Cold Ice Means Hot Fishing

Photo Courtesy DWR

Winter is one of the best times to catch fish
Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean it’s time to put your fishing gear away. In fact, if you put your gear away now, you might miss some of the best fishing of the year.

That’s right—those “crazy” people standing on the ice at waters across Utah aren’t so crazy after all. They know a layer of cold ice means hot fishing in the water beneath the ice.

“You can set your watch by it,” says Drew Cushing, warm water sport fisheries coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “When ice starts to form on a body of water, the fish under the ice get very active. And they’re eager to bite.”

And that eagerness to bite often continues through the winter.


A cheap and fun way to fish
Cushing says fishing on the ice provides anglers with several advantages:

If you’re willing to walk, you can reach any part of the reservoir you want to fish.

Cushing says ice is the great equalizer. “In the winter, you don’t need a boat or a float tube to reach certain parts of a reservoir,” he says. “If you have a rod and a reel, and you’re willing to walk, you can reach any part of the reservoir you want to fish.”

Catching fish in the winter doesn’t require the skill needed to catch fish during other times of the year. If you drop your bait in front of the fish, the fish will probably take it.

You don’t need a lot of expensive equipment. A short rod and reel; some line, hooks and wax worms or meal worms; and a digging bar or an ice auger are all you need to get started.

If you like to fish with lures, you may want to include a few ice flies and small jigs in your tackle box too.

Because you can dig two holes close together, ice fishing is a great way to double your fun by fishing with two poles. Just make sure you have a two-pole permit before you dip that second line in the water.

In addition to catching fish, you and those you’re fishing with can have fun visiting together. Just drill your holes close together and enjoy your visit. “Most ice anglers really look forward to the social side of ice fishing,” Cushing says.


That sounds great. But isn’t it hard to drill a hole through the ice?
One thing that surprises many first-time ice anglers is how easy it is to drill a hole through the ice.

Cushing says if you have a hand auger, you can drill through six to eight inches of ice in about a minute. “It’ll take a little longer if you use a digging bar,” he says, “but not much.”

Digging bars cost between $5 and $10. Manual ice augers cost about $50.


Great! But how can I have fun if I’m cold?
Temperatures can be cold during the ice-fishing season. But that doesn’t mean you have to be cold. You can stay warm simply by dressing for the conditions.

Cushing says one piece of equipment that anglers often forget is a pair of waterproof boots. As the day warms, slush can develop on top of the ice. “Having a pair of waterproof boots will keep your feet warm and dry,” he says.


Sounds good. But how do I know if the ice is safe to walk on?
Most anglers wait until the ice is at least 4 inches thick before walking on it.

Ice is usually thinnest near the shore. Before you walk out, Cushing says you should stay close to shore and dig or drill a test hole to see how thick the ice is. You may also want to dig or drill some additional holes as you walk out.

If you find that the ice in your test holes is at least four inches thick, you can be almost certain that the ice farther out is at least four inches thick, or thicker.

Two ice-related items that you may want to consider buying are ice cleats and ice spikes.

You can strap the ice cleats to the bottom of your boots. The cleats will give you better traction as you walk on the ice.

Ice spikes are two short pieces of metal. They’re often attached by a short cord that you can drape around the neck.

If you fall through the ice, you can pull yourself out by jabbing the spikes into the top of the ice near the edge of the hole.