
Anglers who like to give ice fishing a try, but are not sure how to get started can learn the basics at a free ice fishing seminar on Jan. 13. Then, the day after the seminar, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will offer a chance for participants to test those learned skills during a fishing trip to a local reservoir.
The events are free and open to the public. The seminar will be held at the Utah Department of Natural Resources Southeast Regional Office, 319 N. Carbonville Road, in Price. The Jan. 13 seminar runs from 6 to 8 p.m. The fishing trip on Jan. 14 runs from 8 a.m. until noon.
“The location for the fishing portion of the event will be determined based on ice conditions and fishing reports leading up to Jan. 14,” said Morgan Jacobsen, regional conservation outreach manager for the DWR.
Those who attend the seminar will learn how to stay warm, comfortable and safe on the ice, how to choose fishing gear and bait that work best for ice fishing, and how and where to drill a hole.
In addition to learning the basics of ice fishing, clinic instructors will share advanced tips and tricks for some of the best ice fishing destinations in east-central Utah, Utah DWR officials said in a news release. Those locations include Scofield, Mammoth and Joes Valley reservoirs, among others.
The event is free, but anglers will need a fishing license to participate in the fishing trip on Jan. 14. Licenses can be purchased at local DWR offices, online at wildlife.utah.gov, or at most sporting goods stores. For those who do not own fishing equipment, the DWR will loan any needed gear for the event.
Walt Maldonado, regional wildlife recreation specialist for the DWR, said the seminar is open to everyone, regardless of experience or skill level.
“If you’ve never experienced ice fishing,” Maldonado said, “the seminar will give you the confidence you need to select the right gear and rigs for a lifetime of ice fishing fun.”
Maldonado said each waterway in east-central Utah requires a slightly different approach for ice fishing. Techniques and bait that catch fish at one body of water may not work at another. Experienced instructors will share insights that will boost an angler's success at each water.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an advanced ice angler, the tips you learn will help you catch more and bigger fish,” Maldonado said.
For additional information about the seminar or the fishing trip, call the DWR’s Southeastern Region office in Price at 435-613-3700, or Walt Maldonado at 435-820-8147.