Ice fishing at Pineview Reservoir can be rewarding for the entire family. The panfish populations are doing very well, and anglers should expect to find great numbers of yellow perch, black crappie and bluegill this winter, along with an occasional largemouth bass or smallmouth bass. Yellow perch can be found 1–2 feet off the bottom in water 10–45 feet deep. Tungsten ice flies, small brightly colored UV jigs, vertical jigging lures or spoons — tipped with mealworms, waxworms or nightcrawlers — should entice fish to bite. Black crappie will generally be suspended 10–20 feet off the bottom — in or near structure — in 20–50 feet of water. A combination of dead-sticking and light jigging will entice a strike. A crappie’s bite can be extremely subtle. To maximize strike detection, use ice rod strike indicators or small floats, and pay close attention to the tightness of your fishing line. Anglers are encouraged to review the Utah State Parks ice safety guide. (Dec. 4, 2025)

According to the U.S. Forest Service, who manages the reservoir and adjacent shoreline, the following sites will be open to anglers this ice fishing season: Anderson Cove, Windsurfer, BOR/Salamander, Old Highway, Pelican Beach, Browning Point and the pullouts on state Route 39. Cemetery Point will also be open but only a small number of parking spots will be available. Port Ramp and Windsurfer Beach access points will both be closed as construction to improve the areas continues. More information on the closure and improvements can be found on the U.S. Forest Service website. While this might provide some short-term discomfort, we’re confident that once the USFS site upgrades and renovations are completed, Pineview Reservoir and its on-site amenities will be more enjoyable and accessible than ever before!