03-23-2008, 06:52 PM
We hit the ice again at Upper Marsh Creek, maybe for [#000000]one[/#000000] last time (?). The ice is definitely softening up, and the auger took about 1/2 the time to bore a hole through the 16-18 inches. Grey on top, but quite a few clear inches on the bottom. [#ff0000]Note: there[/#ff0000][#ff0000] was already a big patch of open water just uplake from Holmes Crossing, about the size of a football field.[/#ff0000]
Burbot fishing was pretty hot. Fish started hitting around 8:15pm and just about crashed by 9:30pm. We stuck it out until 10:30pm for a few stragglers. All in all, three of us caught around 35 fish ranging from around 10-26 inches. They were hitting hard and running, so both tip-ups and rods were very effective. Fish were caught from 8-49ft of depth. Same ol' techniques were working: glow jigs, Buckshot spoons, and jigging Raps tipped with sucker, scented with Smelly Jelly and Fish Gravy, and set just above the bottom.
Watch the ice conditions now as the temps climb into the upper 40s and lower 50s, and the wind starts to blow. Launching is right around the corner, and I would assume the burbot bite will continue into the soft water.
One thing to note as boats start to launch this season. Lots of boats that fish the Gorge in the spring, come from back east or in the lower Colorado River Basin where invasive mussels have been detected. Let's all watch out for those boats, that may be possible carriers, and make sure they take the necessary precautions and don't introduce any unwanted species in the Gorge (or any other water for that matter)! The last thing we need is another mouth to feed!
Thanks and hope it helps, Ryno
[signature]
Burbot fishing was pretty hot. Fish started hitting around 8:15pm and just about crashed by 9:30pm. We stuck it out until 10:30pm for a few stragglers. All in all, three of us caught around 35 fish ranging from around 10-26 inches. They were hitting hard and running, so both tip-ups and rods were very effective. Fish were caught from 8-49ft of depth. Same ol' techniques were working: glow jigs, Buckshot spoons, and jigging Raps tipped with sucker, scented with Smelly Jelly and Fish Gravy, and set just above the bottom.
Watch the ice conditions now as the temps climb into the upper 40s and lower 50s, and the wind starts to blow. Launching is right around the corner, and I would assume the burbot bite will continue into the soft water.
One thing to note as boats start to launch this season. Lots of boats that fish the Gorge in the spring, come from back east or in the lower Colorado River Basin where invasive mussels have been detected. Let's all watch out for those boats, that may be possible carriers, and make sure they take the necessary precautions and don't introduce any unwanted species in the Gorge (or any other water for that matter)! The last thing we need is another mouth to feed!
Thanks and hope it helps, Ryno
[signature]