Crowds of visitors lining the shores, boating and jet skiing over the cool waters on hot summer days are long forgotten on this cold, quiet winter morning in February. With the sun rising slowly over snow-covered hills, three men load up sleds of fishing tackle, poles, an ice auger, snacks and drinks and set out to pull their gear over a half mile of the now frozen surface of Deer Creek Reservoir.

Dragging heavy sleds over snow and ice with the temperature down around five degrees doesn't appeal to many as a pleasant way to spend one's Sunday morning. For Shane Malin of Taylorsville, his father Mike Malin of Murray and their longtime friend and fishing companion Brent Hardy of Kearns, the early start, long drive and long haul over Deer Creek was a worthy sacrifice for fishing on the beautiful day that was slowly dawning.

With 15 inches of solid ice covering the reservoir, the three men confidently make their way out to a favorite spot to fish for the brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout swimming below. The group has made trips out on ice as thin as 4 inches even though Shane doesn't like it and sticks close to the shore.

"Four inches of solid ice should hold a 400 pound guy easy," Mike said.

"That's why we always send [Shane] out first," joked Brent.

According to Rick Redmon, Deer Creek State Park manager, you can never be too sure about your own safety when out on the ice.

"Ice can vary greatly in thickness; there may be 6 inches in one area but less than 1 inch just a few feet away."

Redmon also reminds visitors to steer clear of thick, blue, clear ice, and to avoid areas where there are streams, brush or open water.

"If the ice at the shoreline is thin, cracked or soggy, stay off."

After reaching their lucky spot, Hardy, with the gas-powered ice auger, drilled a few holes and the fishing lines were dropped into the dark, frigid waters below. Then the waiting game began.

Trekking across the ice along with many layers of clothing helped keep the three experienced fishers warm, and luckily, as the sun rose in the clear blue sky, so did the temperature. But for some time there was no sign from the fish below except one bite on Shane's line, and soon the group's confidence in their lucky fishing spot began to drop.

"Usually someone will pick something up pretty quick like that bite right there and that'll get everyone enthused," said Shane, as he watched his line for more movement.

"You can usually judge a spot by how quick they hit."

So the waiting game continued, each man standing at his hole keeping a close eye on his fishing line, waiting for any movement caused by a curious fish. Patience is key when fishing, with or without the ice and freezing temperatures, but when that first catch comes along the peace and quiet of the wait is shattered by excited yelling and rushing for the pole.

"We don't run near as fast at work as when we get a bite on the ice," Mike said.

So it happened for Shane, after a good hour of waiting, when his line got a second bite and he managed to hook the fish by giving the line a quick jerk upwards, finally reeling in the first catch of the day. Mike knelt by the hole in the ice and reached in to flip the fish out of the water on to the snow. No need for an icebox out there.

A beautiful, 18-inch rainbow trout was the first catch and soon the activity picked up and lines began to get bites left and right. Within the next two hours, the three men caught a total of eight rainbow trout from just three of their six original holes.

"We usually bet $5 for the biggest, $5 for the most," said Mike, "but I got tired of taking their money all the time."

A take home limit of four fish per person meant letting the smaller catches slip back through the ice to swim away, leaving the men with five dazzlingly colorful trout after only a couple of hours out on the ice.

Having made a good catch, the worry of a poor day faded and the group soon relaxed in the sunshine, enjoyed snacks and drinks, watched for deer on the nearby hillside, talked and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the winter wonderland surrounding them.

Deer Creek Reservoir may be frozen and quiet in the winter time, but it still provides enjoyment for those who brave the cold early mornings for a day fishing on the ice.

Redmon estimates there tends to be 20 to 30 anglers out on the reservoir during weekdays and close to 200 or more coming out to enjoy a day of fishing and the beauty surrounding Deer Creek on the weekends.

"You get up here, get your [fishing] pole in the ice and forget your troubles about everything else," Mike said.

"You get up here and it's a peace of mind."