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Show Ice Fishing Popularity Increasing Ice fishermen at Panguitch Lake will hate t6See the season close ort'MarcH ' 15, Garfield .County's, newest sport, ice fishing, has enjoyed a popularity far exceeding all expectations. When the Utah Wildlife Board granted permission for a trial ice fishing season at Panguitch Lake, just 17 miles south of Panguitch, no one really had any idea that the winter sport would become so popular so quickly. Keeping the road open from Panguitch to Panguitch Lake and from Brianhead to Panguitch Lake for the first time this winter has also helped to develop the sport as a full-fledged winter recreational activity. Fishermen have been successful at all times of the day on virtually all areas of the lake. Most fish 50 to. 100 yards from shore but manv bring snowmobiles for a trip across the lake to their favorite spot. Entire families have planned weekend outings around ice fishing and local fisherman who used to sit idle during the winter waiting for their favorite season to roll around can now enjoy their favorite season almost all year. Although the ice season itself is quite -short from January 1 through March 15 it is, of course, dependent upon the lake being throughly frozen over. Ice fishermen on Panguitch Lake must purchase a special stamp costing $5 to accompany their regular fishing license. The stamps have been sold in St. George, Cedar City, Parowan, Panguitch and at the resorts at the lake itself. Deer Trail Lodge at Panguitch Lake reports some 70 sold, and Rustic Lodge, well over 100. In Panguitch, Western Auto has sold about 80, reporting a good mixture of tourists and local buyers. R. J. Excell has sold about 30 to local buyers. It doesn't matter what time of the day or what day of the week it is, fishermen report good luck with most limiting out in one-and-one-half to two hours. Fish are good size and local fishermen who have been fishing the lake for years in the summertime say they have an especially good flavor and firm texture. County Commissioner George Middleton says he has had "a lot of good comments" and has been especially pleased to find him self elsewhere in the state and have people,,, ' say that they have enjoyed ice fishing at Panguitch Lake. The county's decision two years ago to try to keep the Panguitch Lake road open through the winter was a touchy one, and commissioners couldn't be postive that it would pay off. This winter's fairly heavy snow season has answered any doubts they might have had. Middleton says that it definitely costs less to maintain the road open throughout the winter than to spend the time and money and the heavy toll on equipment needed to reopen it each spring as in years past. He said that a conversation with fish and game personnel at Bear Lake convinced him that ice fishing in the winter will not adversely affect the supply of fish avilable in the lake for the summer season. The Bear Lake specialists assured him, Middleton said, that the fish benefit from the extra food they get through ice fishing and it helps them to grow that much larger for the summer season. Experienced ice fishermen have a few tips for the novice. It's true that the fish must grow larger on bait lost so To watch him one night say Ralph Wilcock, Panguitch has gotten the sport of ice fishing down to an exacting science. Ralph works here with ax and weJge to chop jhrough about a foot of ice formed over the lake, - i they say it is important to pay close al'tehtion to the fishing pole. The Winter-hungry fish tend to nibble so it pays to watch closely. Experts say they have the best luck with Velveeta cheese and salmon eggs. Fishing holes are usually about 12 inches across and takes from five to seven minutes to chop out with picks and axes. Some have even used chain saws to chop through the ice. Once the initial hole is chopped, it will freeze over at night, but it's easy to chip through once again the next morning. Many holes are used over and over agian. Somtetimes ice will begin to form in the hole while the fisherman is waiting for the big one to bite. It can be easily removed by scooping out with a small bucket. Johm Williams, director of the Five County Association of Governments, who lives in St. George, traveled recently to Panguitch Lake with his wite tor a special weekend. Williams said he had so much fun with the new winter sport that the following weekend he brought a group of scouts to Panguitch Lake where they caught close to 50 fish. Williamssaid that he was impressed by the commitment of resort owners and concessioners around the lake who agreed to stay open all winter and cater to the winter recreation enthusiasts, He said it was nice to have goods, services and shelter available for those who travel a great distance. A sport for all ages, ice fishing seems to have caught on well in its first season at Panguitch Lake, putting to rest any fears that county commissioners and Division of Wildlife Resources authorities may have had. The biggest obstacle, enthusiasts say, is cold feet, and they have found a number of Innovative ways to avoid the problem. First, and most important, they say, is to dress warm enough to begin with. Many out-of-state fishermen, ex-pecially those from warmer climates, often don't realize how cold it can get in southern Utah in mid-winter, so it is vital to have warm clothing, par-ticulary warm socks and good boots. Scenery at the lake is beautiful in wintertime and ice fishing is a fun and relaxing sport appealing to all ages, and once fishermen learn how to keep really warm, they can settle down for one of the most unique winter experiences, Many have built fires on the frozen lake or keep heated coals in a bucket to keep warm. Division of Wildlife conservf.lion officer Norman McKee warns that hypothermia can be a killer of winter re-creationists and advises fishermen to dress carefully and warmly. McKee has been making regular' . y (Continued oil Page 8) Ice Fishing (Continued from Page 1) creel census and license checks at the lake .because DWR is monitoring this first season very closely to assess results. Local fishermen are often businessmen and others, who, during the lazy winter season will take a few days off from time to time to enjoy what everyone else usually enjoys in the summers when they are so busy. With only a few days left before the season closes, heightened activity is expected as everyone determines to try one more time for that winter "big one." Ron Burton and son, Steve, Panguitch display a string of Collection of trout was effort of entire Burton clan dur-fish Saturday morning after about two hours on the lake, ing outing. |