Have not been to Strawberry this year due to surgery but am finally ready to go.
Looking for opinions for an atv trip this Friday morning?
I have a 4x4 Grizzly I have set up for an ice fishing machine, no tracks, but don't really want to turn it in to an anchor.
Willing to go to either Soldier or Strawberry with the goal of at least one fish to avoid a skunking.
My goal was an ice koke this year but surgery set me back.
Willing to settle on anything.
Thanks.
[signature]
We hit the berry yesterday the 20th . Ice was good in the morning but was a little scary near the edges . In the afternoon it was getting soft most all over . Plenty of ice but the edges were a problem . The ice was in layers for a total of about 25 inches . It would be marginal for a 4x4. Fishing was slow . Three of us got 16 I 5 hours . Small was better than big. Gazillas in orange tipped with meal worm was the best . (12 of the 16) we had snow machine s, and fished of Haws point .
[signature]
We were up there Saturday west of the marina by the campgrounds. As mentioned, lots of ice, but there were layers and I found about 6-8 inches of frozen slush on top but then a huge pocket of water between that and the frozen bottom layers. IF it continues to deteriorate and that top layer gives way, you could be in trouble on a wheeler. You could actually hear the top layer melting later in the day but it was 60* Saturday when we left, and it is a bit cooler now. We also popped through the very edge when walking back to shore, we parked the RZR on the bank and didn't dare venture onto the ice with it but it is a heavy machine. I would have taken my wheelers out on Saturday, but the warmer it stays, the more I would question the future of ice fishing up there. If you have more than one wheeler to pull out the lead person if they get stuck then I say go for it, if you're alone, tread carefully. Fishing was also slow on Saturday
[signature]
I buddy and I were there this morning. I would strongly advise you not take an ATV up there. We were occasionally breaking through to the underlying slush layer by foot. I suspect an ATV would really struggle. Also, the edges are starting to fail in many areas.
[signature]
Shane we just got back from there today (21st) and the morning was good ice for a wheeler except for the edges. I stepped through in two spots and one of the sleds dropped the track through getting on. Didn't get very warm there today but on the way in (3:30) we kept trying to break through the slush later on the sleds. We made it fine, but on a wheeled vehicle I'm not sure. Fishing was good for two of us and medium for another and a skunk for the other 25-30 fish I imagine. 4-5 over 20" the rest were mid slot. Pretty sure that was the end of my ice season. Ice was 30" in one spot, 20 ish in another and open water in some spots. No black ice left in the one area and very little in the other. With cooler temps for the rest of the week you may be okay on Friday. Good luck. J
[signature]
Well, I know that no fish is worth losing a machine or life.
I appreciate all of your opinions, thank you.
What a bummer though, I have my wheeler and gear all loaded up in my truck and ready to go!
Tonight I will unload the ice gear and get the boat ready for Friday.
[signature]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Shane, I was the skunk Jeff mentioned. [frown][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]
[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]We had to stop a couple of times on the way back to the launch to correct some problems with one of the sleds I was towing. When I stepped off the snowmobile, I sunk through the shush up to mid calf in a couple of places. My snowmobile was also busting through intermittently while motoring as well.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]
[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]You will have a major problem getting on or off with an ATV in MHO and for sure you will have problems running an ATV anytime past Noon. I would not recommend it based on what we experienced yesterday afternoon.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]
[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I think you missed it for this season; sorry.[/#800000][/font]
[signature]
I was posting my reply to Jeff just as you were posting me. Thank you for your response.
At least I made it to Fish Lake two weeks ago.
Now Friday will be a DC or UL trip, at least I can get the cobwebs out of the boat and ready for Powell in 27 days!
[signature]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Heading down there myself on April 18th for 5 days on my buddies houseboat. [
][/#][/font]
[signature]
Sorry it didn't work out for your trip. Things are sure melting fast. But you probably made the right decision for a wheeled trip. Sleds may be okay for a little while, but it will be getting pretty tough going real soon. The open water in spots is scary for those that don't know the lake. Glad I went with folks that kept me out of trouble. Bob it was nice to visit, sorry you and I had a tough go with the fish. I never did catch a fish on Matts magic lure (Maniac ). All of mine were on the glow paddle bugs and they usually snuck up on me and were hooked before I knew they were even around. Anyway good luck to both of you on the new boat season. Later J
[signature]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Two snowmobiles went through the ice yesterday within 50 yards of where we were ice fishing on Strawberry on Tuesday. Man, that is scary as Hell. I think Strawberry is done for the season, or should be for anybody with a lick of sense.[/#800000][/font]
[signature]
I agree with you I'm done for the year. I knew the ice looked bad over there, but I didn't expect someone to go through it. Later J
[signature]