Fishing Forum

I just got back from my families annual ice fishing vacation.

We started off Thursday afternoon by swimming at Lava. We spent the night there and then headed to Deep Creek. I was planning on Chesterfield but then changed my mind at the last minute do to the fact that I need to find some fast fishing for my kids. I was not disapointed. After rounding up my flock and finally getting them in the car we didn't get set up until around 9:30AM. For those who know me that is really late in my fishing world, but it worked out fine.

We set up in 15ft of water and the paddle bugs were getting wacked immediately. I spent most of my morning baiting hooks, but it was well worth it as the kids had a great time. We ended up landing around 35 rainbows between 14-18." They were all very healthy and fat. We left around 1PM and headed for Preston. We had intended on going straight for Montpelier but we decided to stop at the Riverdale Hotsprings to swim again. While we were there we decided to stay at the motel they have there. We were happy to find out that the swimming is free if you get a room there. The prices were reasonable and the rooms were clean. Anyway we spent New Years Eve swimming in the hot pots. Great fun for everyone.

Again I had intended on getting an early start. Didn't happen. Everyone was dragging their feet after the previous nights celebration.

We arrived at Montpelier Res. around 10AM. We set up on the far bank in 30ft of water. The small perch were plentiful and kept the kids very busy for about three hours. We probably landed 20 incidental Rainbows as well. The perch were very small 4-9." with most of them leaning towards the smaller end. The raibows were very thin and didn't look to healthy.

On the way home we went through Star Valley and passed Palies. There is some ice near the dam and Calamity. It doesn't look safe anywhere yet and most of the lake is open water.

I checked Ririe and it is starting to cap with most of the ice towards the dam. There are still open water spots throughout the res.

I will post pics when I get them off the camera tomorrow.

Windriver
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I am glad you had a great trip! Deep and Montpelier have been top producers for me this winter. My son and love to hit the numerous hot springs while fishing as well. I wish you had video of getting your famly loaded in your vehcle that would have been funny.

Great Report!

OC
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Very cool! I hear they have been ripping them at Deep Creek. Ririe may be fishable if you are careful by the middle to end of the week if the cold weather holds!

Can't wait!
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I knew I should have gone to deep creek instead of chesterfield I knew it o well.... How was the ice there? Hopefully better than devils creek!!!! I went there a few days ago and the edges were not even frozen! Well where I went on the res wasn't any way... Just snow coverd slush so it tricked me.. Started to walk out and sunk up to my knees in slush it was horable so I packed up and left.... And I must say since I have never really liked devils creek that toped the cake I will never go back there again... But that is ok because there are plenty of other spots for me to go...
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How is the snow at Deep Creek . Can you drive across the dam to the boat Ramp . Could I use my 4 wheeler to get around . Thanks Curt G.
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The ice is about 5" with a 10" snow layer on top. No slush yet.

You can't get a four wheeler in because the access road is not plowed. There is just a trail going in from the road on the West and the East side of the lake. Not too far of a walk from the East side, but I think a 4 wheeler would sink.

Windriver
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Loading my family is like a three ring circus. On the other hand my two oldest boys are getting to be good help setting up rods while I set up the ice house, heater, etc...

I told them I can't wait until they get strong enough to pull all the sleds so that I can just let them be the sled dogs.

Windriver
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It gets a little better as the kids get older but I have found it is still a circus loading up for anything with all the kids.
Loading up for skiing is pretty similar to loading up for fishing and by the time we get everything in and on our way the car looks like we are ready for a week vacation instead of a day outing. Fun times for sure.
I can't remember who it was who set up the table and all the fixings for dinner on Montpilier last year but that was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. To have seen that unloaded and loaded back up could have made a great video.
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I don't know if this was the dinner on ice that you were thinking of but here is the link to our Thanksgiving on Henrys last year.

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=545139;search_string=thanksgiving%20henrys%20lake;#545139"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=545139;search_string=thanksgiving%20henrys%20lake;#545139[/url]

Windriver
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Thanks for the post- I've got to take my kids now that I know where they will be busy catching fish- otherwise all they do is ask me to help them find somewhere to go the bathroom[blush][].

I planned on taking them to Henrys but the cold scared the older ones off and now I'm glad since it was pretty slow fishing. We were there 6 hrs and landed nine between three of us.
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I think that might be it. Thanks for sharing again. For some reason I had Montpelier in my mind. Must have stuck there from an earlier thread or something in there that maybe was the next place you were going. Doesn't matter.
Far more brave than me although that just looks so cool and what a great memory to think back on for your entire family. I wonder tho, what was more hectic...loading up, unpacking at the lake, loading back up, or unloading at home. Holy smokes, my head spins thinking about all that organizing and kids running around and oh my, could make a little movie about such an adventure if I was running the show. Kids are so much fun and they grow up before you turn around it seems.
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The only way it works for me is a have a patient wife who helps me out. The only reason that Thanksgiving worked was because it was awesome weather.

The hardest thing is getting everyone dressed and onto the ice.

Windriver
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