Caution needed when ice fishing

Caution needed when ice fishing

December 25, 2001

BY THE COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

DENVER — As winter descends and Colorado’s waterways freeze over, anglers are gearing up for another great season of ice fishing. Although there are many hot spots for the sport in Colorado, the Division of Wildlife advises anglers to be cautious when venturing onto the ice early in the season.

"There’s always a few guys that push it every season and head out early when the ice is too thin," said Dan Brauch, an aquatic biologist for the DOW based near Blue Mesa Reservoir, a popular fishing area in Gunnison.

"Right now, the ice is still too thin at Blue Mesa. Give it a few more weeks," Brauch said. When the time comes, anglers at Blue Mesa can try their luck at catching rainbow, brown and lake trout and kokanee salmon.

If planning to fish in Blue Mesa, anglers should pay close attention to ice thickness and watch for soft spots, especially in the upper end of the reservoir, which tends to freeze last, said Brauch.

Other hot spots for ice fishing that are already seeing some action are the Delaney Buttes lakes, Cowdrey Lake and Lake John near Walden. Anglers have already begun to show up in droves, and this year, the North Park Chamber of Commerce is hosting an ice fishing contest at Cowdrey Lake and Lake John on Jan. 12-13 and another at the Delaney Buttes lakes Feb. 9.

"I anticipate that ice fishing this year should be good at all the lakes because we have been restocking heavily," said Jay Wenum, the division’s district wildlife manager based in Walden. "Those fish grow fast in the summer and fall, so there are lots in the lake now."

North Delaney Lake serves as breeding waters for the state’s entire stock of brown trout. Brown trout raised at the hatchery there are used to stock waterways throughout Colorado and in other states. Lake John, Cowdrey Lake and the Delaney Buttes lakes are also good spots to catch rainbow and cutthroat trout. Although it’s been cold enough for ice fishing on foot, anglers are still urged to use caution.

"There is good ice on the lakes, but there are still a few weak spots along inlets, outlets and spring areas," Wenum said. "It’s been cold enough that we’ve got a good base, but it’s still not driveable."

But ice conditions are solid at Antero Reservoir, another popular fishing area in South Park. The area attracts many anglers because the catch there is hefty – the average rainbow or cutthroat hooked can weigh up to three pounds. Current fishing conditions are reported to be good with a10-inch ice base.

General safety guidelines for ice fishing are:

_There should be a clear, solid, 2-inch ice base for a single person to fish on foot.

_There should be at least 3 inches for a group in single file.

_There should be at least an 8-inch base to drive a car on the ice.

For a varied selection of fish, longtime fishing outfitter Milt Poffel suggests hitting Elevenmile Reservoir. Poffel is owner and operator of Uncle Milty’s Tackle Box in Englewood and has served the local fishing market for more than three decades.

"At Elevenmile, you can catch 4- to 6-pound rainbows in water just 10 feet deep," Poffel said. "There’s also a good selection of 3-year-old kokanee salmon and northern pike.

"My advice to anglers is this – don’t be afraid to try different places, don’t get stuck fishing at the same spot every year," he said.

The DOW reminds anglers to be aware of new fishing regulations. Some changes in 2001 include a lower daily bag limit for most cold-water species from eight fish to four. Another change in bag limits includes the reduction from a 40 to 10-fish limit for kokanee salmon in most waters.