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Show CLIPPER Friday, July 16, 1993 1 5 Outdoors-State offers camping special to able stay Anglers close to home, post Gone Fishing sign While riding home on the bus the other night, I noticed a friend of mine going over the latest fishing proclamation. I asked him if he was going fishing, and he told me that he was looking for a fishing spot close to home where he could take his kids. He said they weren't particularly interested in catching big fish, they just wanted a place where they could go to have a good time, and maybe get a bite. Another passenger suggested they try a fish hatchery, but I told them there are public areas that are close to home that don't charge for catching fish. n Utah Outdoors by Mike Hemingway We are fortunate in having three good urban fisheries in our area. They can provide a variety of fish and good fishing experiences close to home. All have easy access and are fun to visit for a quick trip or an evening outing. The first is the Farmington Pond, located just north of the highway that runs through Farmington, at approximately 600 North and 100 West. There is some construction going on around the pond which is limiting access, but it is still being planted with fish and there are plenty of fish to be caught. The Division of Wildlife stocks the pond about every other week with pan-siz- e rainbows. There aren't any trophy fish in the water, but it can provide fun fishing for kids. One thing to remember about stocked trout is that it takes a few days for them to become accustomed to living in the wild. Hatchery fish are fed fish pellets, and are not used to eating things like worms and insects. This doesn't mean that you can't catch them on worms, but you might have better luck with yellow Berkley Power Bait, or something similar, that resembles the food fish are fed in captivity. Once they get used to their new home, natural baits will work well. The second place to try your fishing luck is the Holmes Creek Reservoir in Layton. You can reach this small lake by taking Highway 89 north. Turn left on Gentile Road and go a couple of blocks. The pond is on your left, down in the gully. Holmes Creek Reservoir is privately owned, but the irrigation company allows fishing. They will not allow boats, swimming, or float tubes in the water. The reservoir is the home of bass and blucgill, as well as a .V Vij (Y,I T, few other species of fish. The latest report on the lake is that the bass fishing is excellent. It won't be long before the blucgill fishing picks up which should provide some fun fishing for the kids. One particularly enjoyable method of fishing the lake is to fly fish for blucgills. In the fall and spring, as well as summer evenings, these fish will readily take flies. When hooked, they are scrappy fighters, especially when using a light weight fly rod. The bass in Holmes Creek can be taken on artificial lures as well as with live bait. Bass are fun to catch, and can be a thrill to land. A ten inch bass is a lot more fish than a ten inch rainbow, so even a small reservoir like this one can provide some real excitement. The third urban fishery that is fun to try is the Kaysville Ponds which are just off 1 5 in Kaysville. They can be reached by taking the frontage road along the east side of the highway. One advantage of these ponds is that they are right next to a park. The whole family can go fishing and when the little ones get tired or bored they can play on the swings. The Kaysville Ponds hold a variety of fish. They are the home of bass, blucgills, catfish and an occasional trout. The catfish can be taken with worms or stink baits. The bass will take artificial lures or worms. The bluegills will hit tiny jigs, flics, or even a piece of night crawler suspended under a bobber. The trout will succumb to natural or artificial baits. When fishing these ponds, try casting your lures along the reeds that line the shore. Fish with a weedlcss spoon or jig and you just might tie into a hefty bass. A friend of mine told me that his son goes to the Kaysville ponds every morning to try his luck. The other night he came home with two 14 inch bass which he had taken while casting a jig. I know lots of kids, and even a few adults, who would be excited about taking a 14 inch It's summertime, the weather is wonderful, what better time to make plans to go camping at Utah's state parks where an array of recreation opportunities await you. And to show you how delightful the state parks are, the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation is offering a free night of camping on weeknights. at selected parks, from July 15 through Oct. 1. Just make a reservation for two or more nights, beginning and ending Sunday through Thursday and get your last night free. This special offer is available by reservation only and is not good on weekends. The selected parks are Wasatch Mountain State Park in the Heber Valley, East Canyon State Park near Morgan, Rockport State Park near Wanship, Steinaker State Park near Vernal, Starvation State Park near Duchesne, Huntington State Park and Millsite State Park, both near Ferron, Minersville State Park near Beaver, Quail Creek State Park near St. George and Fremont Indian State Park near Richfield. "This is a great opportunity to get around the state and visit some of Utah's diverse state parks," said Courtland Nelson, director of the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation. "While park usage can be heavy on weekends and holidays, opportunities to enjoy quiet and peaceful camping are still available during the weekdays. And with water levels up this year, most lakes and reservoirs will be full all summer." - t ' nap 1 t- . CANYON CAMPING: Utah parks offer a bevy beautiful campsites and acres of wonderful scenery. EAST future fishermen. There are places farther away, that receive less fishing pressure, and have bigger fish., but for kids who want to go fishing, or for a quick evening fishing trip, of there is no substitute for one fisheries. urban local our i,1 tlf o are taken up to the last minute. For 0 in the reservations call Salt Lake City area, or outside of Salt Lake City. Camping fees at Utah State parks range from $5 to $13 per night, depending on facilities. Payment for reservations can be made with a Visa, MasterCard, check or cash. However, if payment is made less than 14 days in advance, a credit card must be used. Utahs 45 state parks offer an assortment of recreation oppor tunities ranging from camping, hiking and golfing to just relaxing with family and friends. State park 322-377- campgrounds are an excellent jumping off point for exploring some of Utah's most extraordinary scenery. Reservations must be made at least three days in advance at most state parks. 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