New for Fishermen and Hunters

With the new year, people fishing and hunting in Utah need 2006 licenses. A change in Utah law means that most licenses will now be valid for a year from the date of purchase. In the past licenses have expired with the calendar year, regardless of when they were purchased. Here is more info about that change.

You can buy licenses online.

Fishing is good right now but conditions are not typical for a Utah winter. Very warm daytime temperatures are melting ice on some popular ice fishing reservoirs. Strawberry and other high-elevation waters have safe ice and offer good fishing. Mid-elevation waters may have unsafe ice. Many low-elevation waters are open and boat ramps are usable.

Our trout streams are in good shape and most offer great fishing right now. Conditions are more like late fall that mid-winter. On a warm afternoon it can be very pleasant fly fishing on the Provo, Green or other quality streams. Spin fishers are also doing well right now.

Ask the guys in the tackle shops for the latest info on areas you may want to fish. DWR also offers weekly fishing reports.

Me? I’m going to shove my boat out on Jordanelle Reservoir and troll for tout. It should be really nice, with 51 degree temperatures forecast for Saturday afternoon in northern Utah.