If you don’t ski or snowboard, winter in Utah can seem endless. But another great way to get outdoors is to head to a nearby lake for an afternoon or weekend of ice fishing.
There are many options in Utah when it comes to ice fishing. If you’re busy and looking for a place close to home where you can take the whole family for an afternoon of ice fishing, here are some great options across the state:
Close to Salt Lake City (2 hour drive)
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Echo Reservoir, Summit County (offers perch and trout)
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Rockport Reservoir, Summit County (offers perch and trout)
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Pineview Reservoir, Weber County (offers perch and walleye)
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Mantua Reservoir, Box Elder County (offers perch, trout and bluegill)
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Scofield Reservoir, Carbon and Utah counties (offers trout)
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Strawberry Reservoir, Wasatch County (offers trout and kokanee salmon)
Swimming pool
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Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Daggett County (offers trout and burbot; the best ice is usually farther north toward the Wyoming state line)
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Hunger Reservoir, Duchesne County (offers perch, trout and walleye)
Southern Utah
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Fish Lake, Sevier County (offers perch and trout)
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Panguitch Lake, Garfield County (offers trout)
“Winter is a great time to go fishing because the ice gives everyone a chance to walk to the best areas — the places where the fish hang out,” said Randy Oplinger, sport fish coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. “It evens the playing field because you can access places that during the summer are only available if you have a boat. Fish are also hungry and active in winter, and that can make them easier to catch.”
Perch and bluegill fishing in particular can be pretty great during the winter months, allowing you to catch a lot of fish quickly. This helps provide a great experience for children.
“Ice fishing also provides a fun time to socialize more than other times of the year,” Oplinger said. “During the summer, if you’re fly fishing on a river, you usually want more space. But with ice fishing, you can all gather around the holes and drink hot chocolate together and chat while you’re fishing.”
Equipment for ice fishing
Ice fishing is also a great family activity because the equipment needs are fairly minimal compared to other styles of fishing. Here’s what you need:
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A Utah fishing license, if you are 12 years of age or older
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Warm clothes (layers recommended)
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Enough food and water to last you through your outing
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An ice auger (they cost about $70 for a manual auger)
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A spoon to scoop the ice out of the hole (they only cost about $4 or you can even use a slotted kitchen spoon)
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Fishing rods (about $20 each)
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Ice lures ($3-$5 each; it’s usually good to have a few options per person)
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Lures such as waxworms or mealworms ($3-$5 per trip; be sure to check the 2023 Utah Fishing Guide to make sure the bait is allowed in the body of water you are fishing)
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Bobbers to help you spot a fish strike ($3-$5 each, enough for one per fishing rod)
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A sled to get all the equipment out on the ice
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Camping chairs or a bucket to sit on
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An ice fishing tent is useful in very cold or snowy weather, but not necessary
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An electronic fish finder
Tips to help you be successful while ice fishing
While many species of fish still fight just as hard under the ice as they do in open water, some species have a more subtle strike, so you need to keep a close eye on your rod tip for a bite. Adding a device called a spring bobber to the end of your fishing rod can help you detect these subtle bites.
You can catch many species of fish through the ice, and any time of day can be good for ice fishing. The hardest part of ice fishing is finding the fish.
“I recommend looking for structures in or near the water,” Oplinger said. “For example, fishing points outside usually works well. You also need to find out how deep the fish are in the water. My suggestion is to start fishing about a foot from the bottom of the lake. If you don’t get a hit after 10 minutes, go up about five feet. Continue like this until you find where the fish are. Make sure you know how far you are from the bottom so you can go back to depth once you figure out where they are. Perch and bluegill often hang close to the bottom. Trout are less consistent and can be at a variety of depths.”
If you are new to the sport, consider attending an upcoming ice fishing seminar on Thursday, January 19th at 6:30 pm at the DWR Springville office at 1115 North Main Street in Springville. DWR staff and Strawberry Bay Marina staff will provide ice fishing tips and specific information on fishing Strawberry Reservoir this time of year. Although the event is free, we recommend that you register in advance on Eventbrite.
You can also visit the Fish Utah map on the DWR website for additional fishing tips and updates for specific bodies of water.
Safety recommendations
If you are visiting a body of water in a state park, you can see an update of current ice conditions on the Utah State Parks website. A general safety recommendation is to not step on ice unless it is at least four inches thick. This usually applies to clear, freshly formed ice; Bubbly or slush-covered ice is less safe.
It is also important to note that ice thickness can vary on a lake. If you see that the ice is four inches thick in one place, don’t assume it’s four inches thick all over the lake. Be sure to drill test holes in the ice as you venture out. You should also avoid placing large groups of people and equipment in a small area – spread the weight.
“As an extra precaution, you can also purchase ice safety spikes, which can help you get off a lake if you fall through the ice,” Oplinger said. “I would also recommend bringing a line and a friend or family member with you if possible. It’s always a good idea to have someone else with you when ice fishing.
Find more ice safety tips on the Utah State Parks website.