Anyone remember when we used to have so much cold and nastiness before January that the once in a blue moon January thaw was a real treat? Man this year without a real freeze up, I'm thinking a January thaw could mean the end of an ice season that never started... Strange times we're living in for sure... Half of me enjoys the nicer weather for living in, but it sure bites to ice fish... Hoping for a January freeze this year... Later J
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Flaming gorge ice? I don't think it's going to happen. Every day I get online and look at the 10 day forecast, and everyday a little piece of me dies inside as I realize that the burbot bash and burbot classic probably aren't happening this year for this boatless angler. Then I hear the weather channel ominously warn of the worst winter in a generation and realize they don't have their facts straight.
This is a strange strange year.
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Hey I'm with you on that 10 day forecast, it's not looking good for this year... I know February can quickly turn to too warm, so January is usually my only hope and the ten day doesn't look promising... Not many years when you don't have good ice in January... Guess we did get a few more ponds fishing now, but it's a small sample compared to usual and most of them are questionable on how much gear you dare take with you... due to ice thickness being not much over 4"..... Mountain snow looks awful thin as well... Guess I better keep my boat ready for Bear Lake cisco this year, pretty sure it won't be on ice... Later J
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[#0000FF]I gave up ice fishing a couple of years ago. So being able to launch my tube sooner is okay by me. I don't have an auger big enough to launch the tube so I am happy with being able to find soft water.
Sorry drillin' dudes.
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Looks like I should have saved that ice gear money and put into a new toon, so I don't have to worry about sinking 9-10 months of the year... Silly skunkie, should have had a better crystal ball I guess... Later J
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Now this has me thinking. Has anyone been brave/stupid enough to fish for burbot from a float tube in January? I have a Dave Scadden Air Craft float tube ( weighed 8 lbs without the attachable seat out of the box, over double than advertised), that keeps me out of the water for the most part. If I tape 20 disposable hand warmers on my legs I could possibly survive. I am guess ice on the reel and rod would make it a pretty short evening though.
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[#0000FF]Boaters have been doing well on the camo eels. They seem to score a bunch every year before the ice anglers get a shot at them. So I'm betting that if you found a good area and dressed "for the occasion" you could get a few.
It's all about creative layering. I fish from my tube until iceup and as soon as the ice comes off in the spring. I have kicked around in water only a couple of degrees above freezing and stayed reasonably comfortable...at least below the water line. Above the water you have wind chill factors and all that stuff.
Wish the Gorge was a bit closer and I would definitely go afloat on it my own self. More guts than brains.
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2016 was a very short ice fishing season. I invited a family ice fishing and the father said he would like to wait another week for the ice to get a little thicker. In one week, the ice was gone! Short season!
If that is going to happen again, my latest addition to my ice fishing equipment will make it possible for me to fish where there is good ice even if that has to be out of state. But, I have an annual pass for our State Parks and want to use it for ice fishing here.
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I think wind becomes the limiting factor. I've taken my toon to Bear Lake on open years after the Cisco but if there's any wind it's a no go for me in the toon and then I don't dare go very far out in case the w shows up. So I'd say possible but limited window. The cold isn't as much of a factor as you'd think. Like TD said with a few layers you can stay warm. Be careful if you try it. Be careful not too stay out too long, sometimes I've gotten colder than I realized and body parts start to cramp and not work as expected. Bad part was I really didn't think I was that cold. Later J
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Last year ended like that on Bear Lake as well. I knew it was close to over on Saturday, and kept getting worse so Tuesday I took off and fished it. That night it cleared. Got my best fish of the year that day. Got to go while you can. Later J
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I'm dying to know, what new piece of gear is going to help you fish good ice any easier?
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Out of state good ice, if need be! But, I hope we will have a good ice fishing season here in Utah.
Well, I meant the same latest addition you know about as opposed to a new latest addition.
It's fun to drive. I've been pushing it hard. Just tonight I lost traction launching it up from a steep hillcrest curve that I've been playing with that's not a public road and has no traffic. I need to watch out for that! Yep, even with the best tires, there is no traction at all when you're airborne! My intended turn didn't take effect until the wheels touched down on the pavement and then it easily made the necessary hard turn.
That reminded me of my days of skiing the moguls in ways no one would dare while appropriately singing the scarecrow song from Wizard of Oz. Good thing I'm not fragile!
Nothing new since our previous conversations in the group. It's the car with the snow tires.
If I need to drive out of state to ice fish, then I will. Lakes are freezing up somewhere. That wasn't practical with my old van.
I'll also drive to a coast for surf fishing and I did buy the sand tires, too. They have an amazing large footprint.
I can't think of anything else I will need in equipment, but I will find a surf fishing guide.
Still the tracked vehicles you have fun with are best for off-road challenging deep soft snow. I'm trying to have some of that fun with the vehicle that drives on the road to get to fun places being the same vehicle I drive off-road once there.
If I'm wrong, it does have a trailer hitch.
I expect, with my inexperience, I will learn what I can and can't do with it in snow, so I have a come along and a tow strap and full size square end shovel and plenty of food in the back and the fitness to do a lot of shoveling. I'll learn what's possible and what isn't.
Ronald
Gotcha, that is a very nice vehicle you have.
I was hoping you found some new miracle ice fishing tool to guide me to monster perch!
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I always thought those monster perch just came to you when you showed up... Didn't think you needed any magic tool to do it for you... They probably hear your tracks a coming and follow to where you decide to drill a hole... Bet you love that machine you have? Sure looks like a sweet ride... Hope we get enough ice so you can enjoy it a bunch this year... Later J
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All those layers great till I have to pee and that is getting more and more frequent as time goes on.
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Yup that wintertime relief is not easy to find. I'm doing the dehydration approach. Doesn't work very well but it relieves the pain a bit. I guess the tent and a trucker bomb might work but I need an extension. In a tube you're sort of out of luck. Well best of luck!!! Later J
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[quote PACMEN]All those layers great till I have to pee and that is getting more and more frequent as time goes on.[/quote]
[#0000FF]Add one more layer..."Depends".[/#0000FF]
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[quote PACMEN]All those layers great till I have to pee and that is getting more and more frequent as time goes on.[/quote][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]They're called UCDs and are available on Amazon at this link:[/#800000][/font] [url "https://www.amazon.com/Portable-External-Collection-Device-Elderly/dp/B017N55UN6"]UCD[/url]. [
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Had a good day on Deer Creek yesterday after we got that pesky ice broke up and pushed out of the way for the decoys. Tons of mallards, widgeon, and teal still hanging around.
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