Ice fishing can be the best of times and the worst of times depending on your personal preparedness, so let’s jump right in to other crucial aspects of being prepared for the ice. Fish Finders Fish finders are important tools for locating and catching fish. If you only fish a couple of times a year,
This Christmas season my heart is full of thanks to all of you who have willingly shared your photos, stories, and experiences; have asked questions, and have willingly and eagerly read this column each week for the past 18 years. I am deeply moved each time you stop me in the tackle store, at church,
For many anglers, lake trout (mackinaw) is a “bucket list” species that can only be caught in their dreams. Not that they are particularly difficult to catch, but they are not found in all trout waters and so they must be “targeted.” Since they are not found universally, anglers must learn where they live, how
As I reported last week, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) has stocked close to 400,000 eight-inch rainbow trout in Strawberry since the first of October. Those fish are now swimming in schools around the lake and are being targeted by large cutthroat trout as they gorge themselves before winter. If you target the
Most of you (as loyal readers) know I have a somewhat “strained” relationship with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). I’ve debated until blue in the face with biologists, fisheries managers, and even outreach coordinators throughout the state over issues like daily limits, fisheries management, and warm water species development, just to name a
This week, let’s take a look fishing from the shore and, hopefully, entice you to get out of that easy chair, turn off the football game, and catch some “stout” trout while enjoying this hot and cold (weather wise) extended fall fishing season. I watched a few shore anglers last week trying to mirror those
First Strike In February of 2017, I wrote the story of the largest striper I had caught at Lake Powell, and in my heart felt it was truly the fish of a lifetime. To recap the event, my friend, Brent Daybell, and I were fishing in a deep canyon between Bullfrog and Good Hope bays,
As I have reported lately, Strawberry is not only coming on, it’s here with a vengeance. I was finally able to get out to the reservoir in the past week or so and found the fish in exactly the same areas in which I had hoped they would be. And, the fish were aggressive, large,
A common story from friends and readers of this column is as follows: “We went down to Lake Powell and all we wanted to see was a striper boil. Instead, we struggled to catch fish and didn’t see a single boil all week.” Allow me to help you understand the baitfish/predator relationship on Lake Powell and
The annual Utah rifle deer hunt is a wonderful family time for me and I relish the opportunity to spend a few days enjoying the fall colors and carving out a few hours to fish the Green River below the Flaming Gorge Dam. This year, although frustrating at times, Don Jr. and a close family
