WYOMING — Whether you’re out on the frozen expanse of Jackson Lake, or deep in the Gros Ventre on Slide Lake, ice fishing season is here and Wyoming Game and Fish wants to remind you of tips, tricks, and FAQ’s for fishing over the frigid waters.
Ice Safety Tips:
- Never go on the ice alone.
- It is not recommended to drive a vehicle onto the ice.
- Take along plenty of warm clothes. It is also a good idea to keep extra clothes nearby.
- To walk on the ice make sure it is at least 4 inches thick and is clear and solid (8 inches if the ice is cloudy)
- It is a good idea to wear an ice pick around your neck and bring a throwable flotation device in case someone falls in.
Ice Fishing Special Provisions:
Some waters are covered under the Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision, and locally they are:
- Boysen Reservoir in Fremont County
- Ocean Lake in Fremont County
- Pathfinder Reservoir in Carbon and Natrona Counties
- Pilot Butte Reservoir in Fremont County
Ice Fishing FAQ’s answered:
- Make sure you are in attendance of your rods/tip-ups while ice fishing (within 300 yds).
- Sleeping in the camper/truck is not attendance even if you are within 300 yds.
- Going to check in a fish during a derby does not constitute attendance of your remaining lines.
- Webster’s definition of Attendance: to be present at or to be dealing with.
- When fishing with tip-ups or when fishing more than 2 lines (only on bodies of water under the special winter fishing provisions-check regulations) make sure lines or tip-ups are labeled with the name of the person fishing.
- Anglers are responsible for checking their own lines.
On waters not covered under the provision, anglers can use up to two lines.
Another special provision are bodies of water that allow live bait fish. Many people use live bait in the winter to fish through the ice because when you use live bait with tip-ups the bait supplies the action. So instead of you sitting and constantly jigging the line, the live bait is doing it for you. The local waters that allow live bait fish are only the Wind River downstream from Boysen Reservoir; Boysen Reservoir; Ocean Lake; and Pilot Butte Reservoir.
Please know that you must buy live bait from a licensed dealer and they must give you a receipt you have to carry.
Complete regulations for waters under the Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision can be found under Fishing Regulations on the Game and Fish website and inside the Wyoming Fishing Regulations.
