Fishing Forum

Is that open water @ the mouth of the N harbor? And if so...WHY? That's weird! Fished there so many times in the past, and never saw open water at the mouth, when the rest of the lake was froze solid. WEIRD!
Heard on other reports that there was 6-8" of clear ice...the whole lake...and was planning a trip and use the ATV maybe. I got on lakeview and saw open water...now I DUNNO!!
Anyone with any insight?
Is the south harbor OK to take a ATV out from? I got a hurt back and have trouble dragging a sled...WAY easier if I can pull it with "the Mule".
If the south one is bad to, I may need to suck it up and walk. If that happens, lookout crappies...at night.
Oh, and for that other post I made metion of, I have caught wipers there, thru the ice. It seems like if a school moves thru, you're gunna catch one or two...I have never sit and caught them one after the other...like perch or crappie. Would be nice to find the "fish in a barrel" spot at Willard.
That's probably in the middle.
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I've heard that that spot in the north marina is always like that. If it's not open, then it's really thin ice and would be dangerous to drive an ATV across. In fact I believe that was one of the main selling points to get the park rangers to leave the south marina open all winter so that ATV's could access the main lake.

As for ice thickness, the last time I was out there the south marina had 7" of clear Ice but that was at least 2 weeks ago and it's been getting up to 40* in the daytime since then.
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As has been mentioned on this site before, I am pretty sure it is against the law to take an atv onto Willard. Check the state parks website
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Actually they are allowing ATV's on the ice at Willard this year. Wiperhunter2 Talked to the park manager and got him to leave the south marina open and allow ATV's as a kind of trial run, to see if enough people use the south marina during the winter to justify it being open.

Link to the thread it was discussed in: http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...08;#636408

Anyone that plans on taking a wheeler out there might be inclined to call Willard Bay State Park and clarify this information though. (435) 734-9494
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Just conveying the information from the state website. Take it or leave it I never use a fourwheeler or snowmobile so I don't care.
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I never use a Wheeler or Snow-machine on the ice either(I don't feel safe with an extra few hundred pounds on the ice with me) but I was just conveying the exception to the rules that was discussed earlier so that someone who wants to use one may.
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You can take an ATV onto ice on Willard this year. You must treat it like a boat, which means you only access from the boat ramps. If they see people put an ATV on the ice from anywhere but the ramps, they will put signs up prohibiting all ATV's and snow machines.

So please only go from the designated ramps.
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There lies the problem. Putting a machine on the ice at N willard and trying to get out to the main lake is a risk at best.
The problem in the N Marina and the reason that the ice is either very thin or non existant in the entry/exit channel is that there is water flow in that marina.
The area is loaded with springs, many accross the highway and at least 2 that I know of between the highway and the state park. That water flows down to the marina before entering the Res. There is also two (that I know of, probably more) springs that are under the water in the N Marina. This water being let in has no way out except to flow out the channel. That's why the ice is thin there.

IMHO
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[quote pookiebar]You can take an ATV onto ice on Willard this year. You must treat it like a boat, which means you only access from the boat ramps. If they see people put an ATV on the ice from anywhere but the ramps, they will put signs up prohibiting all ATV's and snow machines.
So please only go from the designated ramps.[/quote]
Now if you got a 'toon, and are kicking your way thru....yah

yeah - what you said. That was one of their guidelines - if you launch from the beach or somewheres else - you can be cited. (plus - other repercussions)

Also - pack it out, pack it out (and then some). The request was along the lines "keep if clean, we'll keep it open". So burdens on the ice-anglers.

I know the tip of the S. Marina struck me as kinda iffy earlier this month. Chickendude was out that that morn. But I didn't really want to cross over - even though tracks lead "out".

We've been up, we've been down - think that ice will stick arouuuuuuuund = uhhhhuhu, o-yeah, uhhh huh

I'm thinnin it's time I fashion a plank/board - just to be sure the drive is worth-the-while. O-yeah.

Any currents on Newton? Wonder if I'd need to plank before hitting that.

If you go off the outside of the marina - dike wall - do you need planks, or do you just hit big ice across the big flat lake?

Wouldn't mind exploring off of the feedlot, or around there. How far up the 'inlet' do folks fish on ice?

I always thought there must be a warm water spring there because it always melts at the first sign of any warm weather. When the temps stay below freezing the north side of the channel always seem fine but that south side always seems a little thinner.
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Hit Newon yesterday and yeah plank is a must where we accessed the ice (east side).
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I have found where the springs are by tubing around the marina in he summer with no waders on. Good way to find springs.

I don't know if the springs would be considered warm but even with a shallow ground temp of 50 degrees water coming out of the spring, it could be warm enough to effect the ice thickness where the channel is most restricted.

No matter what that ice is almost always to thin most of the time to take a snowmobile or ATV out of the marina safely. The park should consider an alternative if they are serious about allowing launching of machines in the winter as a means to access the open expanses of Willard.
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i wouldnt mind seeing someone on a machine go thru too much noise for me and why would you need them
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Before I got in that head on wreck with a drunk a**hole driver, I pulled that sled AND another one with more stuff. Now I have a bit of a problem...so when I go thru, do I look you up for wishing that on me? Just a thought?! Love ya DUDE!
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Thats pretty messed up why would you wish that on anyone? They could be a dad a friend maybe one of your family members thats just a messed up thing to say period. Everyone stay safe out there and good luck. Wayne lets go fishing buddy we got to dial in them EYES buddy. PM SENT!
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[quote Troll]
No matter what that ice is almost always to thin most of the time to take a snowmobile or ATV out of the marina safely. The park should consider an alternative if they are serious about allowing launching of machines in the winter as a means to access the open expanses of Willard.[/quote]
I think that is one of the reasons they decided to leave the South marina open this winter. I did tell the Park manager about the thin ice in that channel. I just hope enough people use the South marina that they will keep it open after this winter. One thing he said that would not be allowed and that was driving snowmobiles or ATV's on the beach or the dike.
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look me up if you need to,but i would look in the mirror first,people have been warned about unsafe ice,if they go thru i wouldnt mind seeing it,but i never wished it.if the fishing sucks on the main lake i dont want to see or hear a bunch of machines in the marinas. i dont know what you are talking about in this drunk driver incident,i wasnt there.
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do they charge the $10 FEE to go in, used to be able to walk in and fish for free what about the people who dont have a season pass and that fee is alot of money?
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[font "Calibri"]Yea, that is the part but yes you have to pay the full price all year round. I know some state parks have their rates go down in the winter. Willard is not one of them. I don’t remember being able to go into Willard for free in the winter, I know a lot of folks drive in without paying but if the ranger comes by and catches them, they will get a bigger fine then what the entrance fee was. If you park outside the gate, you can walk in for free, as far as I know but that is the only way, if you are trying to access the lake by the marinas.[/font]
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yea, the south marina was a pretty quiet place to fish, a easy walk from the closed gate.
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