12-28-2019, 05:27 PM
[#0000ff]Ahhhh. Rememberies. Here is the intro I just finished putting together for my writeup on ice trinkets.[/#0000ff]
"I have been ice fishing in Utah since the early 1960’s. In those days Utah Lake was about the only place open to ice fishing. Willard Bay was still not in existence and all other lakes were trout waters…subject to closure during the winter months.
By the 1970s there was Willard Bay Reservoir near Ogden and Yuba Reservoir south of Nephi that both allowed ice fishing and produced good catches. With more and more ice fishermen moving to Utah from other (ice fishing) states there was an increase in the number of anglers who ventured out upon the ice each winter.
In the early 1980s the Utah DWR opened Deer Creek Reservoir to ice fishing…but only for the abundant perch. Winter closures on the taking of trout were still in place so any trout caught during that time had to be released. Fortunately for Utah anglers it was not much longer before the implementation of a year round fishing season…for all species. Ice fishing has really become a big time winter sport in Utah since then.
In the early days of Utah ice fishing we muddled through with a single rod, a bucket and an ax or spud bar to chop holes in the ice. Then came augers, tents, heaters, sleds, specialized ice rods, ice sonar…and a host of fancy new lures. Most of this stuff had been developed in other areas of the country but seemed to work just fine in Utah too.
Today we see the tackle purveyors catering to our increasing passion for “drilling and chilling”. Even before the first snow falls we see displays of augers, tents, ice rods, ice lures and other ice fishing accessories. It is big business in Utah these days."
[signature]
"I have been ice fishing in Utah since the early 1960’s. In those days Utah Lake was about the only place open to ice fishing. Willard Bay was still not in existence and all other lakes were trout waters…subject to closure during the winter months.
By the 1970s there was Willard Bay Reservoir near Ogden and Yuba Reservoir south of Nephi that both allowed ice fishing and produced good catches. With more and more ice fishermen moving to Utah from other (ice fishing) states there was an increase in the number of anglers who ventured out upon the ice each winter.
In the early 1980s the Utah DWR opened Deer Creek Reservoir to ice fishing…but only for the abundant perch. Winter closures on the taking of trout were still in place so any trout caught during that time had to be released. Fortunately for Utah anglers it was not much longer before the implementation of a year round fishing season…for all species. Ice fishing has really become a big time winter sport in Utah since then.
In the early days of Utah ice fishing we muddled through with a single rod, a bucket and an ax or spud bar to chop holes in the ice. Then came augers, tents, heaters, sleds, specialized ice rods, ice sonar…and a host of fancy new lures. Most of this stuff had been developed in other areas of the country but seemed to work just fine in Utah too.
Today we see the tackle purveyors catering to our increasing passion for “drilling and chilling”. Even before the first snow falls we see displays of augers, tents, ice rods, ice lures and other ice fishing accessories. It is big business in Utah these days."
[signature]