Somewhere, a fish is biting. And since a fish has always gotta eat, it’s just as true in the winter as it is in the summer.
Which is why people ice fish, even if it’s less predictable than already unpredictable fish. “You can’t plan on ice fishing, especially on lakes like Utah Lake that have such immense exposure,” says avid angler Dan Potts.
Why go then? “Ice fishing is a social event,” he says. But in between all that talking, Utah Lake ice fishers still manage to snag pan fish, including blue gill and croppy, white bass, and yellow fish, Potts says.
To make the experience as pleasant as possible, Potts recommends fishing at one of the five primary harbors, including Lincoln Beach, American Fork, Utah Lake State Park, Lindon Marina, and Saratoga Springs Harbor. “Those closed harbors are somewhat immune from the motion of the ice,” he says. “The other nice thing about the harbors is they have boat docks; you don’t actually have to walk on the ice to fish.”
Like on all lakes, ice fishing at Utah Lake can be extremely dangerous, so it’s best to go with an experienced ice fisherman.
To that end, Potts is open to befriending aspiring fisherman and is even teaching a three course ice fishing clase starting January 23. For more information, he can be reached at 801-596-1536 or dan_karen_potts@msn.com