Went out to Mantua this morning to check for ice thickness. At the boat ramp I found 1.5 inches of ice. The lake looked like it iced over end to end at the same time. No breaks in the ice. Thinking if thetemps stay low and ice continues to build it will be safe by Sunday or Monday.
I might drive over tomorrow morning to take new measurements, I will post my findings.
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With the temps this low today it should keep freezing all day. You might make it out on Saturday. I'm a chicken I need at least 3 inches before I dare try it and then I want lots of space between me and the next person. I would also go very light on gear. Not much fun falling through the ice, it kind of ruins the trip. Thanks for checking the thickness. J
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Was that you that got stuck the holes that were drilled already froze over and I could not kick them open
The temp was 26 at 2 pm today
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I'm betting by Saturday people will be out on the new cap. Usually takes about 3-4 days of cold weather to cap it up safely.
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I predict BIG WIND and all the thin ice will break up, and it's gonna take a few weeks of cold before anything caps safe.
So everybody should just stay home and tie up your jigs and ice flies. Maybe hit a community pond if you got an itch for a tug.
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It's funny that you should say that. Where I work at in Park City the wind has been blowing 15-20 MPH since the sun went down.
I hope that its just on the mountain tops and not making it down into the valleys.
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Luckely there isn't even a breeze here in Heber when I got home. [
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Freeze baby freeze.
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Think that's part of why Hyrum takes longer to cap - bigger lake, more exposure, lots of wind.
Then ya got places like Willard, where the bays will cap up while the lake stays open lots longer.
I can see a little puddle of Spring Creek I pass has ice, though the in and out seemed still open. Don't know how thick it had got.
Hyrum is capped. Willard is mostly capped.. Mantua has 2.5 and was holding me this morning if I would have had my ice gear instead of the boat and would have had someone to pull me out after I fell through I might have tried it today. I think I ought to buy stock in Mantua parking spots today. I predict it will start looking like Black Friday in the next few days. No one was fishing it yet. Later J
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I'm swinging by there this afternoon. I will drill at least one hole. [
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Thats what I saw this morning 2.5". For me not enough. I will wait for a solid 3" or more. One more cold night and the hope the wind on Saturday doesnt degrade the ice. See ya all on Sunday.
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caught a Logan forecast of 7 tonight and 39 tomorrow. Good news bad news?
Yup - probably not ready yet. Better head to High Uintas!
Would love to know when Willard N.Harbor caps. I have a smooth slickery skunk trip there last year I hope to replace.
Did you try fishing? Hope you were safe. Later J
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No fishing. I was by myself. Just walked out and checked it out. Drilled a hole, and checked some others that were already there. If I had someone else with me, I would have ventured out further. Newton is better than Mantua right now as far as ice goes.
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Yote it's capped today with 1.5 inches of ice so far. It's about 10 degrees warmer on that side of the mountain so it will take a little longer to get to safe ice. Later J
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Yup I did the same thing today. I think you would be okay but if ya hit a thinner spot you would be in trouble quick. If anyone tries it they need to be planning on going through just in case it happens. Hard to kick hard enough in wet winter clothes to get yourself out. I think I'll wait a few days till there's four inches at least. Well Ben good luck and I hope to run into you soon on the hard deck. Later J
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I'm thinking the same thing about thickness. I imagine tomorrow will be a start of fishing but I'm fine to wait till after Christmas. A couple days won't make too much difference with fish catch rates. And I really don't want to find out I'm not as young as I used to be when I'm trying to drag myself out of an ice hole. Good luck and stay safe. Later J
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Me and two others are going out to mantua tomorrow morning with a rope and gear hoping to fish it i have been on 2.5 inches of solid before it should be ok as long and you spreed out ill post tomorrow on how we did
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Watch out on Mantua. There are numerous spots where gas bubbles up and makes very thin spots. They're there even when the lake has 8 to 10" of ice on it.
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Good luck, I didn't check out very far from shore so check as you go. I look forward to hearing how it goes. Be safe. J
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