It was looking like the last warm day and with hopes of the ice melting some more by today, I decided to get the boat out and take it for a spin at Willard. Got it on the water a little before 3pm and headed out the channel. I was trying to get to the spot where we had been ice fishing a few weeks back but just could not make it. I did slowly go about 20 ft or so into the rotting ice and my boat paddle could easily punch a hole in the ice but I did not want to push my luck, so I backed out and slowly skirted the edge, heading toward the North dike.The ice was totally gone about 1/2 to 3/4 mile off the North dike so I followed it about a mile or more to the West. Once I got down the dike a ways I saw a huge gap(400 yds) in the ice and I went into it, heading south. I dropped a line down to see if they were interested but all I got was a few pick ups and drops. I was marking fish just like when we were ice fishing but they were not interested in giving me a chance to hook them. Only spent a couple of hours out there but it was good to get out in the boat again. All we need is a good strong wind and that ice will be gone. Hopefully the catching will improve. Water temp was 39*.
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Thanks for the report Curt. I'm seeing the same thing on Cutler it's really opening up. I ran down to the railroad tressle last night and made a few casts. It felt good to be back to the long pole, but no nibbles only snags. Like you said one good breeze and there will be lots of boat fishing available. I just don't do very well on warm water until it warms up a bit and the runoff muddy water lets up a bit. Heading into my slowest season of the year. Later J
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[#0000FF]Looks like we both had the same idea yesterday.
Good the south wind didn't come up and push you onto that north dike. Earlier in the day the ice was right up against the shore there...until a northerly breeze came up.
Now that the ice is bad it shouldn't take long for the wind to stack it up around the shorelines.
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Yea, I hear you on the slowest time of the year, catching wise. I was thinking that I might have done better if I would have anchored up and stayed in one place but I spent most of my time just motoring around, checking the ice conditions, maybe next trip. Here are a few pics I took.
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[font "Calibri"]Looking like it’s almost that time to cut the shrink-wrap off the boat and put the snowmobiles away for the summer. Bitter sweet if you ask me. My ice season was cut way to short this year. Thanks for the update buddy![/font]
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LOL, yea, I was thinking the same thing. It crossed my mind that you might have been there earlier. I thought while it was good weather I'd do some yard work first. Since the snow was all melted in the yard I figured it was a good time to get the boat out before the weather turned bad today. It would not surprised me if this wind blows the rest of the ice off today or at least a big portion of it.
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[#0000FF]Wish we could get into the south marina before summer. I guess that's why we pay the big bucks for the passes.
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I hear you on the slow warmwater fishing early in the season. This becomes my fish the creeks and rivers for trout until runoff, then switch to bass time of year. I just got my work schedule for March, and I was really excited to see some weekdays off the end half of the month. I'm crossing my fingers for good weather. I've got the itch bad.
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I'm sure you will be able to get up in the high country for a few more months to enjoy your snowmobiles, you might even be able to ice fish a few lakes before ice out. This was a great ice fishing season for me. My first day this season started on Dec 12 and I ended up fishing 20 days. Last years ice fishing season I only got in 18 day but it did not start as early.[font "Calibri"] [/font]
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Hey Curt thanks for the pics, bet it looks different already. It would be fun to go for a boat ride and graph the fish to find out where they are hanging out. But might be a good time to get some honeydoos caught up. Later J
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So are you a steelheader? Looks like your time off lines up well for that. Most fun fish I've ever battled. I've caught bigger, but nothing as fun as a salmon river steelie on a fly. I need to try that this year, it beats a trip to Alaska. Later J
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No, I'd love to give it a try, but my schedule kind of confines me to fishing within about an hour from home. I just fish the area streams with my 3 or 4wt fly rod. I do know one place that kicks out rainbows that feel kind of like a steelhead on my 4wt.
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Looks like you let your itch take you to the point of launching. I am just itching to pullt the boat out of the garage.
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If we all call and complain about the slow opening of the South Marina, it might help them to decide to open it sooner. I know they have all the excuses but we pay to use that place.
How about it folks, lets start calling the State Parks about this.
State Parks 1-801-538-7220
Willard Bay Parks 1 435-734-9494
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That's a nice bow and on a 4 wt I'll bet it was a blast. My most fun steelhead was one I was under gunned on. I had an 8 wt rod, but my reel was a cheap Okuma without a good drag and so I got dragged across the Salmon river to try and find a decent landing zone. I bought a bigger gun and the fun is sort of gone now. Think I'll drop back down. Hope your spot keeps producing those beauties. Later J
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I'd be in the same boat if I went steelheading right now. I bought an 8wt for throwing bass bugs, but I just got a cheap Pflueger Medalist reel to go with it since bass aren't known for their searing runs. I'll definitely need to upgrade my reel if I chase steelhead with that rod.
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[#0000FF]As we both know, it used to remain open all year and was a popular ice fishing spot. Then they began closing it around the first of October until the first of April. We made some noise about it and got them to leave it open again two years ago but then they went back to a winter closure again. And when they do open it there is no fish cleaning station for a couple more months...at either marina.
It's all about money. The budget for the state parks has been dropping...along with rises in the rates for day use and annual passes. We pay more and get less. Gotta love it.
There are a lot of other state parks that remain open during the winter with little or no staffing or maintenance involved. As popular as Willard south marina area is it is a crime to close it during the winter. I have a lot of fond memories of late fall and winter fishing trips to the south marina. No more.
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The toilet located in the south marine are plumbed just the same as the ones in your house. Running water in pipes. They require all the love, heat and money in order to operate. Luckily for you, me and everyone else, funding has finally been approved for vaulted toilets. Three this year with more to come in the future. James Morgan (Willard Bay Park Manager) has said with the new amendments Willard will become a year round park starting next year. Hopefully........
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[#0000FF]Good to know. Thanks for the input.
Vaulted toilets? You gotta jump over them before you can use them? (I know...I know)
Now if only they can get the fish cleaning stations open before mid-summer...and keep them functioning. Seems like just about every time I want to use them..at either marina...they are not operational. And at times they are non-functional for days...or weeks.
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[quote TubeDude][#0000ff]Now if only they can get the fish cleaning stations open before mid-summer...and keep them functioning. Seems like just about every time I want to use them..at either marina...they are not operational. And at times they are non-functional for days...or weeks.[/#0000ff][/quote]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]The problem of the fish cleaning stations not working is caused by a few Neanderthals using them. They think you can just load up the chute with the remains of 20 fish BEFORE you turn the grinder motor on. That will burn up the motor in a heartbeat. And those electric motors ain't cheap. I'm guessing the park doesn't keep any spares on hand also. And, they probably have to let a contract to get it repaired or replaced as almost everything a government does these days is contracted out (outsourced).[/size][/#800000][/font][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]
About opening for a year in the winter and then not opening the following year; I think the reason given at the time was that the winter use (and income from fees) wasn't enough to justify the daily cost of sending a ranger over there to check passes and other stuff. If that was true, I don't see how putting in vault toilets will alleviate that deficiency. But this is all just speculation at this point.[/size][/#800000][/font]
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