference too. Some of us had fish right off, while others had to drill a few holes before finding a good spot."
Johnson has a few tips for the adventurous anglers heading to these high mountain lakes.
"Take the time to get everything ready, so you go prepared." Johnson says. "This includes your equipment, as well as food, proper clothing and emergency supplies for yourself.
"Also, don't forget to make sure that your transportation is in good working order, and let someone at home know where you are going and when you should be back. On our last trip, we had two snowmobiles break down. Fortunately we had a good mechanic [with us] who was able to quickly replace the belts and get the snowmobiles back on the trail.
"Ice fishing should also be fun," Johnson says. "That means staying warm, so bring good boots and layers of warm clothing. Having a warm drink or food can also add to your enjoyment. Our group brought thermos bottles of warm drinks and a couple of small, portable butane stoves to heat up cans of soup."
Finally, remember that when the first person in your party starts to get cold, it's time to leave.
"It's better to leave early than risk being cold in the mountains," Johnson says. "I've taken my kids on trips like this, and it's better to leave while they are still having fun rather than stretching it out just to catch a few more fish.
"If they remember the fun rather than the agony, they will be much more willing to go out again."
For more information about fishing Utah's high mountain lakes, contact the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.
Labels: Fishing, Ice Fishing, Weekly Wildlife News, Winter Recreation and Safety
posted by Cris Draper, the Trail Master @ 9:42 PM
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