Hello, a friend and i are planning on going fishing on saturday, and was wondering if anyone could help us out. We was thinking of going to Newton, Willard Bay, or Strawberry, does anyone have any ice updates on any of these lakes, and what is the fishing like. If anyone could help out we would appreciate it. Thank You
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You may find walking on water just that at Willard. I can't comment on Newton as I have not been there. Strawberry on the other hand has plenty of water you can walk on. Fishing has been slow and spoty, They are bitting really light (very soft taps or bumps, more like mouthing the bait) so you have to pay close attention and be quick, or they will be gone! Good luck.
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I just got back from Newton,
the ice is about 6" thick on the boat ramp side. This was my first time ice fishing there so I am no expert, but I caught a half dozen bass and one very small perch in three hours. I was using a 1/4 oz. chartreuse jig with a 1"glow tube on bottom, and a bare hook about twelve inches above that with a piece of worm. I put a mealie on the jig. Most of the fish I caught were on the worm. I was fishing in about 15 ft of water and they were hanging out right on the bottom. I found that they would come up off of the bottom if you just rapidly jiggled the jig, then when they came up to look then I would hold it still and they would hit. I think that a different rig could have done better, but I just tried what I had.
If anyone has more tips on fishing the Newt, I would love to hear them.
Phopper
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Sounds like the ice at Newton is getting slightly thicker since when Predator, Kickinbass and I were there a couple weeks ago. Be careful if you go uplake, it took a long time to freeze up and ice thickness was varied last I checked a week ago (2.5 - 3" cloudy ice). Hopefully it will have thickened up because I'm hoping to be out there Saturday afternoon. As for lures 1/64 oz rat finkies small ice flys typically work good in chartruese, yellow, white, orange. Bait changes daily take waxies, crawlers, maggots. Place to fish depends on what you want to catch.
Fishnate
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Thanks for the info, sounds like you know the Newt. What other species can you catch there through the ice? I heard there is rainbow in there, but I haven't caught any there. Have you ever gone after the tigers through the ice there? Probably pretty slow fishing for them. Thanks again.
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Sorry about the delay in reply. Species in Newton include LM bass, bluegill, black crappie, green sunfish, channel cat, and T. musky. Rainbows were in there as of 3 years ago but I would be very surprized if any survived the low water/oxygen and high temps of the last two years. Iv'e never fished tigers there at all (I admit total insanity) but last spring I saw a few really nice ones cruising the shallows, unfortunately I was working and never got back after them. Perhaps I can lure someone over to show me how it's done on musky.
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Thanks Nate, I am sure it is tough to catch the cats and muskie through the ice, but can the rest be readily caught through the ice? Thanks again.
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PHOPPER
Also Lighten up on your lures,1/4 oz is too heavy for most the fish at Newton. When ice fishing,realize most of the fish lift the jig when they bite,if they feel that heavy weight they spit it quick.I suggest 1/32 or lighter up there.
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HFT, Thanks for the advice, it makes a difference, I went back on saturday with some small ratfinkees and daredevils in about that size and it helped. I didn't catch as many fish, but I had my family with me. My 4 year old and my wife both were able to catch fish. Thanks again
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