Hello from the newest noob! (Also help me get some LD kids on fish please?)

[mvtoro]

Just signed up and wanted to say hi to everybody on here.

I've been a fly fishing guide (very part-time now) for about a decade and more recently have gotten in to ice fishing, but I dig it.  Found a good deal on an Eskimo 949, power auger, and a few rods and jigs etc. a few years back from a guy who got it all being sponsored to fish the burbot tourney at Flaming Gorge, used it once, and didn't want it anymore.

Now I'm a Recreation Therapist, which means I do therapy with people through recreation as my modality. Specifically I work with kids with learning disabilities and especially those who are very high functioning on the autism spectrum. I've taken them out ice fishing the last three winters and most of them love it! 

I hate to be the guy who asks for all the information his first time posting, but  I just found this forum today as I was looking for an answer to this question:

Where is there safe ice and hopefully good fishing within a few hours of Park City? 

Safe ice is a must of course, and fishing quality less important, but I'd really like to get these kids into some action. Sometimes if the first experience isn't a good one, they never want to try it again.  But if they get into fish, even kids who thought they never wanted to do it are hooked.

I promise as I learn more I'll become a contributor!

[muskyon46]

Welcome to the shanty mvtoro, all the lakes are starting to cap right now with the cold we've been having. Safest ice is going to be scofield right now if your taking a bunch of kiddos out. If the weather holds this low you will have alot more options in about a week

[Lowens110]

From park city you could get to wyoming and hit the gorge here as quick as you could fish Scofield. Some of the lakes near evanston are fishable as well. Check wyoming pages too your only 50 min from evanston

[hooffish]

Welcome

[anglure]

Just wanna say," Welcome to The Shanty " !  Wish I could help with the location question but not my kneck of the woods . Keep up the good work with the kids and hope you all have many tugs and tight lines !!!

[mvtoro]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I hadn't even thought about Wyoming, but it would be pretty close. I live down in Spanish Fork and I'm usually starting here, but starting at Park City puts me closer to Wyoming than Scofield this time.

[Geezer_]

Welcome Mvtoro  ! Right now from Spanish Fork Scofield is your best bet for the kids. They would be mainly catching Chub but they would be catching. If you have the time you could take them to Otter Creek down south about 3 hours. Yesterday the ice was 6 to 8 inches at the park, fishing was slow. But they have a better than average chance of landing a nice 2 lb Bow. Be sure to share your kids fishing pictures. Good luck...

[JiggerDan]

Welcome to the shanty! Lots of info here!

[tomertim]

I would agree with the Schofield trip.

When it's solid I always end up taking my kids to Rockport. 

[Owens222]

That sounds awesome, I'm sure those kids love it.

[mvtoro]

Thanks for the help guys!  Took three kids to fish Strawberry at the Marina fishing about 15 feet of water.  We were in the pop-up and I made it nice and dark inside so they could see down to their jigs on or near the bottom and see the fish coming up to inspect and take their lures. That made it pretty exciting for them even though everyone only caught one or two fish.

All were cutthroats and pretty respectable in size.

Several different things worked: White Paddle bug (1/32) tipped with Meal Worm,  Chartreuse Paddle Bug tipped with PB, Nightcrawler on a ratfinkee, One kid even hooked a fish with a chunk of red vine licorice on his hook. Lots of fun. It was exciting to hook some bigger cutties too.  Last time out (two years ago) I took the kids to fish at the Ladders and we only got little stocker bows.

Anyway, thanks again!  I'll hang around.

[muskyon46]

That looks like a great day, good on you for getting those kids out. Definitely making memories for all  Happy New Year

[YANKS1977]

I have found that Pineview Reservoir is one of the best places to take new kids to catch fish through the ice.  The perch in the reservoir are very easy to catch and they are typically active.  I am not sure of the ice thickness at this point.
Strawberry is a great location to catch larger fish, but it is a bit harder on kids because of the wind and colder temperatures.  Also, the bite at Strawberry is sporadic.

[mvtoro]

Thanks, YANKS.  We'll have to go check that out!