Ice anglers of all ages spent a day fishing at Horsethief Reservoir during the Ninth Annual Youth Ice Fishing Day on Jan. 20. The event was hosted by the nonprofit group, Idaho Youth Outdoors, to provide the families, especially youth, with a chance to enjoy Idaho and the many exciting adventures the great outdoors provides. Idaho Fish and Game, among many others, is a partner in the event.
"It's a family friendly event, and we take care of all their needs to get them started fishing," organizer Sean Cluff said.
The event is held annually, typically around the second weekend in January, Cluff said. People can get details at the Youth Outdoors website.
It's a great event that not only attracts new ice anglers, but also people who have never fished before.
Novice and expert anglers are treated to a day of fishing, and a small army of volunteers provides bait and tackle, drills holes in the ice, and even cooks and cleans the trout they catch. And if they didn't catch any, or decided to take them home, there were free hot dogs, too.
With a deal like that, it's no wonder the crowd looked like this and people enjoyed a day of fishing and having fun on the frozen reservoir.
CAPTION: Ice anglers flock to HorsethiefHundreds of ice anglers flocked to Horsethief Reservoir for the Ninth Annual Youth Ice Fishing Day Jan. 20.
Geared up and ready to hit the ice to go fishing.
Volunteers drill holes so the anglers can start fishing, and they take care of many other chores during the event.
Sophia Earl of McCall and Jill Marolf of McCall wait for a fish to bite.
Dabe Bertulis and Bianca Bertulis, both of Eagle, get ready to catch a fish through the ice.
Brothers Bradyn (with fish) and Bryce Sibbett of Star show a trout caught at Horsethief Reservoir.
Fresh trout fillets caught from the reservoir are ready to eat.
Landon Nestor of Fruitland enjoys a trout fillet from a fish he caught minutes earlier at Horsethief Reservoir.
Grandpa Dave Johnson of Middleton with granddaughter, Zuri Smith and grandson Archer Smith.
Hot dogs and hot cocoa keeps the ice anglers warm and happy.