Fishbytes is a weekly outdoors report provided by redrockadventure.com. It is posted on our website and sent as an email newsletter (subscribe or unsubscribe). Please forward it to others you think may be interested. View archived past reports.

Thursday Jan 1

Mild temperatures this weekend could impact ice fishing. High-elevation waters like Strawberry should be fine. Lower waters that have recently frozen may develop soft spots. Use extreme caution on Rockport, Echo, Pineview and similar reservoirs.

We have yet to hear of safe ice at Jordanelle. Normally the Rock Cliffs area is solid by now, even if there is open water near the dam. That is probably the case right now but take care if you head up there.

The best reports this week have come from Panguitch Lake. Joes Valley has also been good. Strawberry is still one of the best bets if you are after large trout. Fish Lake should now be fishable and it is also a good choice if you want large fish.

This is not a typical year for ice fishing. We have yet to see the perch come on strong - that should happen any time now at Rockport, Echo, Yuba and other waters. Trout reservoirs seem to have settled into a pattern of fair to good action where you have to work to find fish. At Scofield, fishing can be dead slow in one spot and very fast just a short distance away. Move around until you find active fish. See our ice fishing articles.

Fly fishing the streams may be a good option this weekend. Here are great winter fly fishing tips by >Nick Teynor, Western Rivers Flyfisher: "The snow is flying, the bugs are hatching, and fish are up and on them."

 - Mantua ice fishing is fast for perch
- Utah Lake ice fishing is spotty
- Utah Lake bluegill action is hot
- Otter Creek has slowed and is spotty
- Strawberry has safe ice, fish are scattered
- Strawberry photos of big trout caught
- Strawberry produces big cutts
- Echo has safe ice, Rockport is questionable, slow for perch
- Echo - 15 lb catfish caught through the ice
- Scofield has slowed, but fish are still being caught
- Newton is good for small perch, crappie, bluegill
- Joes Valley yields big splake, ice may be thin
- Pineview is frozen, perch fishing is fair
- Currant Creek is good after you find the fish
- Panguitch Lake ice fishing is good for cutts
- Flaming Gorge burbot fishing is good (excellent tips)

DWR Wildlife News
- Pronghorn releases
- Trout limit changes

Salt Lake Tribune
- Lure of ice fishing draws anglers to frozen waters
- Odyssey takes Oregon man through snowy Utah - slowly
- Flexibility is key to safety in the backcountry
- Nature can be cruel to outdoors-loving Utah
- Ranger rescues 4 deer
- Bird Sighting: California condor
- Zion National Park may set visitation record
- Group sues to reinstate firearms ban in parks
- Ill-fated snowmobiling party entered area where avalanche was 'certain'
- Some pronghorn relocated to supplement other herds
- Deep slab slide killed victims
- Skier escapes snow slide outside Park City
- Battle over coal-fired plant rages on
- Meteor shower to rain down Saturday morning

Deseret News
- Spooked elk jump wall, die
- Group protests Redford's stand against oil, gas drilling
- Fall storm set stage for peril
- Snow-frosted Zion - Winter casts park under its magical spell
- Record number of wolves killed
- Zion may set park visitation record
- Some pronghorn relocated to supplement other herds
- 15-year-old snowmobiler is killed by avalanche
- Snowmobile accident sends man to hospital
- 7 snowmobilers' bodies found
- Scientist dissects Utah's murky winter air
- Meteor shower will make New Year's appearance
- Average statewide year-to-date snowpack 106% of normal
- Hiker rescued from icy creek
- Swarm of small quakes hits Yellowstone area
- Oil drilling possible in wilderness study areas

Others
- Report: Overall Utah environment improving
- Utah is new front in fight to save rare condors

Regional
- The Biggest Outdoor Stories of 2009
- Contests add bit of spice, cash to ice fishing
- The top 10 fisherman's New Years resolutions
- Dramatic rise in poaching in county
- No more chronic wasting in Star Valley since Oct.
- Good news for elk? Agency finds no further chronic wasting disease
- Big snow the big story of '08
- Governor proposes closing Omak fish hatchery
- Zimo: Idaho wildlife management areas need some TLC
- Eye on Game
- Winter reignites elk feeding debate
- Closure covers public lands north of lower Warm Springs Creek
- Game and Fish investigates antelope, deer poaching
- Sportsmen polled on effects of oil and gas development on fish and game
- Outdoors: The Practical Fly
- Return of wolves to Colorado?
- TRIP OF THE WEEK: Ash Meadows great place to get in touch with nature

Happy New Year!

Recreational Property
There are great deals out there right now, with prices at rock bottom and interest rates at historic lows. Properties will probably start to move this spring, and prices will inch up, so you may never find better deals than those available right now. Consider this unique home:
- 4,000 square foot, 3 bed, 2 bath
- Luxury home built in a cave
- 110 acres
- Just $975,000

That's right, it is built inside a sandstone mountain. You've got to see it to believe it. It appears to be very nice, and heating bills would be peanuts. Check it out.

Desert Hike
The forecast for St George calls for a high temperature of around 52 F on Friday. That is too nice to resist - I'm heading down to hike in the desert.

I try to find time for a January desert hike every year. It's great getting down into the warm sunshine, working the muscles and cleaning smog out of the lungs. When northern Utah is hazy and frigid, our southern deserts are often clear, mild and uncrowded.

Quick quiz: Where's the lowest point in Utah? That is significant for me because that spot will probably also have the warmest temperatures.

The answer is Beaver Dam Wash, along the Utah/Nevada border west of St George. I plan to explore that area, trekking through the Joshua trees. I'll do several short hikes in the St George area.

Website Updates
We've been busy adding more information about fishing waters, and I also found time to post more photos from my Four Corners Trip. Here are our latest updates:
- Starvation Reservoir
- Mantua Reservoir
- Sand Island Rock art

Events
Free Skiing and Snowshoeing, January 10, 9 A.M.-5 P.M., Soldier Hollow. Soldier Hollow is teaming up with Snow Industries America to give Winter Trails- free skiing and snowshoeing to people! To promote healthy lifestyles, they are providing this service at over 100 venues in the United States and Canada. No fee, arrive at Soldier Hollow (Midway, Utah) from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. For more information call 435-645-3666.

Cinder Cone Hike, 10-11:30 am Jan 19, Snow Canyon State Park (Ivins, Utah). Learn about volcanoes and the volcanic activity responsible for the lava flows in the park. Hike to the top of the Snow Canyon cinder cone during this 1.5-mile round-trip hike. Space is limited. Registration required.

St. George Winter Bird Festival, Jan 29 - Feb 1. This annual festival is presented by the Red Cliffs Audubon Society and is held at the Tonaquint Nature Center &   Park. Daytime activities include: presentations, workshops, kid's activities, field trips and displays. There is an evening programs and banquet with keynote speaker. Designed for beginning and experienced birders. To print a brochure, poster, schedule go to www.sgcity.org/birdfestival or www.redcliffsaudubon.org. More information: Marilyn Davis, Festival Chairman, 435-673-0996.