I hiked up to Lower Bells to do some ice fishing, last week there was 10-11 feet of water and a good 9 inch thick of ice. I arrive only to find the water services opened up the drain and damn near drained the entire reservoir. There was big chunks of ice allover the shoreline and 2-3 inches of ice all around the edges. I found one spot to get out onto some of the thicker ice and drilled about 10 holes in various spots around the res only to find 1-2 feet deep of water.
Last week it was 10+ and now it's 2-. This has to be stressing the fish in there. If they don't get the levels up to a safe area I can only expect some winter kill and stunted cutts.
Lousy water folks.
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[pirate]Dang, that really sucks, Craig. Your favorite local spot, and they've drained the thing like a bathtub. What a bummer. We'll have to get you into some HUGE Cut's this weekend to help cheer you up! If we can make it up there. I think I'm packing the chains just in case...
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I will be in touch sooner than later, Polokid has offered to drive in his SUV so if you follow us up we can make sure you don't get stuck.
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Yeah, that really sucks. The fishing was actually decent before they drained it. Hopefully them cutts make it.
Anthony
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No doubt, how was Tibble?
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That's really too bad. Whoever manages the water up there needs beaten about the head and neck! If it is only that deep, the cutts will not only be stressed, they will die. That much water can't carry enough oxygen for very long.
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I agree completely. Sad day for me because this is one of my favorite fishing holes. I walked around and looked for signs of fish in the creek and there were none to be seen.
The ones that do survive will clearly be stunted.
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Didn't hit tibble. Figured I wouldn't have too much time to fish before the sun set, so I'm gonna wait to go up there til saturday. Can anyone tell me if the road is plowed up to the reservoir?
I don't really think they will stunt. How do these fish make it through every other winter? some have been in there for awhile because they are over ten inches, and I think as long as that creek keeps running in there they will have enough oxygen to survive. i could be wrong though. I think I'm gonna hit this place today and see if its any better than last week. I was really wondering why I could see the bottom everywhere I drilled a hole last week. Pray for the best.
Anthony
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Be careful getting out onto the safe ice. I went thru on the edge by the drain.
I had to walk around to the far south side of the res to get onto safe ice. I think they are stunted already actually. It was quite over populated with them finicky cutts.
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[cool]Cool! Let me know what time, and where you two wanna meet at. Also, is it o.k. if I bring a non-bft'r friend along? He's cool, I promise. Lookin' forward to it! Gonna go by the petstore in a little bit to get a bunch of mealies!
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The more the merrier. We are meeting @ 5:30 AM @ the Dan's Grocery off of 2000 East and 7000 South (Fort Union) Its just off I-215 2000 East exit heading east then hang a right (South) and drive through 2 lights. Its on the North East corner.
5:30 AM Sharp, the early morning bite is the best time to land one of those big ones.
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