A Short Ice Season and an Early Start to Open Water Fishing This year has been a little different. Usually, by this time of year, I’m still trying to squeeze every last bit out of ice fishing—drilling holes, chasing that late-season bite, and holding onto winter for just a little longer. But 2026 had other plans. A Short Ice Season I did manage to get out on the ice this year, including a solid trip where we found a good afternoon bite and stayed on fish. Those days are always a reminder of why I love ice fishing—the simplicity, the cold air, and the action when you find it. Watch that trip here: But overall, the season felt short. There wasn’t much time to really settle into a consistent ice bite before conditions started changing. Before long, I was already thinking about packing up the auger and looking ahead to open water. Mixing It Up in Wellsville In between the short ice season and the early spring conditions, I also spent some time fishing in Wellsvi...

Chasing Bonneville Whitefish at Bear Lake (December Fishing Report) December fishing in Utah often means cold hands, quiet shorelines, and surprisingly active fish—especially at Bear Lake . On this trip, I headed north to target one of the lake’s most unique species: the Bonneville Whitefish . Unlike many fish that move deep as winter approaches, Bonneville Whitefish begin moving shallow in late fall and early winter to spawn. This makes December one of the best times of year to encounter them from shore or in shallow water. A Unique Fishery at Bear Lake Bear Lake is known for its endemic species, and the Bonneville Whitefish is one of the most underrated. These fish are strong, fast, and often mistaken for something else until they’re right at your feet. When conditions line up, Whitefish can be caught on spinners, spoons, and other small moving baits. On this outing, I hooked into a Whitefish using a spinner . The fish was unfortunately foul-hooked in the fin, and as...

November Fishing Report — Big Trips, Big Rainbows, and the Black Friday Tournament November turned into one of my busiest months of the year. Between work, family, fishing trips, and tournament preparation, the weeks flew by. Even with the tight schedule, I still managed to get out on the water for two great adventures and wrap up the month by hosting the 2025 Utah Black Friday Trout Tournament . Hyrum Reservoir Trip — First Cast Bass & Late Fall Trout Early in November, I met up with my friend Adam Peterson for a quick trip to Hyrum Reservoir . Late fall conditions usually mean slowdowns, but this trip was the opposite. The very first cast of the morning produced a nice bass , thanks to the Sakana Baits Wiggly Tail + Tube combo . From there, we mixed in both trout and bass throughout the day. Watch the short: 👉 @sakanabaits Wiggly Tail + Tube For The Win Watch the full video: 👉 First Cast Magic at Hyrum (Late Fall Bass and Trout) Idaho Trophy Fishing ...

Fishing Smith Family Park Pond – A Local Favorite for Utah Anglers | Outdoors with Andrew 🎣 Fishing Smith Family Park Pond – A Local Favorite for Utah Anglers Smith Family Park Pond in Farr West, Utah, has become one of my favorite quick stops for trout fishing — especially when Willard Bay isn’t producing. As one of Utah’s designated community fisheries , it’s stocked regularly with rainbow trout and offers an easy, family-friendly spot to relax, unwind, and catch a few fish. Because it’s a community fishery, the daily limit is two fish per angler , so it’s a great place to bring kids or test out new tackle without overharvesting. You can check the most recent trout stocking updates anytime on the Utah DWR Fish Stocking Report page. 🐟 My Latest Trip On my most recent visit, my brother and I set up along the bank and found the trout willing to bite on Garlic PowerBait and a white Sakana mini tube tipped with pink PowerEggs . The pond can be a bit uneven along th...

2nd Annual Utah Black Friday Trout Tournament | Outdoors with Andrew 🎣 2nd Annual Utah Black Friday Trout Tournament 🎣 Date: November 28, 2025 Time: 6 AM – 6 PM Location: Any public water body in Utah The Utah Black Friday Trout Tournament is back for its second year — bigger and better! Hosted by Outdoors with Andrew , this statewide fishing competition is perfect for anglers of all ages who want to enjoy trout fishing in Utah public waters, win prizes, and support local tackle makers. Whether you’re an experienced angler or just getting started, this is a fun, affordable way to get outdoors after Thanksgiving and compete for some amazing prizes. 💰 Registration Register now through the FishDonkey app — search for “Utah Black Friday Trout Tournament” . Adults: $30 (includes $5 FishDonkey fee — $25 goes to prize pot) Youth 16 & Under: $10 (includes $5 FishDonkey fee — $5 goes to prize pot) ...

Surprise Wiper at Garden City Community Fishery 🎣 | Outdoors with Andrew 🎣 Surprise Wiper at Garden City Community Fishery It felt great to finally get back out fishing after my accident — and this trip brought a big surprise! I stopped by the Garden City Community Fishery , which is usually stocked with Trout throughout the year and gets a small number of Wiper (under 500) during the summer. Catching one in October was definitely unexpected. For this trip, I was using my Dock Runner setup with a silver Kastmaster , and it didn’t take long before I was into some action. Along with the Wiper, I also managed to land a few nice Rainbow Trout . Garden City’s pond is a great little community fishery for all ages, offering easy access and plenty of opportunity for a quick bite — especially if you’re looking to get out and fish close to town. 🎥 Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/WbwcIsKTOIs 🎣 Tackle I Use: Sakana Baits SI Flies (Simcoe Bugs)