Wildlife Matters by Aaron Bercheid

WILDLIFE MATTERS

Aaron Berscheid - District Wildlife Manager - CPW

Editor’s Note: This is a regular monthly column from Colorado Parks and Wildlife about wildlife issues in the Falcon area by a career wildlife officer. 

Aaron Berscheid is a district wildlife officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Aaron covers the “wild” side of Northeast El Paso County, including Black Forest, Falcon, Peyton and Calhan. He also covers some of Elbert County, north of U.S. Highway 24 and south of State Highway 86, including the towns of Elbert, Kiowa, Ramah, Simla, Matheson and a small portion of the Limon area.

So what if it’s freezing cold? It’s a great time to go fishing!

By Aaron Berscheid

District Wildlife Manager, CPW

When most imagine a day of fishing, images of sunshine, green foliage and warm summer temperatures may be the first things that come to mind. 

Others enjoy fishing year-round despite the challenge that different seasons present. As we enter the ice fishing season, I figure this is the perfect opportunity to offer a few tips to those hardy anglers who want to get out and enjoy nature in the winter months.

Why fish in winter? Crisp, cool mornings, the sound of ice underfoot and the warm shelter provided by an ice hut set the tone for fantastic angling days. 

And in the Pikes Peak region, we are lucky enough to have lakes and reservoirs that provide the opportunity to get onto the hard water. 

Just north of Woodland Park, Manitou Lake provides an easy opportunity to ice fish compared to larger bodies of water. Due to its size, you’re not left pulling a sled full of supplies for what feels like miles over ice. The lake is stocked, even throughout the winter, so the chances of a great day of angling are high. 

Skaguay Reservoir, located in southern Teller County, offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of more popular lakes. Trout and the occasional Northern pike are the targets for anglers here. Please remember that Skaguay is a state wildlife area. That means each person aged 16 or over is required to possess a valid hunting, fishing or state wildlife area access pass, even if they are not actually fishing. 

For those who want to venture onto bigger ice, look west into Park County and Eleven Mile State Park where the reservoir is widely known as an ice fishing hotspot, and for good reason. It’s home to large trout and Northern pike. At Eleven Mile, you have a good chance of pulling big fish from the ice. West of Eleven Mile is Antero Reservoir, which provides another great option for ice fishing opportunities. 

Closer to Colorado Springs, people have been known to ice fish Monument Lake and Palmer Lakes. Ice conditions on these lakes are often finicky, so be sure to check conditions.

For those who are just venturing into the sport, equipment requirements are minimal. All you need is a valid fishing license, an ice auger and an ice fishing rod and tackle. The ice fishing rods are nice because they are shorter in length so you can sit and hold the pole closer to the hole, but my grandpa always used full-length rods, so it’s not a requirement.

As with any sport, there are a wide variety of options to make your experience more comfortable and successful.

For example, there is a dizzying array of ice augers on the market, from old-school hand-crank units to gas-powered machines to those that run on batteries. Those who want to keep things simple or those who are just dipping their toes in the icy cold water may find that a hand auger is perfectly sufficient.

If you are hardcore, you can simply sit on a bucket with your hand auger and try your luck. But I recommend using an ice hut and they come in a variety of styles and sizes. They provide an increased level of comfort, especially for those sensitive to the wind and cold. A propane heater can provide plenty of warmth to keep you on the ice and for your fishing line in the water. 

Ice fishing rods are much shorter than your typical fishing rod, and they can be bought for a reasonable price at any store that sells fishing supplies. The tackle used can vary from the most simple hook and sinker with a wax-worm, to fancy jigs and lures. There is no need to spend a ton of money when starting, as trout will readily eat a worm. 

If you want to improve your chances using electronics, there are fish finders available specifically set up for ice fishing. They allow you to see what is happening in the water underneath you and while a great accessory for serious anglers, they are not necessary to venture into the sport. 

Besides a rod, tackle and an augur, traction devices on your boots are a must-have item, in my opinion. Ice cleats will increase your safety walking across the ice, particularly in areas where snow cover has been blown away. 

Speaking of safety, it is always a good idea to have a set of ice picks, which hang around your neck on a stretchable cable. In the unlikely event you were to fall through the ice, they allow you to gain traction on the ice surface and perform a self-rescue. 

Ice safety is a topic too broad to cover in this article, but there are great resources online to educate yourself. Local fishing groups on social media can be valuable resources for ice reports from other anglers, as well. 

As with most outdoor pursuits, it is always a good idea to fish with a partner, share your plans with others and bring a communication device like a cell phone in areas with cellular coverage (be sure to keep the phone away from the hole — a very common mishap is dropping your phone in the water when leaning over the hole).

As always, you may see my colleagues on the ice checking fishing licenses. While we really only need to verify that you possess the necessary license, we are always happy to chat and share some tips or knowledge to enhance your angling experience. 

In the coming months, I’ll share more stories as I write about wildlife issues in our community. Got a question, problem or column idea? Please email me at aaron.berscheid@state.co.us or call me at 719-227-5231. 

I might even answer your question in a future installment of “Wildlife Matters.”

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