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Kevin Fox sent in the photo above. It shows a brown he caught on Hobble Creek.

Hiking Zion
I had great fun hiking in Zion Park last weekend. Weather was beautiful. Zion Canyon is free of snow and low-elevation trails are in good shape. See my photos from that trip.

We hiked up the West Rim. Walters Wiggles has considerable snow and ice, but we were about to go up and down with little trouble. Looking out over Angels Landing we could see that it has snow and ice in spots. A couple more weeks and all the snow and ice will be gone in that area.

A couple years ago I hiked Angles in March during a snowstorm. It can get slick during and immediately after a storm, but in general early spring is a great time to hike there.

It is still too early to wade The Narrows or do wet slot canyons.

Moab
The Moab area has now warmed up to near-normal temperatures. Hiking conditions there will be great during the next few weeks.

Where to Fish
I'm tired of ice fishing. I'll probably hit a local stream Saturday if the weather isn't too bad.

Walleye will be available within a couple weeks, as Utah Lake and Willard Bay open up. The fish will not be very active until the water warms a bit. Fish slowly during the first couple weeks after ice-off.

Trout waters can be very good as the ice pulls back. By mid-March we should have open-water fishing at Deer Creek, Jordanelle and Otter Creek, and maybe some others.

Events

Big game applications
Applications are due by March 1

The Snow Goose Festival celebrates the arrival of thousands of Lesser Snow Geese in the fields and waters between Delta and Clear Lake Management Area. It runs Feb. 19, 20 and 21. Activities include free waterfowl workshops, a 10K race, dinner, craft vendors, quilt show and more. 435-864-4316

Salt Water Fly Fishing Basics, Feb 25. For those who have dabbled into the world of saltwater fly fishing or for those who are wanting to get started, this class is designed to help you make sure that those early saltwater trips are uccessful; from the gear you'll need to how to plan a successful saltwaterflyfishing trip. Cost: $25.00 Time: 6:30pm Location: Western Rivers Flyfisher

Skinny Tire Festival road bike event, March 12-16, Moab. Routes follow the Colorado River and push up into Arches National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park.

- Dave

Willard Bay still has thick ice but it is getting soft. It will probably be another week or two before there is significant open water there.

When ice pulls back, wind sometimes pushes remaining ice around and conditions can become dangerous. Sometimes people go out in boats or tubes, thinking they have a large area of open water, but wind pushes ice into them. Sometimes wind pushes ice so it surrounds them, cutting them off from shore.

Utah Lake ice sometimes piles up on shore, pushed by a stiff breeze. Huge slabs of ice can stack up on shore in a matter of just minutes. Be careful.

Strawberry, Fish Lake and other major trout waters are still providing good ice fishing. Be prepared for slush on top the ice.

Flaming Gorge has ice on the Wyoming side, open water on the Utah side. Early spring can be an excellent time to fish open water for big lake trout. During summer the big fish have to stay deep where the water is cool. During spring they can range freely and are sometimes caught near the surface.

Provo River fly fishing has been better than expected for this time of year; it is already attracting crowds. Western Rivers Flyfisher reports, "Don't let the crowds sway you; this is the best winter fishing that any of us in the shop can remember, and it would be foolhardy to let a couple of bodies keep you from knocking off those winter cobwebs and getting some days in." Large "Buffalo midges" have been seen on the Lower Provo, but most of the action comes using bugs in sizes #24-28. See the complete Western Rivers report.

Community ponds will provide good fishing during the next few weeks. Many of these small waters are already ice free.

Best Reservoirs for Ice Fishing
- Deer Creek for trout and perch
- Strawberry for rainbows and cutthroat
- Flaming Gorge for trout and burbot (upper section has ice)
- Pelican Lake for bluegill & other species
- Red Fleet Reservoir for trout and bluegill
- Steinaker for trout and bluegill
- Pineview for small perch
- Scofield for small trout
- Fish Lake for trout, perch
- Mill Meadow for perch
- Navajo Lake for splake