Fishing Forum

I learned a lot on our trip to catch lakers and burbot at Flaming Gorge. Many of the obvious ones are items that I already know but was reminded of. I know it is a long list but some of the specifics would have been very helpful to know beforehand and I hope this will help someone else. You may also want to read it for the slight humor in spots. Frowny faces are for mistakes and failures we (mainly me) made on the trip. Smiley faces are things we did right. The unmarked ones were okay/neutral.
1. Make a plan before you go
2. Take the plan with you []
3. Learn all you can about fishing there
4. Buy a variety of lures, plastics and jigs
5. Be sure to take them with you []
6. You really only need a couple of colors: 2.5-3.5" tube jigs in white, white with speckles, and chartreuse; and 3.5 or 4" Yamamoto curly-tail grubs in white
7. Tip everything with sucker or chub meat
8. Frozen sucker meat is flaky and hard to get/keep on a hook
9. You can use the same lures for both lakers and burbot
10. Make sure that all your lures and jigs glow
11. Take a UV light and be sure to recharge the lures often
12. Take white, pink and green jig heads in 3/8 and 1/2 oz.
13. Be sure to tie your lures on very well []
14. You can use brighter lures in the morning and white in the afternoon
15. Don't try to pull a fish out of the hole while your partner is trying to grab it []
16. Go with good people []
17. Check the weather--know what to expect
18. Dress in layers and take more than you think you need
19. Fighting your way through 4 flies while doing the dance is an adventure
20. Go prepared to stay out all night: tent, cot, sleeping bag, heaters, plenty of fuel; or, a camper
21. Sleeping in a cold metal chair all night is not that much fun even if it is a good way to catch burbot (when you are awake, which is most of the time) []
22. Marginal heat is no fun []
23. Propane won't flow when it's too cold
24. Nils auger paired with a Milwaukee Fuel drill is excellent at making holes []
25. Wear socks and boots that will keep your feet warm and dry in sub-zero temperatures [] (even if you have reduced capillary circulation from getting frostbit toes while chasing elk all over the mountain until it was too late) []
26. You don't have to go far out to find good fishing []
27. Ask locals about fishing the lake and take their advice []
28. You can get your reciprocal permit at Walmart in Evanston
29. You have to have a recreation area permit to park in developed areas like Buckboard Marina
30. You can get the permits at Ace Hardware in Green River
31. Ace Hardware has a fishing department stocked with what you need []
32. The things that are sold out are what you need [] (mostly)
33. The restroom near the lake is nice to have
34. You aren't likely to catch huge fish so don't go overboard with too-heavy gear
35. Rig up all your rods before you leave home
36. Although you can fish with 6 rods, 2 is all you might use: one jigging and one deadsticking
37. Check with others to see what success they have had and share back
38. Take some hand warmers []
39. Be aware that your drinks will freeze and go prepared to keep them "warm" []
40. Same for live bait (which you don't even need anyhow) []
41. It's not a HUGE DEAL to fish at FG--just ice fishing with a longer drive
42. Sharing the trip with others keeps costs low and is more fun
43. The laker fishing is better in the morning
44. The lakers are not always on the bottom so fish the whole column especially if you locate them on your flasher
45. You don't have to have a "laker rod" with big reels and heavy line to catch pups
46. Tip-ups will freeze in their holes overnight and are difficult to get out []
47. Get in shape before you go--pull your own weight
48. Be patient with yourself, others, the process, and the fishing
49. Buy a map
50. Know the roads and their conditions
51. Know the rules and regulations
52. Put your name on your rods
53. Take tire chains and a tow strap, etc.
54. Take extra hats, gloves, and socks
55. Try to take a tent that is big enough for everyone in your party to get into
56. Take a towel and/or paper towels to wipe off slime and dry hands
57. Take some garbage bags
58. Make sure your electronics don't cause interference with others
59. It's hard to bend over and put on your boots if you are too fat []
60. There is cell phone service most everywhere
61. Be happy for others' success; no jealousy; no one likes a braggart []
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Excellent list! Thanks for the great advice!!
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You must be a very slow learner at your age to learn that much stuff on a 3 hour trip to the gorge.I would of hope you had already learned to watch the weather before you make that dangerous drive,maybe you need to make a list on what lakes are safe to drive to.LOL
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Well done.
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That is a very organized list.. where did you learn such organization? J/k I have a pretty good idea. Now if you printed this so don’t forget it and hang it on your fridge.
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You might have missed this statement: "Many of the obvious ones are items that I already know but was reminded of."

I'm bouncing this to the top because I'm making plans to go again. Plus I thought it might help some others. This year I want to figure out if we can get a cot in the shelter so we can take turns sleeping/resting/warming up.
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What was the ice situation up there? Where is there safe ice on the lake?
Thanks.
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I've heard some rumors of the Blacks Fork arm has some ice, but no personal knowledge of it... Maybe a local could PM you and let you know... Trent or Ryan are good possibilities of some that might let you know... For sure the time of year to use ultra caution down there.. Good luck... Jeff
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I was just up at my brother in laws in Evanston. Asked him about Gorge ice. He has not been yet, but said some bays (like the black Smith confluence) are slightly iced and cold forecast should hasten the cap, but limited opportunities right now
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Reading this, Now I know why I don't Ice fish.
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Ksl outdoors did a show about Flaming Gorge last night. I believe they were near Firehole
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This is an old thread from last February. I haven't been yet this year, just trying to plan for it. I have it from a reliable source that there was 4" ice recently in some bays at the north end, from Firehole up and that they have started fishing up there.
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Yeah, Ryno has been in touch with me already. We may try to go on the 27-28 and with the cold weather we should be able to find good ice by then. If that doesn't work out we'll try January. We just want to get there when it's not bitter cold and before the burbot bash.
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Yeah I got a lesson I had forgotten about cold on Saturday. Guess I’ve been too used to mild days on the ice and I just got reminded why I take a tent with me. I sat out in the open until I got cold, then the tent alone wasn’t enough to warm me up so I had to get my heater out of the truck to get warm. They sure make nice gear these days. Love my buddy heater. That Nanook is wonderful too. Good luck on your trip it sounds like fun. Later Jeff
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As of last Friday the lake was partially capped down to the Confluence. There was still a mix of ice and open water down there. Ice above there had thickened with about 3-4 inches around Sage Creek and 5-7 inches at Firehole. It's been really cold the last couple of days/nights in Flaming Gorge country and it was even -13F in Rock Springs this morning. Ice will continue to grow with calm winds and highs below the freeze mark, so it can change daily and this is probably already "old news".

Hope that helps, Ryno
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Ya, my Brother in laws info was out dated. Amazing how fast things change. I got a nearly identical report this morning and photos of Burbot in the bucket. So there is fishable ice.
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Just watched a video Ryno did on burbot fishing and at the end there was some info pages about having your name on each rod or tip up if your using more then one rod as part of the Wyoming rules
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Thanks for the update Ryan... Sounds like it's starting to get there. Thank you... Jeff
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Best . . . list . . . ever!
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I try. But then when you have ADD you have to record things or they are gone. []
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