Fishing Forum

Finally made it back to the Berry. All of these storms have made it difficult to get up there for my weekly fix. We arrived to the marina at 6:45 to light snow falling and 0 degree's. There is more snow up there right now than I have ever seen. Most of the marina area was a untouched white blanket of snow without any footprints or snowmobile tracks.

We packed our sleds light and strapped on the snowshoes preparing for the worst. We were not disappointed. There is about 24 inches of really powdery snow on top of the ice. Even in snowshoes it is very difficult walking. The snow is so powdery that even with snowshoes you sink 14 or 15 inches. Without snowshoes you sink in past the knee in some places. The good news is there is only about 3 inches of slush, and its so far down there that on most steps you don't sink that far. With another storm heading our way on sunday with another foot or so of snow forcast, who knows what will happen with the slush.

We walked a long way and that took up some precious fishing time. We finally wet a line about 8 after clearing snow and drilling through about 16-18 inches of clear hard ice. No fish on the finder initially but they came around soon enough. A lot of drive by's today that would come off the bottom, stare at the jig, and go back to the bottom. Didn't matter what jig/bait we were using, 80% of the fish wanted nothing to do with it. All the fish on the finder at least kept us entertained. I landed 6 fish and Habsfan landed one. One of mine was 22 1/2 inches and very fat. All the rest were slot cutts. Ice cutr's seemed to work best in glow tipped with a minnow chunk.

It snowed most of the morning and warmed up to a nice 11 degree's when we left about noon. There seems to be a decent amount of parking at the marina. Mud Creek is not plowed from the road. By the time we left there was plenty of snowmobile tracks leading different directions around the marina. If you stayed on one of those the walking wasn't too bad. Anyway, sorry so long, hope the information helps those of you planning a trip.
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Hey Steve! Sounds like a cold fishing trip, and people better pack their shovels!

Since I never get out to the 'berry anymore, you need to post your pics [] 22 1/2" is a very nice trout!

Thanks for the report.
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Ya, I know. I even took the camera but never got it out. I don't like to keep the fish out of the water that long.... Well actually, I think the best pics are when someone is holding the fish and I really don't want to get my gloves slimey or my hands that cold for a picture..... []
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I understand. But I think I'd get my hands dirty and cold for a nice pic holding a lunker like what you caught! []

I need to get to the 'Berry again. I miss it.
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I guess I am spoiled getting to fish Strawberry as often as I do. It takes a little more than a 22 incher to get me all excited about a "lunker". However 24 inches or over and the camera is coming out, the gloves are coming off, and my hands are gonna get wet and cold.

Notice my avitar... that was worth getting my hands wet and cold over. That fish was caught on Jan 5th at the Gorge 2 years ago... It doesn't look that cold but it was.
Edit, Ok.... I'll throw in a picture. Taken with my cell phone from my last Strawberry adventure. The larger one (cold, stiff, and frozen) is about 22 1/2 inches. The smaller one about 19 inches and just got unhooked and was headed back down the hole...
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Three of us were out there as well, but we had never fished the marina before so we decided to stop after a short walk. The snow was thick, but was dry. Fishing was pretty slow and we only got 10 among the three of us. Most were on the smaller size and none were even approaching the upper slot limit. Missed a few and broke off one. Weather was nice!!! As long as the wind isn't there, I'm happy.
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Nice report. I went to Jordanelle this morning for a change, but like you, it is hard to go back to catching little fish after fishing the Berry so often and hooking into those big ones!
Slush was out in full force at Jordanelle.
randy
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Thanks for the update on the ice/snow conditions. Its been awhile since I have been up there, think I will give it a shot next weekend.
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Thanks for the post. We are trying to go up on Sat. (2/9). Did you see any ATV's, stuck or otherwise?
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On Saturday there is no way a wheeler (without trax) would have been able to get out on the ice. There was two feet of powder! The storm on Saturday night probably dropped more snow. You are asking for a lot of problems and digging with wheelers right now. Things might change but from what I saw there is no way a wheeler is gonna work under those conditions. Good luck!
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Thanks !! that's the info I was after.
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