Learn How to Float and Fish

[WB Staff]

Float tubes, pontoons and kayaks focus of free seminar

Salt Lake City -- You don't need a big, expensive boat to get on the water and catch fish. Float tubes, pontoons and kayaks are less expensive alternatives. And they're fun to use.

On June 18, you can learn how to fish from these hand-launched watercraft at a free seminar in Salt Lake City.

The seminar runs from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Department of Natural Resources, 1594 W. North Temple. Utah's Blue Ribbon Fisheries Advisory Council and the Division of Wildlife Resources are sponsoring the event.

If you can't attend the seminar in person, you can watch it live on your computer. To watch it live, paste this link— http://bit.ly/1BMGGad— into your Web browser on the evening of June 18.

If you can't attend or watch on June 18, the DWR has you covered there too. A recording of the seminar should be posted on the DWR's YouTube channel by June 19. Once it's posted, you can watch it at http://www.youtube.com/UDWR .

What you'll learn

Paul Birdsey, coldwater sport fisheries coordinator for the DWR, says in addition to getting you off the shoreline and out to the fish, float tubes, pontoons and kayaks provide some unique advantages you won't find in larger boats.

"For one," he says, "your fishing experience will be quieter. There's something serene about paddling or kicking a watercraft across the water. And you can often get these watercraft into areas motorized boats can't reach.

"And, on top of that," he says, "they're a lot less expensive to buy, own and operate."

Four anglers who have years of experience fishing from these watercraft—Birdsey, DWR Regional Fisheries Biologist Chris Penne, John Schultz with the Strawberry Angler's Association and float tube angler Pat Scouten, also known as TubeDude to those who frequentwww.bigfishtackle.com—will present the seminar. The following are among the topics they'll cover:

· How to turn your tube, pontoon or kayak into a "fish-catching" machine

· How to catch various species while fishing from tubes, pontoons and kayaks

· Tips and tricks for catching fish at specific waters, including Utah Lake and Strawberry Reservoir

After the presentations, you can ask the presenters questions. And you can also see modified float tubes, pontoons and kayaks that will be on display.

If you have questions about the seminar, call the DWR's Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700.