In the heart of Wyoming, where winters usually hit hard and fast, this year's fishing scene tells a different story. Anglers across the state are facing an unusual holdup – major bodies of water like Boysen Reservoir and Flaming Gorge are still wide open in early December, pushing back the beloved ice fishing season by weeks, if not a full month. For guys who live for drilling holes in the ice and pulling up trophies through the frozen surface, it's a frustrating wait. But there's a silver lining: open water fishing is firing on all cylinders right now, offering solid action that could tide over even the most impatient fishermen until the real freeze sets in.
Take Boysen Reservoir in Fremont County, for example. Normally, by Thanksgiving, folks are already out there on the ice at Boysen Creek, dropping lines and hauling in catches. Not this time around. "Every year, somebody has been fishing at Boysen Creek by Thanksgiving, except for this year," said John Bass, the superintendent at Boysen State Park. He pointed out that while a few hardy souls are ice fishing at the very south end of the reservoir, nabbing walleye, crappie, perch, and the occasional sauger, that's about it. The rest of the massive body of water remains unfrozen, with no quick change in sight. Bass figures it'll stay that way for a bit longer, given the mild conditions that have dominated the fall and early winter.
Down in southwest Wyoming, Flaming Gorge Reservoir – that big draw for anglers from both Wyoming and Utah – is in the same boat. It's a prime spot for ice fishing derbies, but patience is the name of the game this season. Tony Valdez, who runs Buckboard Marina, explained that the water had skimmed over with a thin layer of ice in spots not long ago, but warmer temps and winds blew it all away. "I think we’re about a month behind" on the full freeze-up, he said. With forecasts calling for relatively warm and windy weather over the next 10 days or so, don't expect to break out the augers anytime soon. Still, Valdez and Bass aren't sweating the big events. Those major ice fishing derbies, set for late January and February, should have plenty of solid ice by then. And even if patches of open water linger on Flaming Gorge, it won't spoil the fun – "We’ve had people who have fished from boats in patches of open water during our derbies for the last three years," Valdez noted.
It's not all bad news for those itching to wet a line. Smaller lakes and ponds in southeast Wyoming have already locked up thanks to some cold snaps, like the one that dropped Laramie to 11 degrees below zero recently. Meteorologist Don Day out of Cheyenne confirmed that these spots are offering at least some early ice action. But for the bigger reservoirs, the weather's been a rollercoaster. "We will be vacillating back and forth between cold and warm temperatures, and not persistently cold enough, long enough" to freeze them solid until later in the month, Day explained. He predicts the real shift won't come until Christmas week and the first days of the new year, when consistent cold should finally take hold. Looking ahead, there's no sign that the derby season will suffer – "There’s no indication that they won’t have ice for those derbies," Day assured.
While waiting for that ice to thicken, open water fishing is turning out to be a real highlight. At Flaming Gorge, the bite is hot, especially for those smaller lake trout that Valdez calls "pups." These fish, typically 25 inches and under, are aggressive right now and make for excellent table fare. Wildlife officials in Wyoming and Utah have lifted creel limits on non-trophy-sized lake trout – anything 28 inches or smaller – and there's no bag limit on burbot either. The move aims to curb these predators from decimating the reservoir's prized kokanee salmon population. Burbot, often dubbed "the poor man’s lobster," can be a tasty reward too, though Valdez warns that the smaller ones aren't worth the effort. "A 16-inch burbot is like a snake. Like an eel; there’s not much meat on them," he said.
Of course, with great fishing comes a need for caution, especially when it comes to what's on the menu. Many of these lake trout and burbot carry mercury, a leftover from nearby energy operations. Valdez recommends checking the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's regulations for guidelines on safe consumption levels. Certain folks, like the elderly or women who are pregnant or thinking about it, should steer clear altogether to avoid any risks.
Safety on the ice is another big concern this unusual year. Bass stressed that anglers can't assume the ice is thick just because the calendar says it's winter. "Everybody needs to be aware, don’t take for granted thickness of the ice in a certain area, just because it’s a certain time of year," he advised. With the warm fall lingering into early winter, ice conditions can vary wildly from one spot to another, and from year to year. It's a reminder to always check thickness personally – drill test holes, measure carefully, and err on the side of caution to avoid any mishaps.
For Wyoming anglers, this delayed start to ice fishing might feel like a curveball, but it's also a chance to savor the extended open water season. Whether targeting those eager pups at Flaming Gorge or sneaking in some early ice time on smaller southeast ponds, there's still plenty of action to be had. As the holidays approach and colder weather finally settles in, the stage is set for what could be a stellar derby run come January. In a state where fishing is more than a hobby – it's a way of life – this thaw is just a temporary detour on the road to frozen glory.
