“Hard water” season safe if you use common sense

The open-water fishing in Colorado is still very good — some of the best of the season, in fact.

But the recent cold weather sends a message that soon most boat ramps will be closing and many lakes are beginning to freeze. I’m already hearing a buzz from anglers anxious to head out on the ice.

Since moving to Colorado more than 30 years ago, I have watched ice fishing gain in popularity to the point where hundreds of thousands of anglers now head out on the hard water in our state.

There are myriad reasons. Anglers have access to water they can’t reach in open water. It allows them to keep fishing year round. And the catch rate is much higher through the ice than during open water.

To accommodate this growing group of enthusiasts, every year about this time on my radio show we do a several week series, “The Masters of Ice Fishing,” that features many of the most accomplished ice anglers in North America. We started this year with the man who revolutionized the sport, “Mr. Ice Fishing” Dave Genz.

Decades ago, Genz led the charge from large wooden shelters or sitting on a bucket to the portable ice huts that are so common today. He also introduced ice anglers to the use of electronics to improve their success rate.

I asked Genz what he believed were some of the most recent advances that have moved the sport along. He immediately responded “electric augers.”

Genz has long been a proponent of staying mobile until you find active fish. His mantra has always been, “If it’s not easy to move, you won’t.” He went on to remark that the new electric augers were light, easy to use and had greatly improved battery technology.

Another category Genz said is constantly improving was clothing. Modern clothing can keep you warm and comfortable in some of the coldest conditions.

Clam’s “Ice Armour” line of apparel is a great example. Not only does it have improved breathability and flexibility, it features an entire line just for women. Also, many of the modern ice-fishing garments, like the Clam “Rise,” have built-in flotation to aid you in the event you fall through the ice.