I'm wanting to head up to Soldier Creek this weekend and was just looking for some conditions. Does anyone know how the ice is and how far they plow the road from US 40 towards the dam. As you can see I have never fished this area during the winter so any help would be appreciated. Thanks
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We're thinking about doing the same...unless you can still safely fish Echo or Rockport
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Does anyone know how the ice is and how far they plow the road from US 40 towards the dam.
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Maybe 200 feet, just enough to create a parking lot on US 40. The ice should be plenty safe and don't know about slush.
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A week ago there was 12-inches of ice & 10-12 inches of snow on top of the ice.
as Kent stated, they only plow the parking lot & you will not get down the east side road as the snow & drifts are way to deep without a snow machine. Some folks hike off the side near the parking area and access the ice. It probably would be a somewhat difficult hike with the amount of snow this year; however, I am not sure.
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So it does not get plowed anywhere close to the dam? Dang I was hoping to get further south on that road then that. Does anybody know what is working well and what depths they are at?
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Can you get down to the marina to park? It looks like we're hitting up SC as well and I'm trying to figure out where to park with the least amount of hiking
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You can drive to the Strawberry Bay Marina.
You can not drive to the SC Marina & it may be late in the spring before we do; unless someone plows the road. I haven't seen this much snow since the 1980's.
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I'm finished with strawberry bay marina, to many people and I have been skunked the last couple time I have been there. I'm hoping soldier creek is better and less people so I don't have to completely abandone the strawberry area during winters. Does anybody know the best depth to start fishing at?
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i have not hit soldier creek this year, but I have fished it a lot in the past two years. The road going down to the soldier creek marina is not plowed and not open to cars. There always seems to be one person that tries though and gets stuck up to the axles. You will have to get to the turn off early to find a place to park and then hike down to the lake. Down is no problem...it is up that will make your legs burn. I have taken a four wheeler down to the solider Creek marina in the past on the road and had a lot of success down there all my myself, but even with a four wheeler there were times when I was in slush so thick that it was hard to get out. I would want a snow machine/sled to try it again.
As far as depth goes, I just use the electronics to tell me that. The fun thing about Soldier Creek is that the water is clear enough to fish it by sight. Here is a video I posted a while ago fishing by just looking down the hole and watching the fish come in.
We usually use tube jigs or paddle bugs tipped with a worm. Try green or white.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZWrff66c1o
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